September 19, 2008

THE TOP 3 BANKS IN NIGERIA- MY RATING



ZENITH BANK OF NIG.

1) Awards & Achievements


Zenith Bank remains outstanding in the pursuit of excellence and commitment to high quality service, a result of which has enhanced our performance in the year under review.

Euromoney
arrow Best Bank in Nigeria (2008)

Vanguard Bankers' Award
arrow Best Bank in ICT (2008)
arrow Best Bank in Export Finance (2008)

This Day Award of Excellence
arrow Bank of the year, 2008
arrow Corporate Citizen of the Year, 2008
arrow CEO of the Year, 2008
arrow Most Corporate Socially Responsible Company in Nigeria, 2007


KPMG
arrow Most Customer-Focused Bank (2008)

Africa Investor
arrow Africa's Bank of the Year (2007)

Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE)
arrow Quoted Company of the Year (2007)

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African Banker
arrow Most Corporate Socially Responsible Bank in Africa (2007)

Federal Inland Revenue Service
arrow Best Collecting Bank (2007)

Fitch Ratings (AA-) 2007
arrow "The ratings reflect adequate levels of capitalisation and the potential
that capital levels will be further enhanced"

Standard and Poor's (BB-) 2007
arrow "The stable outlook balances the bank's ability to benefit, in terms of
size, profitability, from strong macroeconomic growth"

Web-Jurist Award (2002, 2004, 2005 & 2006) Phillips Consulting
arrow Best Bank Website in Nigeria
arrow 1st Overall rating

The Banker, Financial Times of London
arrow Bank of the Year (2005)

2)
GUARANTY TRUST BANK

RATINGS

Our financial capacity to meet obligations as they fall due has been recognized by several rating agencies.

* Agusto & Co, (one of the foremost credit rating agencies in Nigeria) has reaffirmed the Bank's triple A (Aaa) risk rating every year for the last four years. Guaranty Trust Bank plc is one of only two banks in Nigeria with such a rating.

* In 2005, Fitch, one of the foremost international rating agencies assigned the Bank a double A minus (AA-) risk rating in recognition of the its strong domestic franchise, good quality assets and sound earnings record. This is the highest rating ever received by any Nigerian or West African based bank.

* In 2006, Standard & Poor's, another international rating agency assigned the Bank a double B minus (BB-) risk rating. The Bank is the only Nigerian financial institution with such a rating, which is the same as the Agency's Sovereign rating for Nigeria.



RECOGNITIONS AND AWARDS

The Bank has over the years been a recipient of several awards for superior financial performance, customer service delivery, excellent share performance, management efficiency etc. some of these are:

* Nigerian Stock Exchange President's Merit Award - 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2006
* Bank of the Year 2005 - ThisDay Awards
* Banker of the Year 2006 - ThisDay Awards
* Brand of the Year 2007 - ThisDay Awards
* Subject of case studies:

o Harvard Business School,
o Cranfield University
o Lagos Business School

* Africa's top 23 2005 - Africa Business Magazine
* Highly Commended Bank of the Year Award in Africa 2005 - African Investor
* ISO 9001:2000 Certification 2006 - International Standards Organisation
* $350 million debut Eurobond issue; the first of its kind by any financial institution in West Africa
* Most Respected Financial Institution in Nigeria 2006- Pricewaterhouse Coopers:
* Most Customer friendly Bank 2007 - Vanguard Awards
* Best Bank for Brand Development 2007 - Vanguard Awards
* Deal of the Year Award 2007 - The Banker Magazine Awards
* Listing on the London Stock Exchange 2007
* Best Bank in Mobile Banking Awards 2007 - Nigeria Telecoms Awards
* Brand of the Year 2007 - Lagos State Enterprises
* Grand Prix Award for Reputation and Credibility - 2007 Fortune & Class Enterprise Awards
* Corporate Best Practice Award - 2007 Fortune & Class Enterprise Awards
* Best Work Place Award - 2007 Fortune & Class Enterprise Awards
* Most Respected Company in Nigeria Award 2007 by PricewaterhouseCoopers & BusinessDay Survey Awards
* Sectoral Award for the Financial Services Segment 2007 by PricewaterhouseCoopers & BusinessDay Survey Awards
* Runner up in the 2007 Most Respected CEO in Nigeria Award 2007 by PricewaterhouseCoopers & BusinessDay Survey Awards
* Winner of the Nigerian Stock Exchange 30th Annual President's Merit Award for the 2006 financial year
* Transaction of the Year 2008 by ThisDay Newspapers
* Most Customer Focused Bank (Retail) 2008 by KPMG
* Bank of the Year 2008 by Vanguard Newspapers
* Best Bank in Corporate Governance 2008 by Vanguard Newspapers
* Most Customer-Friendly Bank 2008 by Vanguard Newspapers
* Best Architectural Bank Branch 2008 by Nigerian Institute of Architects
* Deal of the Year 2008 for Nigeria by The Banker Magazines published by Financial Times, London
* Best Bank in Mobile Banking 2008 by Logica Communications Limited organizers of the Telecoms Awards

3)UNIVERSAL BANK FOR AFRICA



Awards 2008
ThisDay Corporate Social Responsibility Award

UBA Foundation, the social responsibility harness for the entire company, was voted as the most Corporate Socially Responsible organization in Nigeria in 2007, clinching the highly contested ThisDay Newspaper Award.

City People CEO of The Year Award

Tony Elumelu recieved the accolade, CEO of the Year 2008 at the 11th City People Awards for Excellence Ceremony

------------------Awards 2007-------------------

ICAN (Institute of Charted Accountants) HONOURS UBA PLC

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc added another feather to its cap at the weekend by winning the coveted Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) Award for the corporate category. A recognition for the bank’s support towards the upliftment of Accounting profession in Nigeria.

The Award was bestowed on the bank at the Institute’s 2007 Annual Dinner and Awards ceremony held in Lagos.

ICT (Information and Communication Technology) AFRICA IN THEIR TITANS OF PURE GENIUS TECH AWARDED UBA PLC AS THE ICT DRIVEN BANK OF THE YEAR 2007

POWER SOLUTIONS EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2007 FROM POWERCAP LIMITED AWARDED UBA AS THE POWER FRIENDLY BANK OF THE YEAR 2007

------------------Awards 2006-------------------

TONY ELUMELU WINS THE HIGHLY COVETED AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR AWARD

Thursday, 9th of November, 2006 at the luxury Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya, Tony Elumelu, GMD/CEO of UBA Plc, emerged winner of the prestigious and highly coveted AFRICAN BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR award.
The AI awards, dubbed the “Oscars” of the African corporate world, are the only Pan African awards that recognise and reward exceptional business practices, economic achievements and investments across the continent, as well as corporate responsibility towards the society. It is organized by Africa investor; a United Kingdom based bi-monthly business magazine which targets international investors with an interest in Africa’s commercial development. This year's awards is the third, following successful ceremonies in 2004 and 2005 in Dakar, Senegal and Johannesburg, South Africa.
This Business Leader of the Year was the hotly anticipated finale of the 15 different award categories in a glittering ceremony that saw a stellar gathering of representatives of leading organizations and some of Africa’s best, including Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Professor Charles Soludo, Executive President of the African Business Roundtable & Chairman, NEPAD Business Group Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, Kenyan Minister of Trade & Industry Dr. Mukhisa Kituyu, and Director, African Investment Advisory, Dr. Ken Kwaku, amongst many other distinguished guests, celebrating African excellence.

Tony Elumelu was voted winner in a strongly contested category, amongst finalists that include some of Africa’s finest and most successful Chief Executive Officers, including Phutuma Nhleko Group Chief Executive of the Telecoms giant MTN (South Africa), Papi Molotsane, CEO of Telkom (South Africa), Vimal Shah CEO of Bidco Oil Refineries, Kenya; the largest manufacturer of edible oils and fats and soaps in East and Central Africa, with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Gerald Mahinda of East African Breweries which has extensive operations in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and Jim Ovia, CEO of Zenith Bank.

UBA PLC WINS MERGER & ACQUISITION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 11TH THISDAY ANNUAL AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE.

On January 21, 2006, UBA Plc beat other banks namely; Intercontinental Group, Access Bank, PlatinumHabib and Skye Bank to win the Merger & Acquisition of the Year Award at the 11th Annual Thisday Awards. Below are excerpts of the citation on UBA at the awards ceremony which held at the Muson Centre, Lagos

“United Bank for Africa: August 1 2005, marked a watershed in the history of Nigeria's financial services industry, with the emergence of United Bank for Africa Plc as Nigeria's first mega bank following the merger of UBA and Standard Trust Bank Plc. Apart from its record as the first successful merger in the ongoing banking consolidation, the consolidated UBA's aggregate financial and non-financial strength clearly ranks it above its peers in the industry.

With a network of over 425 business offices across the country, balance sheet size of over N600 billion, and an active customer base of over two million, United Bank For Africa Plc ranks as the biggest on-line, real-time bank in Nigeria and indeed sub-Saharan Africa”.

UBA PLC WINS BANK OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 9TH CITY PEOPLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

Nigerian celebrity magazine; City People, at the Eko Hotel, Lagos on Sunday April 9, 2006 adjudged UBA as banker of the year 2005 on account of its historic merger with Standard Trust Bank and several initiatives embarked upon to bring banking convenience to the unbanked and the underbanked.

ELUMELU WINS BANKER OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 9TH CITY PEOPLE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

GLOBAL EXCELLENCE BANKER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2006

CITY PEOPLE'S CEO OF THE YEAR 2006 & BANK CEO OF THE YEAR 2006


Other UBA awards include;

Award


Organizers

Bank of the Year 2005


Newsday Newspapers

Sales Promotion of the year 2006 Award


National institute of Marketing of Nigeria

Best Bank of the year (Social Responsibility)


Ikeja City Awards

Bank of the year 2006


Thisday Newspapers

NIGERIA FLAG AND NATIONAL ANTHEM



White vertical stripe sandwiched between two green stripes of equal dimensions.

Symbolism of flag elements:
White stripe denotes peace and unity and is also symbolic of the Niger River bisecting the countryside. The green stripes represent agriculture.

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF NIGERIA

Arise, O compatriots, Nigeria's call obey
To serve our fatherland
With love and strength and faith
The labor of our heroes past
Shall never be in vain
To serve with heart and might
One nation bound in freedom, peace and
unity.

Oh God of creation, direct our noble cause
Guide our leaders right
Help our youth the truth to know
In love and honesty to grow
And living just and true
Great lofty heights attain
To build a nation where peace and justice
shall reign.

NIGERIA MAP



I LOVE NIGERIA,I LOVE MY FATHERLAND,I LOVE MY CONTINENT.

upcoming events in the month of september

20 Sep 2008 - 21 Sep 2008

The Julian Bluegrass Festival is the oldest festival of its kind in California. Many of the finest bluegrass artists today started out here in contests and in performances. The park is beautiful, and the town is a charming, historic gold mining town located approximately an hour's drive east of San Diego. A lovely, peaceful atmosphere and some excellent bluegrass music await visitors to this event.
The 38th annual Julian Bluegrass Festival takes place in 2008

Times
Sat 0900–1800; Sun 0900–1600.

Where?

Frank Lane Park (Venue)

Frank Lane Park
California

Getting There

Road: Detailed directions are available from the festival website

How Much?
TBC.

For More Information
World Tourist Attractions and Events Guide Cover
Buy The World
Attraction & Event Guide

Melissa Hague Entertainment (Tourist Info)
PO Box 2322
Escondido
California
CA 92033
United States

Tel +1 (760) 480 0086
Email melissa@mhentertainment.com

Website www.julianbluegrassfestival.com

Future Events

01 Sep 2009 - 30 Sep 2009
Date to be confirmed
The 39th annual Julian Bluegrass Festival takes place in 2009.

Where
As above

More Information
As above






Musica Contemporary Music Festival,
Strasbourg, France

Musica Contemporary Music Festival - © Musica Contemporary Music Festival
© Musica Contemporary Music Festival
20 Sep 2008 - 04 Oct 2008

The aim of Musica is to present important 20th century works in the light of contemporary musical trends. Audiences are encouraged to appreciate innovative and challenging interpretations of the great classics and also to discover new works from young composers. An extensive programme runs through 16 days at venues across the city. There is a definite bias towards youth, and this is reflected in the audiences, although music lovers of all ages are welcome. The festival also encourages collaboration between music, dance and theatre, and gives young musicians the opportunity to meet and exchange views with composers and performers from all over the world.

Times
1100-2200.

Where?

Palais des Fetes and various other venues (Venue)

Various orchestral concert venues including Palais des Fetes, Salle Erasme, Pole Sud, Opera du Rhin

How Much?
€5.50-110.

For More Information
World Tourist Attractions and Events Guide Cover
Buy The World
Attraction & Event Guide

Festival Musica (Tourist Info)
6, rue des Charpentiers
BP 306
Strasbourg
Alsace
F-67008
France

Tel +33 (0)3 8823 4646.
Email info@festival-musica

Website www.festival-musica.org

Future Events

01 Sep 2009 - 31 Oct 2009
Date to be confirmed

Where
As above

More Information
As above

50 Tools that can Increase your Writing Skills

* Writing Tool #1: Branch to the Right
* Writing Tool #2: Use Strong Verbs
* Writing Tool #3: Beware of Adverbs
* Writing Tool #4: Period As a Stop Sign
* Writing Tool #5: Observe Word Territory
* Writing Tool #6: Play with Words
* Writing Tool #7: Dig for the Concrete and Specific
* Writing Tool #8: Seek Original Images
* Writing Tool #9: Prefer Simple to Technical
* Writing Tool #10: Recognize Your Story’s Roots
* Writing Tool #11 Back Off or Show Off
* Writing Tool #12: Control the Pace
* Writing Tool #13: Show and Tell
* Writing Tool #14: Interesting Names
* Writing Tool #15: Reveal Character Traits
* Writing Tool #16: Odd and Interesting Things
* Writing Tool #17: The Number of Elements
* Writing Tool #18: Internal Cliffhangers
* Writing Tool #19: Tune Your Voice
* Writing Tool #20: Narrative Opportunities
* Writing Tool #21: Quotes and Dialogue
* Writing Tool #22: Get Ready
* Writing Tool #23: Place Gold Coins Along the Path
* Writing Tool #24: Name the Big Parts
* Writing Tool #25: Repeat
* Writing Tool #26: Fear Not the Long Sentence
* Writing Tool #27: Riffing for Originality
* Writing Tool #28: Writing Cinematically
* Writing Tool #29: Report for Scenes
* Writing Tool #30: Write Endings to Lock the Box
* Writing Tool #31: Parallel Lines
* Writing Tool #32: Let It Flow
* Writing Tool #33: Rehearsal
* Writing Tool #34: Cut Big, Then Small
* Writing Tool #35: Use Punctuation
* Writing Tool #36: Write A Mission Statement for Your Story
* Writing Tool #37: Long Projects
* Writing Tool #38: Polish Your Jewels
* Writing Tool #39: The Voice of Verbs
* Writing Tool #40: The Broken Line
* Writing Tool #41: X-Ray Reading
* Writing Tool #42: Paragraphs
* Writing Tool #43: Self-criticism
* Writing Tool #44: Save String
* Writing Tool #45: Foreshadow
* Writing Tool #46: Storytellers, Start Your Engines
* Writing Tool #47: Collaboration
* Writing Tool #48: Create An Editing Support Group
* Writing Tool #49: Learn from Criticism
* Writing Tool #50: The Writing Process
courtesy :poynter institute

Military Won’t Be Intimidated in N’Delta

The Nigerian Armed Forces will not be intimidated by militants operating in the Niger Delta to abdicate its responsibility to defend the country, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshall Paul Dike, has said.
Dike said the military was committed to its constitutional duty of defending the territorial integrity of the country, particularly in the Niger Delta, “and nobody can intimidate the military forces into abdicating that responsibility.”
The CDS made the remarks yesterday while on a working visit to the headquarters of the Joint (military) Task Force (JTF) in Warri, Delta State.
He was accompanied on the visit by military top brass which included the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Adbulra-hman Bello Danbazau.
Also yesterday, former Delta State Governor James Ibori sued for peace over the escalation of hostilities in the Niger Delta
He said: “If there is a season for everything under the sun as the Bible says, there being a time for war and a time for peace, then this is the time for cessation of hostilities in the entire Niger Delta.”
Militants operating in the Niger Delta have declared an all out war, attacking and destroying oil facilities.
In the offensive launched last weekend, two flow stations in Rivers State believed to be operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and Agip were attacked, leaving the militants and men of the JTF to trade accusations over the attacks.
The attacks on the oil facilities, which have allegedly resulted in more oil shut-ins were carried out as Dike visited military installations in Rivers State to assess the security situation.
Dike, who reaffirmed the position of the armed forces, however, admonished all military personnel to adhere to their professional disciplinary norms in order to effectively deliver on their constitutional obligation.
In a subtle but firm response to the reported threat of “full-scale war” on the country’s security personnel in the area by militants, the CDS stressed that the military would continue to work for the restoration of peace in the area.
He also charged the officers and men to respect the people especially the civilian population in their area of national service, but avoid any act that could tarnish the image of the armed forces.
He, however, expressed satisfaction with the level of performance by the JTF personnel, saying the on-the-spot assessment of the troops’ battle-readiness was the primary reason for his visit.
In his statement last night, Ibori said: “Having heard the anguished cry of the people of the South-South, President Umaru Yar’Adua is determined to end the suffering of the people, and has therefore approved a large scale intervention in the form of the Niger Delta Ministry to reverse the decades old under-development which the area has suffered.
“So, what is called for now is discussion over the activities and funding of the ministry and how best to make it meet the aspirations of the people. Owing to this, I call on all persons of goodwill to join in this peace effort. Hostilities must cease to give the development process the Federal Government has put in place now the chance to succeed.
“War is like malignant cancer; it usually spreads uncontrollably to other areas. Therefore both sides must listen to the voice of wisdom and stop the conflagration - now.”
Ibori called on the angry youths of the Niger Delta to have faith in the President and his new initiative.
According to him, “The Niger Delta and Nigeria need their energy re-channelled into really productive ventures. The educated among them should be encouraged to contribute their talents to the needed battle of speeding Nigeria and Africa on the part of swift development and global respect, and themselves towards personal fulfilment and glory. “The uneducated must face intellectual and skill acquisition to enable them compete in the national and global space.
“Fortunately, the focus of the new ministry is two-pronged. While one corrects the abysmal lack of infrastructure in the area, the other faces the task of upgrading the intellectual and talent pool of the area.”
According to Ibori, the youths of the area must take advantage of this by ending the hostilities; emerge from their camps and exploit the opportunities that now beckon.
To the militants, he said: “You have made your point. The whole world now knows that your grievances are genuine, and for the first time, the Federal Government is truly addressing them. In every journey, there is always a place to stop. Your predecessor in arms, the late Major Isaac Adaka Boro realised this, came out from the bush, and reintegrated himself into the society – after leading the first Niger Delta uprising in the 1960s. You too must do like-wise.”
In Port Harcourt yesterday, Dike also expressed satisfaction with the performance of JTF, though he said there might be some areas needing improvements.
The CDS thanked Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi for providing a conducive environment for their men to operate in addition to helping out with some logistics.
He called for further cooperation between the state and the armed forces, pointing out that such cooperation had existed right from the time of the civil war.
Responding, Amaechi pleaded with Dike to do everything possible to improve on the present security situation in the state.
He regretted that those he called criminals masquerading as freedom fighters had unleashed terror on the state, but expressed happiness that JTF was working to restore normalcy.
In Bayelsa, the state Governor, Chief Timipre Sylva, asked the Federal Government to urgently consider the establishment of a military command in the state.
Sylva made the call when Dike and Dambazau paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Yenagoa.
He said the call became imperative due to the strategic position of Bayelsa as a border state and one of the highest producers of oil, the mainstay of the nation’s economy.