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PwC Nigeria announces media award for excellence
By Abiodun DUROSIMI-ETTI
LAGOS-IN its quest to continue to give back to society and deepen its appreciation for the media, the management of PricewaterhouseCoopers, a leading professional services firm has announced its decision to host for the first time the PwC media award for excellence.
This was made known to members of the press by the Managing Director of PwC, Mr. Uyi Akpata during the annual PwC media capacity development workshop in Lagos recently. According to Akpata the award which aims to be an annual event is targeted at rewarding excellence in reporting in Nigeria as well as advancing the journalism profession.
“We are launching the first edition of the PwC Media Awards for Excellence in the coming year and this is a continuation of our corporate responsibility role of enhancing the skills of our key stakeholders, which includes business reporters, in the areas of Finance, Tax and Business reporting. We believe in encouraging and recognising excellence and so our aim is to motivate the media to write better reports which in turn will help to promote better journalism”.
Speaking further on the issue, Taiwo Oyedele, head of Tax and advisory, PwC stated that the award is aimed at appreciating professional journalism in Nigeria and thereby encouraging its growth. According to her, there will be winners in various categories, and all these categories would be appreciated for their output within the year under review. We hope this award will encourage healthy competition and ultimately improve the quality of writing and reporting of news.
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American Woman Shares Her Experience With Nigerian Romance Scams
An American woman has revealed her experiences of being duped by two Nigerian internet fraudsters, often referred to as “Yahoo boys.”
Despite her losses, the woman, described as slightly over 50, expressed admiration for Nigerian men, calling them “the sexiest and most handsome men on this planet.”
In a video that went viral on Sunday, the woman detailed her encounters, starting with a scammer she met in 2020 on TikTok. She shared that the man used fake identities to build trust and demand money.
Their relationship lasted ten months before she ended it after discovering his real identity through a mistake he made by calling her from his Nigerian phone number.
“Back in 2020, I met this man, I was with him for ten months, and I got sick of him because he was always demanding money,” she explained. “One day he made a mistake and called me from a Nigerian phone number, and he was trying to play it off that it was his friend’s number. I was done with him, and he later confessed to me. Now, he is about to get married to his Nigerian girlfriend. I hope everything goes well for him.”
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Her second experience involved a younger scammer who later admitted to using the funds to support his sick mother. She recalled that his honesty softened the blow.
“This second was a little different. He was more polite and considered my feelings,” she said. “After a year with him, he decided to come out and tell me the truth, thanking me because I saved his mother’s life.”
Despite the financial strain caused by these scams, she expressed a lingering affection for Nigerian men while warning others to stay vigilant.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has intensified its crackdown on internet fraud. Between May 2023 and May 2024, EFCC secured 3,175 convictions and recovered over N156 billion in various currencies, according to the Commission’s chairman, Ola Olukoyede. However, the increasing involvement of young Nigerians in cybercrime remains a pressing concern.
The woman concluded her story with a note of caution, urging others to be mindful of online relationships while highlighting the struggles faced by both Nigerian and American women.
“I pray that nothing like this ever happens to me again. Please be safe in that country because I know that a lot of people there are struggling. But remember, a lot of American women are struggling too,” she said.
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NGO Empowers 180 Market Women In Akwa Ibom
A total of 180 market women in Akwa Ibom State have received business grants of ₦100,000 each, courtesy of the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS) in collaboration with Nka Uforo Iban Washington DC.
The initiative, which spanned nine local government areas, aims to help vulnerable women upscale their businesses and improve their livelihoods.
The final phase of the program was held on Saturday at Ete Market in Ikot Abasi Local Government Area.
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Speaking at the event, Mr. Asukwo Etuk, Chief Technical Officer and Head of Admin at ECEWS, said the project specifically targeted women in dire need of support.
“We were intentional about selecting the most vulnerable women in the state,” Etuk explained. “The grant is meant to empower them to improve their enterprises, ensure their children stay in school, and enhance their overall livelihoods.
“We don’t want a situation where children are seen on the streets hawking when they should be in school. So, our criteria for selecting the beneficiaries included women who struggled to buy items to sell, those earning less than ₦2,000 daily, women from child-headed households, and individuals affected by HIV/AIDS or disasters,” he added.
The initiative also included training sessions to help the women effectively manage their businesses. Enobong Inuaeshiet, Manager of Nka Uforo Iban Washington DC, described the program as a partnership committed to creating lasting impact.
“Since September, we have been working across nine local government areas, and this is the last one we are visiting,” Inuaeshiet said. “In addition to providing grants, I train market women on effective business management, customer relationships, and avoiding debt traps.”
She further explained that market leaders are involved in monitoring the beneficiaries to ensure the grants are used appropriately.
Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke during the event, expressed their appreciation for the support. A trader from Ete Market said, “This support is life-changing. I will use the grant to grow my business and better support my family.”
The empowerment initiative, described as a significant step toward poverty alleviation, is expected to boost economic activities across the state while improving the lives of vulnerable women and their families.
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Musa Joins Jaiz Bank As Ambassador
Super Eagles Captain, Ahmed Musa has been signed up by Jaiz Bank as a brand ambassador.
An elated Musa made the disclosure in a statement on his verified handle on micro-blogging site, X on Thursday.
The Kano Pillars striker urged his fans to troop to Jaiz Bank to do business for trusting him with the new role.
He exclaimed, “And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! ”
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He wrote, “✨Alhamdulillah✨ I am SO excited to announce that I’ve officially joined Jaiz Bank as their newest ambassador! 🎉💼
“A huge thank you to @JaizBankNG for trusting me and allowing me to be a part of this amazing journey! 🙏🏼💚 It’s an honor to represent a brand that believes in growth, security, and financial empowerment.
“I can’t wait to share all the incredible things we’ll be doing together! 🚀💡
And to my amazing fans – if you want to support me, make sure to head over to Jaiz Bank and open your accounts with them today! Let’s grow together! 💪🏼🔑
“@JaizBankNG is a non interest Financial institution poised with a mission to make life better through ethical Finance. 👌👌”
#NewBeginnings #BankWithJaizBank #PartneredUp #TeamJaizBank”