Fortis MFB Gets Client Protection Certification, Disburses N15bn Credit

Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc has been labeled the first Client Protection Certified organisation in Nigeria by Smart Campaign, a global initiative to incorporate strong client-protection and best practices into the microfinance industry.

By this recognition which is seen as big boost to the fortunes of the bank, Fortis joins

Lack of Regional co-operation Hobbling potential of Africa’s Energy Sector

TWO crucial issues stood out on the agenda of the Africa Energy Indaba held last month: how to implement the regional integration of African energy supplies and how to find people akin to Bill Gates or Richard Branson to lead the industry.

 

Gregory Nott, energy specialist and director at law firm Norton Rose Fulbright SA, says the government’s independent power producer office has indicated that liquified natural gas (LNG) will be used for power generation in South African.
"The Mozambique gas finds must register as huge opportunities for South African and the region.

HOW TO WRITE A BANKABLE BUSINESS PLAN

IFE ADEDAPO examines the key features of a business plan that will attract investors

The ability to generate business ideas is not a problem for budding entrepreneurs, but their capability to attract external funds is a major obstacle.

 

Experts advise that every business owner should have a business plan to show a comprehensive research has been conducted on the business concept and indicate commitment to seeing the project to a successful completion.

What are the objectives of having a business plan?

The CEO, Angela Itambo Company, Mrs. Angela Ihunweze, says a business plan is a written document that outlines the goals and objectives of a particular business activity.

She says it can be used for the purpose of starting a new business, expanding or being able to show the competence of the company to handle a particular activity for a client.

She observes that most entrepreneurs in the country use business plans to raise funds or attract partners, however, she says that it is a map that provides alternative routes to an individual or business entity to get to its destination.

Ihunweze adds that it is a working document that should be owned by all businesses including those that do not require external funding.

According her, the plan for every business should be updated on a weekly basis to reflect the changing trends in the business environment such as the inflation rate, the high cost of raw materials, changes in tariffs, taxes among others.

For instance, she says the current state of the economy and the way it has affected some of the business parameters should be reflected whenever the plan is reviewed.

“It can either be typed or written with a pen depending on its use.

A standard business plan should be written in a language and manner which makes it interesting to read devoid of technical jargon that make it unappealing to read,” she adds.

The physical qualities of a business plan

Chinese Officials Arrest 21 people Finance Scheme over $7.6bn 'Scam'

The 21 people worked for Ezubao, a peer-to-peer lender widely described in Chinese state media as a Ponzi scheme. 

 

Ezubao is believed to be China's largest such online financing business.

State media said investigations had found more than 95% of the investment offerings on the site were fake.

Chinese television broadcast apparent confessions by two former employees of the company, that was based in Anhui province. 

South African's Job numbers ‘Double’, yet remain insufficient

The number of people with jobs in South African has more than doubled over the past 21 years to 15.66-million this year from 7.97-million in 1994, according to data compiled by the South African Institute of Race Relations (SAIRR).
 
Although this was a "largely unacknowledged success", an insufficient number of jobs was created, so the unemployment rate has remained stubbornly high, it said in the December issue of its Fast Facts summary.

Austrail Abbot Point Coal Expansion

The controversial project will see Abbot Point become one of the world's biggest coal ports.

The expansion will involve dredging one million cubic metres of spoil near the Great Barrier Reef which will then be dumped on land.

Conservationists have said the project will have a significant impact on the area's wildlife and surrounds.

The expansion project is key to the success of a coal mine to be built by India's Adani Mining - the Carmichael project. Adani expects to export coal from the expanded port.

Australian Environment Minister Greg Hunt approved the expansion of the project on Thursday.

'Damaging dredge'

SA fallen in key ranking buiness despite progress

south africa rank fallen in business

South Africa has fallen four places to 73 out of 189 countries surveyed in the World Bank’s 2016 Doing Business Report released on Tuesday night.
This was not an indication that SA was not progressing in making it easier for companies to do business, but rather that other countries were implementing reforms quicker, private sector development specialist at the bank Frederic Meunier said.

The report is compiled from several indicators such as starting a business, access to electricity, and paying taxes, and from consultations with industry players.

Slow down of African Mobile Phone users in 2015-2020- Study

A study/research has showed on Thursday, heralding an end to the boom in an industry that has spurred the continent's growth.

 

A report by global industry body GSMA expects subscriber growth to slow to 6 percent between 2015-2020 compared with 13 percent growth in the first half of the decade, citing lack of commercial logic in setting up network coverage in some rural areas, where more than half of the population lives.

Victor Ndigwe a Nigerian male model who walks Milan, Paris runways –

His name is Victor Ndigwe, he’s 19 years-old, he’s a male model and ain’t nothing wrong with that.

Victor Ndigwe

Not too long ago he was just like any other aspiring model in Nigeria, hustling for jobs and trying to get into a good agency, until his story changed.

Victor, who isn’t the only model in his family, had heard about the Aquafina Elite Model Look competition in Nigeria in 2012, and had decided to sign up with his sister. He didn’t get his chance until 2014 when he registered along with thousands of other hopefuls, except his