NEWS
NCC, SMEDAN, NAICOM, SEC, Others Set for SUPERNEWS SMEs Conf June 13
The Director General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii, the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, other regulators, experts, stakeholders from the financial services and ICT sectors, small business owners among others have confirmed their attendance at the SUPERNEWS Nigeria SMEs Forum 2024 scheduled for Thursday, June 13th 2024 at Radisson Hotel, GRA Ikeja, Lagos.
The conference with the theme, ‘Bringing SMEs into the Financial Services Network via Fintech’ would be declared open by the SMEDAN DG, Mr. Charles Odii, while the EVC of NCC will chair the event.
A renowned economist and financial expert, Dr. Biodun Adedipe, the MD/CEO Biodun Adedipe & Associate Ltd., will deliver the keynote speech at the conference, which would dig into issues faced by SMEs in running their day-to-day businesses in Nigeria.
The conference will also feature a panel session which would be handled by erudite scholars, including the Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), Yeye Modupe Dada; Managing Director/CEO, Sunu Assurances Plc, Mr. Sam Ogbodu, Managing Director/CEO of APT Securities and Funds Limited, Mr. Kasimu Garba Kurfi and Head, Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co., Mr. Ayokunle Olubunmi.
The Special Guests of Honour for the conference include the Director General of SMEDAN, Mr. Charles Odii; Acting Director General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama and the Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr. Olusegun Ayo Omosehin.
The Publisher of SUPERNEWS Nigeria, Ngozi Onyeakusi in a statement in Lagos said the choice of the theme of the Conference was borne out of the quest to improve the business climate for SMEs in Nigeria by leveraging on technology in terms of accessing financial services.
She said it’s unfortunate that SMEs that form the bedrock of every economy are plagued by a lot of challenges, especially inadequate access to finance. Indeed, reports have shown that the challenge of SMEs in accessing funds could be traced to inadequate access to financial institutions and education, skills, experience of owners/managers, high interest rates, gender discrimination, among others.
It therefore becomes imperative to leverage on technology to ensure their sustainability, productivity and profitability.
The conference, she said, will, among others, examine the key challenges faced by SMEs in Nigeria and provide practical solutions to help overcome them.
It will equally explore the benefits of fintech for small businesses, including how it can help them overcome financial challenges and drive growth through technology-driven solutions.
She equally emphasised that the confab is a learning opportunity designed to enhance awareness, deepen understanding of the participants on how SMEs can grow and sustain their businesses by embracing various financial services options including banking, capital market, pension and insurance.
NEWS
JUST IN: Adeleke Congratulates New DG, PEBEC, Princess Audu
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has congratulated the newly appointed Director General of the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Princess Zahrah Mustapha Audu.
In a statement on this in Osogbo on Tuesday, Gov Adeleke described her as “a fitting choice for the high profile office”.
In the congratulatory message, Gov Adeleke pointed to her appointment as “a testament to her exceptional leadership qualities, her unwavering commitment to excellence, and her proven track record of delivering results-driven solutions.”
He added that “As a state, we are thrilled to see a friend of Osun state excelling on the national stage, and we have no doubt that Princess Zahrah will make a significant impact in her new role.
ALSO READ: Trump Completes Return To White House, As 47th US President
“I am delighted to hear about Princess Zahrah’s appointment, and I must say that the President has made an excellent choice. Princess Zahrah is a focused-driven, dedicated, and result-oriented personality who will undoubtedly bring her wealth of experience and expertise to bear in her new role.
“As a testament to her exceptional leadership qualities, Princess Zahrah has consistently demonstrated her ability to deliver results in her previous endeavors. Her appointment as the DG of PEBEC is a well-deserved recognition of her hard work and dedication.
“I wish her a successful tenure as the DG of PEBEC. I have no doubt that she will make a significant impact in her new role and contribute meaningfully to the growth and development of our great nation.”
Princess Zahrah succeeded Dr Jumoke Oduwole who was appointed Minister of Trade and Investment.
International News
WHO Expresses Regret Over US’ Withdrawal
The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed regret on Tuesday over the decision by President Donald Trump’s administration to withdraw the United States from the global health body.
WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic addressed the media, stating, “The World Health Organization regrets the announcement that the United States of America intends to withdraw from the organisation.
“We hope the United States will reconsider and we look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe.”
The move comes after Trump, on his first day back in the White House, signed an executive order initiating the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO, citing dissatisfaction with the organization’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and its failure to implement necessary reforms.
He also criticized the alleged political influence over the WHO. “That’s a big one,” Trump said, referring to his previous attempt to exit the organization in 2020, which was blocked by President Joe Biden in 2021.
Public health experts have sharply criticized the decision. Dr. Ashish Jha, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator, called the move a “strategic error,” warning that it could potentially increase China’s influence in global health matters.
READ ALSO: CSR: Dangote Awards Scholarships To 473 Students
Lawrence Gostin, a professor at Georgetown University, labeled the decision as “a cataclysmic presidential decision,” adding that it undermines both world health efforts and U.S. leadership on the global stage.
In response, China reiterated its support for the WHO.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, Guo Jiakun, emphasized, “The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened. China will, as always, support the WHO in fulfilling its responsibilities… and work towards building a shared community of health for humanity.”
International News
Trump Dismisses Four Biden-Appointed Officials, Signals More Shake-ups
In a bold and controversial move on his first day back in office, President Donald Trump fired four senior officials appointed by his predecessor, Joe Biden, and signaled additional dismissals as imminent.
The announcement was made in Trump’s first Truth Social post following his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
READ MORE:Trump Completes Return To White House, As 47th US President
“Our first day in the White House is not over yet! My Presidential Personnel Office is actively in the process of identifying and removing over a thousand Presidential Appointees from the previous Administration, who are not aligned with our vision to Make America Great Again,” Trump wrote in the post, titled “YOU’RE FIRED.”
The dismissed officials include Jose Andres of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition; Mark Milley from the National Infrastructure Advisory Council; Brian Hook of the Wilson Center for Scholars; and Keisha Lance Bottoms from the President’s Export Council.
Trump used his signature phrase from The Apprentice to emphasize their departure: “YOU’RE FIRED!”
The dismissals are part of a series of sweeping actions Trump has undertaken to reverse Biden-era policies and assert control over federal governance.
Among his first executive orders, Trump instituted a regulatory freeze, halting the implementation of any new rules until his administration has reviewed them.
Additionally, he ordered all federal employees to return to full-time, in-office work, reversing remote work policies from the previous administration.
In a further demonstration of his intent to reshape government, Trump suspended 78 executive orders issued during Biden’s tenure and reiterated his campaign pledge to streamline the federal workforce.
During his 29-minute inauguration speech, Trump outlined his vision for what he called a “Golden Age” in America while delivering sharp criticism of Biden’s administration.
He accused the previous administration of being “radical and corrupt,” pointing to the ongoing Los Angeles wildfires as evidence of its inability to manage domestic crises.
Several government institutions are now preparing for significant upheaval as Trump’s administration moves to implement additional campaign promises, including potential department closures and cuts to civil service roles.
Trump’s immediate and decisive actions have drawn both praise and criticism.
Supporters argue these steps are necessary to restore efficiency and align the government with Trump’s vision, while critics warn that such abrupt changes could deepen divisions and create instability within federal agencies.