Lidya Raises Funding to Expand Access to Capital for Underserved Small Businesses in Nigeria

Lidya Raises Funding to Expand Access to Capital for Underserved Small Businesses in Nigeria

WASHINGTON, March 29, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Lidya, a leading fintech platform based in Nigeria, announced today that it has closed a US$1.25 million seed funding round to further its mission of easing access to finance for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Africa. The round was led by Accion Venture Lab, the seed-stage investment initiative of financial inclusion leader Accion, which invests capital in, and provides support to, innovative fintech startups that increase access to, improve the quality of, or reduce the cost of financial services for the underserved at scale. Newid Capital and several angel investors also contributed to the round.

Message For Irresponsible Nigerian Parents

For Irresponsible Nigerian Parents in Nigeria

This is for irresponsible Nigerian parents who leave their underage children unsupervised in the hands of careless housemaids and neighbors.

If you cannot sit down and take good care of children, PLEASE don't have them.
No child asked to be born.

US Nigeria Council Ushers in New Era in US - Nigeria Relations

US Nigeria Council Ushers in New Era in US - Nigeria Relations
A new business organization is advancing diversification and job creation in Nigeria
   
LAGOS, Nigeria, March 24, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The US Nigeria Council (USNC) was launched on Wednesday, March 15th, 2017 in Lagos at a dinner of leading Nigerian and American businesses.  Hosted by John Coumantaros, Chairman of Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc and Uche Orji, CEO of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, the launch dinner was attended by the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, US Consul General, John Bray, and the leadership of Nigeria's largest companies and major US investors.  The Council will work to create partnerships between Nigerian and American investors, bolstering the commercial dialogue between the two countries.  Ambassador Symington and Central Bank Governor Emefiele gave supportive remarks during the event.

The Nigerian business commitment to USNC was represented by the active participation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote of Dangote Group, Oba Oteduko of Honeywell Group, Jim Ovia of Zenith Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe of Access Bank Plc, Akinsowon Dawodu of Citibank Nigeria, Adewale Tinubu of Oando, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede of WAPIC, and Abdulsamad Rabiu of BUA Group amongst others.  The Dow Chemical Company, Chevron, UPS, Procter & Gamble and Uber were some of the US businesses that sent senior delegations.  The Council also includes young entrepreneurs who have started companies in technology, agribusiness and education, including Tomato Jos, Mall for Africa and Andela.

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Vice President of Nigeria Recommends New Book On Pastor E. A. Adeboye

"This book of some of the testimonies of one of the greatest servants of God in this generation is worth reading and learning from. I recommend it very highly.”
~ Professor Yemi Osinbajo (Pastor Prof.) Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Osinbajo and Pastor Adeboye. 

 The amazing new book of the awesome testimonies of Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye , General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), "Stories of Pastor E.A. Adeboye: The Power of Testimony" is now available in Amazon Kindle edition.

Beware of Acid Rain in the Niger Delta

Acid Rain in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in the oil rich Niger Delta of Nigeria.

Please if you're in Port Harcourt, avoid the rain.  It contains carcinogens that destroy body tissues and lead to cancer. Stop children from playing in the rain. It'll cause them immediate fever with subsequent deterioration. If,  however,  the rain has beaten you,  see that you dry your body immediately and don't allow it distil into the pores of your skin. Where you can,  take a bathe immediately adding disinfectant to the water and using good antiseptic soap. Don't let it have contact with your tongue as it can cause damage to the taste pods of your tongue and leave you with later tongue blisters. Stay away from Port Harcourt rain to stay safe.

- A Health Advice from Nativity Communications Company Limited

Yemen Tops 10 Unhappiest Countries in the World

When I wrote Yemen is burning! published on my Nigerian Times Blog on Saturday, June 4, 2011, my warning was ignored by the United Nations and the Arab League. But the street protests have degenerated into civil war with more than 16, 000 people killed so far.  The Saudi government intervened, but worsened the crisis by bombing hospitals and schools!

Yemen is the poorest country in the Middle East, because of corrupt and incompetent government that is too weak to confront religious intolerance and terrorism.

The following are the Top 10 unhappiest countries in the world according to the 2017 annual World Happiness Report  released on Monday.

Top 10 Unhappiest Countries

1. Yemen
2. South Sudan
3. Liberia
4. Guinea
5. Togo
6. Rwanda
7. Syria
8. Tanzania
9. Burundi
10. Central African Republic.

World Water Day: Don't Waste Water!

World Water Day: Don't Waste Water!



WORLD WATER DAY

World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater resources.

An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly responded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.

Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. In 2015, World Water Day has the theme "Water and Sustainable Development".
In 2016, the theme is "Water and Jobs," in 2017 "Wastewater" and in 2018 "Nature-based Solutions for Water".

http://www.unwater.org/campaigns/world-water-day/en/

Clouds Over Sidra: A Virtual Reality Documentary on the Syrian Refugee Crisis

Clouds Over Sidra is a 2015 virtual reality film about the Syrian refugee crisis. The movie was created by Gabo Arora and Chris Milk in partnership with the United Nations and Samsung.

The film features a twelve year old in the Za'atari camp in Jordan, home to 84,000 Syrian refugees.It follows her throughout the day from her family's tent, to school, to a bakery, to a computer lab and the camp football pitch. It is the first film shot in virtual reality for the United Nations.

The film was directed by Gabo Arora and Barry Pousman and co-Produced by Samantha Storr, Socrates Kakoulides, Christopher Fabian and Katherine Keating.[4]

It was first shown at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in January 2015.

References

Consumption of White Yam is Why Yorubas Have More Fraternal Twins

Consumption of White Yam is Why Yorubas Have More Fraternal Twins 

Your consumption of yams and other dietary choices increase the chances of conceiving fraternal twins (True)
It is thought that the white yam contains fertility-inducing properties that trick the female body into releasing hormones that promote ovulation--this may partly explain the high fraternal twinning rate among the Yorùbá of western Nigeria.

Photo Credit: Full Circle.

Trevo Benefits.

Read more from "Elsevier Book Sheds New Light on the Origins and Development of Identical and Fraternal Twins".

Click here to read the full report.

Who Killed Nigerian Blogger Abdulhakeem Bauchin Bauchi?

Who killed popular Nigerian blogger and writer Abdulhakeem Bauchin Bauchi?

The horrifying gruesome murder of a Nigerian blogger and writer was reported by  several blogs and news websites yesterday. But none has told us who killed him or why he was kidnapped and murdered.

A Nigerian Blogger/Writer residing in Bauchi State by origin, Abdulhakeem Bauchin Bauchi has been found dead after he was declared missing. According to people who know him, his wedding ceremony was scheduled in few weeks before meeting his untimely end. His body was found slaughtered and dumped in a bush..
National Helm.

What could have caused his kidnap and murder?
He was not a popular human rights activist or whistle blower.
Was he murdered for personal reasons or political reasons?
The Nigerian police have to investigate the circumstances surrounding his kidnap and murder.