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Sit at Home and Don’t feel Bored

By
Chidiebere Moses Ogbodo
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2

IT IS A HOLIDAY, AND NOT A WORRY-DAY

Pandemic do happen, just focus on being grateful that you will survive it, and the ideas to survive will come your way. This is how the law of attraction works and the universe is a support system to it.

Corona Virus is yet another type of the history unfortunate occurrences, and this one will be history one day, and very soon. So do not panic.

The government across various nations who cares for her citizen and desire the survival of everyone, and have advised that all, both the local man and the foreigners, young and the old, stay at home for a while, so that the work to contain the corona virus outbreak can be effective. The more people gather in large numbers is the more, the virus finds new hosts; hence it becomes uncontrollable.. which nobody wants.

There are ways to stay lively and enjoy this period without getting/feeling bored and the list follows below:

  1. First understand that this is a holiday, and not a worry-day

Although it is themed, “Stay-At-Home,” or “Lock-down,” it is also a type of holiday, but of which we do not want this sort of holiday to re-occur. You still have the option to make this period a resourceful and positive moment, by first changing your mindset to think of it as that holiday that the school management declares and everyone goes home smiling, and it is a privilege to be alive while this holiday passes by. It will help your mind to become very creative and sure suggest you more ways to enjoy your time.

  1. Stay Organized, make sure your environment is breathing fresh air

Even in a normal day to day living in your home, if you stay organized, plan your day, nothing will overwhelm you. And once nothing overwhelms you, then you can be sure of a clear mind to be in control. A man in control does not feel bored, rather he or she feels energized every time.

Look at it this way:

If you notice that, the organized man, have everything under control, and he can easily feel the fresh breathe in and around him. His environment is clean and well arranged, hence no need to look up and down each time. He sees this lock down as a normal day in the office with a few familiar colleagues to work with, this time his family.

Unlike the unorganized party, he tends to complain a lot, everything is dirty, his mind is clumsy, nobody and everything is welcomed. He just want to escape this period and run away, but it is still the same home or office that he will run back to. So no time is the best to stay organized and no place to run to, just arrange your home, get things under control and the lockdown will feel as a new town holiday.

  1. Get Enough Sleep

You remember those days you wished you could get enough sleep, but the long day at office never allowed you the opportunity.. yesss! Now you have the time. Do not be like the man, who wished for rest in busy day, but feel sad when the opportunity come, only wishing to go back to the party hall.

Be grateful that you are alive, go back to bed, help your brain to get enough rest, relax your cells, allow your skin to experience new fresh air. It is very ok to be lazy during this period, just wake up, make a cup of tea, and go back to sleep, no alarms, no mama pats to prepare for college, its just a free time to enjoy the cloud under your blanket. Do not loose this opportunity, it may only come again, just at the time you become as rich as Bill Gates, although Mr. Gates does not sleep a lot as you think.

  1. Family Time, No fights, be the peace maker

Have you ever thought of becoming a lawyer, ok now is the time to be a good one. Be the peace maker in your home, do not allow anybody to fight. The more you fight, the more the stress. A stressed brain is a depressed man, hence a boring day all through.

Did you notice that your last born baby could draw, may he or she is a great artist, and you never had time for her.. ok that’s fine, no judgments, just make peace with everyone and help out as a the tutor you should have been in a long time.  Avoid any form of fights and you will scale this period with sound mind.

Hey married man, it is time to enjoy your wife’s delicious meals, and ye wife, make the best of all yummy. And you will also notice that dancing is not too hard to learn, so give it a try this time and entertain the house.

  1. Love your work, find a way to convert it to work from home

Have you noticed that almost every type or category of work have a home version of it, except that some of the special equipment may not be at home, just at the factories. That is fine, you can start to do the paper work planning now, within the next few days, you will round up with a lot of market plans and be having multiple alternatives to achieve greater goals.

This is the time to have enough time to discover new ways to beat the reshaping industry, innovatively. For example; what if after the pandemic, and your employees refuse to return to the office, would you close down your company? Obviously no! so it’s a good time to hand out that work manual, duties for your staffs to also continue working from home, while you still remain the boss from the comfort of your dining table. Try it now, and if doesn’t work, at least you tried, no harm and it is in the free time, so you can get back to work soon as you always do. Enjoy!

  1. Discover a new Art, everybody have some artistic part of them but may not have paid enough attention to it

Bill Gates have always been a lover of books, but it is during his long-supposed boring holidays, that he started putting down his thoughts into; Gates Notes.

Well, you can confirm within yourself, there is an expert artist, a superb Vlog producer, an audible podcast creator and even a great content writer. These all have been sitting right there, within you, but you have not had the time to work it out, and not that you can’t, it’s just that, you never had the time.

So here lays the time in quantum, and a lot of fans with you (the family) to cheer you up even when you make the clumsiest of art work. They will still say, wow! So you could draw as good as this… do some more. Opportunity comes but once, and here is one, don’t wait to create another one.. time waits for no man. Thank you.

  1. Read something new, which is not very serious and not really related to your work books, just some casual children stories

This is not the time to get too serious with work. This is the time to be very flexible, allow that humorous part of you to emerge, read something that is way jokingly, so different, so playful, tell those old stories to your kids before he or she sleeps at night.

Except you are a nerd, who must soak head in your school work book, you can also, pay simple attention to other editorial contents that doesn’t relate to your work, just to give your brain a different kind of vibe. Who knows if this unusual knowledge may be the new wave of the industry after this period.

You may also try to learn a new language, this will take your time, so before you realize it, the whole lockdown period is over. Listen to new genre of music. Watch different type of movies. Turn on those TV channels you always skipped. Just learn something new. If it is new, it will always be worth your time and effort.

  1. Spend more time with God than you ever did

It is time to pray extra 30 minutes. It is time to allow the world of science to breathe and ask your God what is the next step, the solution, your other callings and pay attention, he speaks and will surely talk to your heart with a mild voice.

God deserves praises, so give him extra hours in this time.

God is the greatest and will always be the greatest.

Do not worry about your religion, your God lives in your heart, so listen to him and ask those questions you have always had, and he will answer you now. We will all make it out strong, and God will be praised at last.

Trump Liberalizes the Conservatives

By
Ndubuisi Ekekwe
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1

During the Obama Presidency, some politicians threw everything at him. Yes, some people who call themselves the Tea Party, fiscal hawks, conservatives or whatever made things very hard for him. Today, most of those men smiled as President Trump signed a $2 trillion stimulus bill, accelerating the U.S. deficit. As they clapped, hugged and boasted about the spending victory, one thing came to mind: why do men deceive themselves?

President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion coronavirus relief bill on Friday, as Washington tries to blunt economic destruction from the pandemic ripping through the United States.

The House earlier passed the stimulus package, believed to be the largest in U.S. history, by voice vote, which simply measures if more lawmakers shout for “aye” or “nay” on whether to support it. The chamber scrambled Friday to block an effort to delay its passage.

If you see how these men opposed Obama as he looked for funds to get America out of the miry clay of 2009 market collapse, you would not expect them to join the current chorus of a bailout.

Ladies and gentlemen: every politician is the same – American, Nigerian or British. It is no permanent enemy, no permanent friend but a permanent interest. Yes, they simply want job security, and they would do everything to manipulate enough votes for a Win.

Since President Trump came, he is doing what he does best: spend other people’s money. And all those men who made a career of preaching fiscal conservatism, opposing any federal help to communities, have magically had brain transplants. Today, the liberals are outflanked because they cannot go big enough – on spending.

Sure, this is not to diminish the paralysis of Covid-19. My point is this: had Obama been running this show, these conservatives may be singing different stanzas. Not that they believe the spirit of their opposition; it is just that it would help them keep their jobs!

Mr. President’s Tweet

By
Ndubuisi Ekekwe
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4

If you are a healthcare worker in the U.S. on any type of visa, the U.S. government will renew it or update it for work rights provided you can help in the fight against covid-19. As the U.S. does that, Nigeria is pulling out its health experts from Central Africa because it has a virus war at home to deal with. Ladies and gentlemen, Chinua Achebe would write about Eneke, the bird, thus: “Men have learned to shoot without missing their mark and I have learned to fly without perching on a twig”.

Mr Buhari said he has “directed the NCDC to draft all its recent retirees back into service to beef up our manpower as we respond to the pandemic.”

He added that all staff of the agency undergoing training or on foreign assignments should return to the country.

“Furthermore, all NCDC staff and experts who are away on training or international assignments are to return immediately.

“Already the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) are conducting an evacuation mission to bring back some of our specialists in Central Africa, to enable them support the national response,” he said.

Yes, when things go really bad, the spirit of globalization collapses and readjustments happen on the rule of engagement. In Central Africa, there is a high chance that some hospitals will close just as without Nigerians, the Gambia legal system will struggle. Recently, a Nigerian was the head of the courts after another coordinated the writing of the constitution.

Mr. President has to do what he has to do, which is to protect Nigerians and mobilize his team from around the world. Certainly, while it is very painful to our neighbors for this recall, we need to face the reality of the time.

Yet, President Buhari needs to ensure that the U.S. and Europe do not come after his team as the hourly rate for nurses in San Francisco is hitting $120.

GTBank Restructuring to Venture Into Fintech and InsurTech

By
Samuel Nwite
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1

The advent of Fintech in the Nigeria financial sector has become lucrative enough that investors from around the world are betting on it with large sums. In 2019, the Nigerian fintech raised $360 million in seed and investment funds, a development that has endeared many to the happenings in that financial space, even banks are taking keen interest.

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) is planning to restructure as a holding company to enable it to take on fintech. The bank’s CEO Segun Agbaje made the disclosure during the earnings call for the fourth quarter of 2019.

A holding company is a form of financial organization that owns a controlling interest in other businesses called subsidiaries.

GTB is popular for diversity in business, investing in a range of industries, from insurance to asset management, until 2010, when the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) stopped banks from running non-banking subsidiaries. Now, the bank appears ready to give the fintech industry a try.

“About 10 years ago, we made a decision then looking at the operating environment that we were going to shed all our subsidiaries and become completely focused. Everything we have seen over the last 2,3 years has told us that it’s time to have a bit of a rethink” Segun Agbaje said.

Agbaje seems to foresee a future of fierce competition between banks and fintechs in Nigeria, and has a plan to make hay while it still shines. Although GTB made record earnings in 2019, with a 6.6% profit increase at N231.7 billion ($640.4 million), an increase spurred by the addition of seven million more customers, the CEO appears unimpressed, and sensed bleak future for banks as the fintech industry garner momentum daily.

“Most banks are growing 5% to 7%. We know that’s sustainable,” Agbaje said.

At a time when other banks are talking consolidation, it makes sense that the most profitable bank in Nigeria is worried about the future, and sees fintech as a way out.

Zenith and Union banks are reportedly having a consolidation talk; First Bank is also reportedly in talks to acquire two other smaller banks. In 2019, Nigerians witnessed the Access-Diamond Banks merger. There are all signs of trouble in the banking industry, especially as it affects the biggest banks in the country.

Agbaje believes the weak valuations of banks is a reason to diversify, and the CBN’s regulation of 2010 has made fintech the principal choice.

“When you take GTBank, which has one the best valuations in the banking industry, it is valued at a one-time book. Then you come to the payment space where fintechs and payment companies are being valued at 30x earnings. What is there not to like about this space?” Agbaje said at February’s Social Media Week in Lagos.

While he acknowledged the existence of other profitable businesses, he believes restructuring will help the Guaranty Trust Bank to cash in on the most profitable one.

“There are other lines of businesses that are doing very well. If you look at our financial statement, you will see that our payment business is growing by about 60%. So that is an area we like,” Agbaje said.

Agbaje believed that GTBank has what it takes to compete and win in the fintech space, using the already existing payment products of the bank as an example: GTBank’s lending service and QuickCredit that have been designed to compete with fintechs, have formed solid basis for the CEO’s belief that GTB will scale the hurdle and win the race in the fintech industry.

But as Agbaje hinted at February’s Social Media Week, the focus of the bank is on payment: “About 30% of banking revenue comes from the payment space.”

The payment market has a prediction of lucrative future growth that will hit $20 billion to $40 billion in the near future. According to business consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, Nigeria’s fintech revenues will grow from $153.1 million in 2017, to $543.3 million by 2022.

With the rising rate of partnership between fintechs of Nigerian origin and established payment firms around the world, banks are wary that the future of the finance industry in Nigeria will be overtaken by players in the payment technology.

Agbaje said the projection of Frost & Sullivan means that 30% of banking income is at risk, and the time to act to avoid the pitfalls is now. GTB is not considering partnership with already existing fintechs, but it is building its own app called Habari.

The bank believes that it already has the demographic needed to push its payment products, and will not find it hard to bring Habari to the limelight.

 

The bank recently launched Beta Health

GTBank Launches Beta Health, Expands Access to Health Insurance for Low-Income Nigerians

Guaranty Trust Bank Plc has announced the launch of Beta Health, a low-cost health financing product that offers instant access to health insurance for every Nigerian. The first of its kind in Nigeria, Beta Health provides coverage for basic and essential health services such as; general consultations, treatment for malaria, Ante Natal care, amongst others, for a subscription of N500 a month. 

As at 2018, more than 90 percent of the Nigerian population are not enrolled in any health insurance scheme, according to the country’s Ministry of Health. This is because health insurance is either too expensive or not very accessible to most people across the country. Beta Health is a response to this pressing national need and the latest offering in the long line of GTBank’s innovative products and services aimed at adding value to people’s everyday lives. To subscribe to Beta Health, all a customer has to do is simply dial *737*52*500*50# on their mobile phones, and they will be signed up on the package within minutes.

People subscribed to Beta Health can walk into over 1,000 hospitals nationwide and get attended to for select medical cases, at no out-of-pocket cost. There are, on average, at least 5 healthcare centres in every local government area under the Beta Health coverage, and the plan also allows for subscription on behalf of a third-party; such as relatives, domestic staff, contract workers and employees of small businesses. This offers an efficient solution for access to basic healthcare services for people in every part of the country and across all works of life.

Commenting on the launch of Beta Health, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Mr Segun Agbaje, said; “We are delighted and proud to launch this healthcare initiative which we believe will have a tremendous impact in people’s lives. Beta Health is more than just a banking product, it reflects our passion for enriching lives and commitment to expanding access to the essential services which everyone needs to thrive.”

He further stated that, “For us at GTBank, this is just the start. We will continue to build on Beta Health to provide greater access to more robust and comprehensive healthcare plans that serve the pressing needs and fit the lifestyle of our customers and people in the communities where we operate.”

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry. The Bank is regarded by industry watchers as one of the best run financial institutions across its subsidiary countries and serves as a role model within the financial service industry due to its bias for world-class corporate governance standards, excellent service quality and innovation. The Bank is also going beyond the traditional understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility as corporate philanthropy by intervening in key economic sectors through non-profit consumer-focused fairs and capacity building initiatives for small businesses

Address Economic Challenges with Strict Measures for Coronavirus Containment

By
Mutiu Iyanda
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0
Lagos Island (source: Guardian)

As Lagos State Government continues taking bold steps and decisions and containment of Coronavirus outbreak, Nigerians have advised the state government to urgently consider palliative measures for the downtrodden residents and others who are experiencing varied difficulties as markets are shut down and social gatherings are limited. 

This emerged from the feelings and views analysed by Knowcovid-19 Nigeria that trailed the state’s governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s announcement in a televised briefing after the State’s Security Council meeting held recently that non-essential markets should be closed, while social gatherings should be limited across the state. According to the governor, the restrictive measures were imperative considering the rising number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state. 

Analysis further shows that over 28% of 46 views that trailed the government’s measure believe that the step would be severe on the masses because of the current economic challenges in the country. Therefore, there is a need to provide palliative measures for the people. From the analysis, we learnt that a significant number of the views want the government to incentivise the workers at this critical period. 

“Mr. Governor the preventive measures are absolutely in order, but more palliative care to mostly the downtrodden in the state should be carefully looked into and addressed due to these unexpected inconveniences. Lagosians in the majority are paupers who feed from hand to mouth literally and therefore need government assistance to cushion the effects in the time being,” one of the followers of the State Government’s Facebook Official Page said.

Apart from understanding the critical issues the public wants the government to address, our analysts further examine the attitude of the people towards the measures within emotions. We discovered that over 50% (out of 610 volume of emotions) were not happy about the decision. Despite this, some believe that such a decision must be taken if truly Nigeria and Nigerians want to stop the spread of the disease. To have meaningful results from contact tracing strategy being used by the stakeholders, one person suggests publication of the names of the people being tracked “so people can identify them.” “It could be your neighbour. There is no time,” the person stressed. 

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