DD
MM
YYYY

PAGES

DD
MM
YYYY

spot_img

PAGES

Home Blog Page 4154

Oyetola v Adeleke Osun State Gubernatorial Election Petition; The Summary.

0
Osun local government

Yesterday, the Supreme Court being “the judicial final bus stop” has put an end to the back and forth surrounding the July 16th 2022 governorship election that took place in Osun state and displaced Mr. Gboyega Oyetola of the APC, the then-incumbent governor and brought in Senator Ademola  Adeleke, the dancing Senator of the opposition party (PDP) to power. 

After INEC declared Senator Adeleke of the PDP the winner of the July 16th 2022 election and duly issued him with the certificate of return, Oyetola of the APC being dissatisfied with the declaration by the INEC went straight to the election petition tribunal and filed his petition, praying the tribunal to hold that Adeleke has not been duly elected, alleging that there was over voting ie the number of those who voted is higher than the number of the registered voters in the INEC database; therefore, the court should withdraw the certificate of return that was issued to Senator Adeleke and be reissued to him and the court should therefore declare him (Oyetola) as the duly elected governor of the state.

The election petition tribunal on 27th of July, 2023 in a split decision upheld the prayers of Oyetola and his party, the APC and held that there was truly over voting and that Adeleke has not been duly elected, the court voided the declaration of Adeleke as the governor-elect and ordered that the certificate of return that was issued to Adeleke be withdrawn and be reissued to Oyetola as the duly elected governor of the state.

Senator Adeleke and his party, the PDP obviously displeased with the 27th January 2023 decision of the Osun state election petition tribunal went straight to the court of appeal; he immediately appealed the judgment of the lower court and also filed for a stay of execution of judgment so as the certificate of return issued to him will not be withdrawn.

The court of appeal while reversing the judgment of the election petition tribunal, in its judgment delivered on March 24th 2023 held that the allegation of Oyetola and the APC which formed the basis of their appeal been that there was an overvoting during the election has not been properly substantiated by Oyetalo. He has not provided enough evidence to prove the allegations of overvoting. He only relied on testamentary evidence of party agents and INEC staff which is clearly not enough to prove beyond every atom of doubt that there was an over-voting which ushered Adeleke to power.

Oyetola and the APC having lost at the court of appeal went straight to appeal at the Supreme Court for the Supreme Court to put the final end to the back and fought. The Supreme Court yesterday, the 9th of May, 2023 upheld the judgment of the court of appeal which reversed the judgment of the election tribunal. The Supreme Court in delivering its judgment stated inter Alia thus; “It is glaring that the Appellant did not provide in evidence, any BVAS, but sought to prove over-voting by means of a report of examination of INEC’s database or backend server…”.

The Supreme Court upheld and affirmed Adeleke as the governor of Osun State.

Congratulations to the dancing Senator and congratulations to the good people of Osun state. 

What Students Are Looking for in College Apartments

0

Housing or accommodation costs are among the top university-related expenses for all students, including those under scholarships. Budget-conscious students often choose to rent out apartments to save rental money. Choosing an apartment outside your learning institution is daunting, especially if you aren’t familiar with the area.

Looking for a student apartment also requires a lot of special considerations. Location and proximity to their learning institution aside, below are a few things students prioritize when searching for college apartments.

1.   Amenities are a deal breaker

While most students use location to narrow down on possible apartments, they also prioritize amenities. As a result, Aria Calgary and other student apartments have prioritized various student-friendly amenities in their apartments. Common amenities prioritized by students include:

  • WI-FI – Most learning institutions have embraced online learning, especially after the pandemic. This increased the demand for reliable internet connectivity. Other add-ons that come with internet connectivity include remote thermostat control, wireless door locks, and water monitoring features.
  • Storage – Students have a lot of personal items, ranging from personal clothes and bikes to sports equipment. Most will certainly appreciate apartments with extra storage space.
  • Furnishing and appliances – Students also prefer apartments with good furnishing and functional appliances. For instance, well-functioning air conditioners are important for students in warm areas, and a heating system in cold areas.

Other basic apartment perks, such as a fitness center, enough parking space, and a business center, attract students. Interior elements like private bathrooms and a good network are also a priority.

2.   Access

Moving from one point to another safely and hassle-free is very important for students. While students with cars ideally don’t prioritize public transit, they want apartments with garages and safe parking options. However, students who rely on public transport prioritize proximity to transport systems, bike lanes, and other mass transit systems.

3.   Costs

While the general trend gravitates towards budget-conscious leasing, student apartments are designed to appeal to different students with varying budgets. Housing developers typically build housing units tailored to suit underclassmen, graduate students, and others, depending on their budgets.

Student apartment communities differentiate themselves in many ways, including floor plans and general design styles. Just like travelers choose between luxury apartments with spas and moderately-priced hotels, students also have a choice between costly and averagely-priced apartment options according to their financial abilities and lifestyles.

4.   Maintenance

Most students juggle between class work and hourly jobs, making it necessary for them to live in regularly maintained apartments. Properly maintained buildings save both time and money. Ignoring simple maintenance practices, such as plumbing, can lead to stressful consequences.

5.   Lease flexibility

While the pandemic significantly affected the real estate sector, it paved the way for various changes in renter-landlord agreements. For instance, most colleges closed during the pandemic. Most students also lost their jobs, which made it difficult for them to pay rent. Students currently prefer apartments with flexible lease terms, such as subletting, to avoid these situations. Landlords should also be transparent in their refund policies and other fees.

Endnote

Looking for a student-friendly apartment can prove daunting, especially in urban areas. Most students are looking for apartments with all the necessary amenities and in the right location.

How Crypto Reacts to Changes on the Consumer Price Index

0

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a measure of the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. It is widely used as an indicator of inflation, which is the general increase in the prices of goods and services over time.

Inflation affects the purchasing power of money, meaning that a higher inflation rate reduces the value of money and erodes its ability to buy goods and services. This can have significant implications for the crypto industry, which is often seen as a hedge against inflation and a store of value.

One of the main reasons why some investors choose to invest in crypto is because they believe that crypto can protect their wealth from the effects of inflation. Unlike fiat currencies, which can be printed by central banks at will, most cryptocurrencies have a fixed or limited supply that cannot be manipulated by any authority. This makes them scarce and deflationary, meaning that their value tends to increase over time as demand outstrips supply.

However, the relationship between inflation and crypto is not so straightforward. There are several factors that can influence how crypto reacts to changes in the CPI, such as:

  • The expectations of investors: If investors expect a higher inflation rate in the future, they may shift their assets from fiat currencies to crypto, driving up the demand and price of crypto. Conversely, if investors expect a lower inflation rate in the future, they may shift their assets from crypto to fiat currencies, driving down the demand and price of crypto.

  • The actions of governments and central banks: If governments and central banks adopt policies to combat inflation, such as raising interest rates or tightening monetary supply, they may reduce the attractiveness of crypto as an alternative asset class. Higher interest rates can make fiat currencies more appealing to investors who seek higher returns, while tighter monetary supply can reduce the amount of liquidity available for crypto trading. On the other hand, if governments and central banks adopt.

One of the main implications of the CPI on the crypto industry is its impact on the interest rates. The interest rates are determined by the central banks based on the inflation expectations and the economic growth. When the CPI is higher than expected, it indicates that the inflation is rising faster than the target level, which may prompt the central banks to raise the interest rates to curb the inflation and cool down the economy. Higher interest rates make borrowing more expensive and reduce the money supply in the market, which can have a negative effect on the crypto industry.

Higher interest rates can lower the demand for crypto assets, as they increase the opportunity cost of holding them. Crypto assets are usually seen as alternative investments that offer higher returns than traditional assets, such as bonds, stocks, and real estate. However, when the interest rates rise, these traditional assets become more attractive and competitive, as they offer higher yields and lower risks. Therefore, some investors may shift their funds from crypto to traditional assets, which can cause a decline in the crypto prices.

Another implication of the CPI on the crypto industry is its influence on the exchange rates. The exchange rates are determined by the supply and demand of different currencies in the global market. When the CPI is higher than expected, it implies that the domestic currency is losing its purchasing power relative to other currencies, which may lead to a depreciation of the domestic currency. A depreciating currency can have a mixed effect on the crypto industry.

On one hand, a depreciating currency can increase the demand for crypto assets, as they can serve as a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. Crypto assets are decentralized and independent of any government or central authority, which means they are not affected by inflation or monetary policies. Therefore, some investors may prefer to hold crypto assets rather than fiat currencies that are losing their value. This can boost the crypto prices and adoption.

On the other hand, a depreciating currency can also reduce the supply of crypto assets, as they become more expensive to produce and acquire. Crypto assets are usually created through a process called mining, which involves solving complex mathematical problems using specialized hardware and software. Mining requires a lot of electricity and other resources, which are denominated in fiat currencies. Therefore, when the domestic currency depreciates, it increases the cost of mining and reduces the profitability of miners. This can lead to a lower supply of crypto assets in the market.

In conclusion, the CPI has significant implications on the crypto industry, as it affects both
the demand and supply sides of the market. The CPI reflects the inflation rate and influences
the interest rates and exchange rates, which can have positive or negative effects on
the crypto prices and adoption. The CPI is usually released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics around the 10-15th of each month, which can cause volatility and uncertainty in
the crypto market. Therefore, crypto investors should pay attention to
the CPI data and its potential impact on the crypto industry.

How to Uncover the Devils in Companies Before Investing in them

0

The continuous scramble for investment opportunities constitutes an essential characteristic of wealth oriented people. What business to invest in, when to invest and what portion of one’s capital should be earmarked for investment purposes are some of the general factors investors consider before investing their money. However, given the growing incidence of investment scam, a rational and experienced investor moves beyond these generic considerations to rummage the possible devils in the books, the process and the people of the company they decide to invest in.

As a prospective investor, you are required to carry out a number of background checks on the businesses you have in mind. It is often advised that you have more than one business for the background checks as this will give you an opportunity to weigh various options and select the most appropriate before investing your hard-earned money. In doing a background check, you have to look out for certain things which include the following:

History of the Company

The history of the company plays an important role while considering or planning on investing with the company. However, understanding the company’s history in the aspect of the company’s prioritized product and how they have been able to accomplish their projected returns in the past and also giving attention to their track record since their existence. This will give you an in-depth insight on the history of the company to avoid falling into the hands of fraudsters.

Location of the Business/Project

While identifying the physical existence of a business is almost the priority of most investors, the location or positioning of the business is often taken for granted. A successful and profitable business or project must be located in an optimal location with all necessary resources for its specific needs. You need to look out for the location of their projects and how suitable it is to accomplish their said goals and objectives.

Management Structure

You should also be conscious of how the business is managing its projects, peoples and products. A company without modern methodologies and techniques which could help in managing uncertainties effectively would likely default in paying the promised return on investment.

Capital Structure

The financial strength and records of a company invariably have a strong connection with the company’s ability to meet their financial obligation or commitment with their investor(s). Therefore, while reviewing the company’s financial records, you should pay attention to their past three years’ budgets and tax returns, a balance sheet, current accounts receivables, cash flow projections and profit and loss statements. Examine these to determine the business’s current net worth, its sales and expense trends and where the company’s strengths and weaknesses are.

Consult with Experts

In addition to working with your lawyer, you are advised to communicate with investment and financial analysts in the domain or industry you expect to invest. Being with one of the analysts is an opportunity to understand the type(s) of risk you are exposed to, and how it can be mitigated or completely avoided. To get secured with investment you have to communicate with people, ask questions, get acquainted with the company and also ask brilliant questions you might end up knowing what you didn’t know before.

Risk-Reward Analysis

As an investor, you should understand the possible risks the businesses are experiencing and how they are managing them towards sustainable growth or otherwise. In other words, assessing the relationship between risk and returns plays an important role in your investment decision. Most investors focus on the risk side of an investment but don’t assess the potential for and magnitude of returns. You need to know which of the projects or products being pushed to you by the businesses has a low or a high risk.

Conversely, the investment opportunities you may see most frequently are those with high risk and low returns. These are not the ones in which you are interested in investing. The investments in which you may be interested in investing are the ones where the rewards match the risk (low risk/low returns, high risk/high returns). Meanwhile, your ability to make an assessment of the risk/return profile is important in making successful investment decisions.

Resources

The Rules of Investing In Nigerian Agritech Business. 2021. FIDAS Africa. Available here

VC Firm Ascend Raises $25 Million Pre-Seed Fund to Invest in AI Startups

0
Fund, money cash dollar

Venture Capital firm Ascend has raised a $25 million pre-seed fund to invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI) startups.

The company’s pre-seed fund raising was led by seasoned startup operator and angel investor Kirby Winfield. With the new fund, Ascend is placing a bigger bet on artificial intelligence, joining other venture capital firms investing money into the growing sector boosted by recent generative AI advancements.

Founding General Partner at Ascend Kirby Winfield disclosed that the firm will invest in pre-seed AI and Machine learning (ML) companies largely based in the Pacific Northwest.

Speaking on investment in AI startups, Winfield said,

AI is having a platform-shift moment. It would be irresponsible not to double down. I would imagine that is probably another downward correction in valuations in the next year. We have become even more convicted around investing at pre-seed. This is where we want to play. We want to take more ownership at that stage. We have really found some conviction around our thesis”.

The fund raised in the pre-seed round was 100% from individuals and consists of two vehicles, one that raised $22.5 million and another that raised $2.5 million from existing portfolio company founders. Ascend CEO Windfield raised a majority of the new fund at the beginning of 2022, just before the startup funding dried up amid the tech downturn.

Speaking on his investments in AI startups, Wingfield said that he isn’t looking for AI companies to invest in, but instead is focused on startups that will utilize the tech to find a better solution to problems.

In his words, “AI doesn’t matter, what matters is the solution you are selling to your customers. Many founders and investors are getting wrapped around the axle and putting the technology and solution before the benefit”.

Winfield expects to invest in around 40 companies from the new fund, which will also target startups building e-commerce infrastructure and B2B software. It is interesting to note the AI industry has been poised to grow to an estimated $126 billion by 2025. Today, AI has become essential for an increasing number of businesses as remote work and reliance on technology are the new daily norm.

According to a survey conducted by Accenture last month, 63% of organizations are now prioritizing AI over all other digital technologies. The survey shows that more than half of companies are investing more than 5% of their digital budgets in AI. Sixty-three percent, meanwhile, say that they expect their investment to increase over the next three years.

Subsequently, generative AI startups are rapidly gaining traction, and venture capital investors are keen to capitalize on their potential. Investors this year have been pouring funds into companies specializing in generative AI systems that can create humanlike conversation, imagery and computer code.

Major tech companies such as Meta, Google, and Microsoft are investing heavily in generative AI research in hopes of achieving a breakthrough that would put them at the forefront of the race. 

The heat around AI deals has intensified so much that many investors are worried the startups will falter due to the pressure to deliver. Several investors have disclosed that startups raising seed rounds are pushing for valuations of tens of millions of dollars or more. Some companies are raising back-to-back rounds of funding. 

Analysts at research firm PitchBook predict that venture investment in generative AI companies will easily be several times last year’s level of $4.5 billion.