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Sterling Financial Holdings Company PLC has achieved another milestone with the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recognising an additional ₦75 billion in its capital raise. This approval represents the final leg of the capital injection that was achieved through a private placement in September 2024. Building on the private placement’s success, Sterling launched a Rights Issue in October 2024, structured to provide existing shareholders the exclusive opportunity to deepen their stakes in the company and share in its growth story. The Rights Issue received significant interest and participation, highlighting the confidence and trust the company has cultivated among its shareholders over the years. Regulatory approval for the process is currently underway, marking another significant step in the recapitalisation journey. The public is eagerly awaiting Sterling’s Public Offer, which will present an exciting opportunity for individuals to invest in the company. It is anticipated that the recapitalisation process will be completed with a Public Offer early next year, allowing wider participation from the public and further strengthening its commitment to shared value creation. Group Chief Executive, Yemi Odubiyi, in a statement, described the capital injection and the approval as a validation of the company’s strategic direction and operational excellence. “This milestone reflects the confidence of regulators and stakeholders in our vision to redefine financial services in Nigeria and beyond. Our enhanced capital base empowers us to pursue transformative opportunities, deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders and drive impact across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy,” he stated. Odubiyi emphasised the company’s evolution from its origins as a merchant bank to its current status as a diversified financial holdings company. Powered by cutting-edge technology and a flexible operational model, the company has consistently demonstrated its ability to navigate market difficulties and seize growth opportunities. Reflecting on Sterling’s accomplishments, Odubiyi acknowledged the instrumental role of stakeholders, including regulators, investors, and customers. “We are grateful for the unwavering support and trust in our strategy, which has been pivotal to our journey. This recapitalisation strengthens our ability to unlock new opportunities, create value, and drive economic growth,” he added. The capital boost follows a year marked by robust financial performance and significant strategic achievements for Sterling. As at the last week in December 2024, Sterling witnessed a 19% surge in stock price, contributing to a remarkable three-year growth of 287.42%. In the first half of 2024, the company recorded a 51% increase in profit before tax compared to the same period in 2023 and achieved a 20% growth in total assets. These results demonstrate Sterling’s resilience and ability to deliver superior outcomes despite the complexities of Nigeria’s economic landscape, marked by high inflation and currency volatility. As Sterling looks ahead, its focus remains firmly on innovation, sustainability, and value creation. With a fortified capital structure, the company is well-positioned to execute its ambitious growth plans, deepen its impact across critical sectors, and set new benchmarks for excellence in Nigeria’s financial services industry. This latest milestone marks a transformative chapter for Sterling Financial Holdings Company PLC as it continues to redefine the future of financial services in Nigeria and beyond.Seven years ago, El Salvador made global headlines as the first country in the world to ban all metal mining. The decision was hailed as a victory for environmental protection, celebrated by local communities, environmentalists and even the Catholic Church. That was then. President Nayib Bukele is now calling for a reversal of the landmark ban, claiming that beneath the country's fertile soil lies an untapped fortune. According to Bukele, the small Central American nation sits atop an estimated $3 trillion in unmined gold reserves—a potential jackpot that could radically transform El Salvador's financial future. "We potentially have the largest gold deposits per square kilometer in the world," Bukele declared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter ). He claimed that extracting just 4 percent of the country's gold deposits could generate approximately $131 billion, a sum equivalent to 380 percent of El Salvador's current GDP. "God placed a gigantic treasure underneath our feet," Bukele wrote, calling the 2017 mining ban "absurd." It wasn't always this way. When Bukele ran for president in 2019, he supported the mining ban, which had been passed unanimously by El Salvador's Legislative Assembly in a 70-0 vote. The ban had broad support and was seen as essential to protecting the country's vulnerable water resources from contamination caused by mining operations. But his views have since shifted. Since taking office in 2019, Bukele has become one of the ban's most vocal critics, pushing for what he calls "modern and sustainable" mining that, he claims, will safeguard the environment while unlocking the nation's hidden wealth. Bukele, who previously made waves by adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and is simultaneously overseeing one of the biggest organized crime crackdowns in the world, now sees mining as a potential economic miracle. He argues that responsible resource exploitation could dramatically transform the nation's economic prospects. This week, Bukele doubled down on his proposal, and his critics were quick to respond. They fear that reopening mining could lead to the contamination of water sources, especially given the amount of freshwater needed for mining operations and the risks posed by heavy metals used in the process. "The president claims that 'responsible mining' can be done, but there is no evidence to support this claim," Pedro Cabezas, a member of the Central American Alliance against Mining (ACAFREMIN), told Newsweek . "There are no examples of 'responsible mining' that haven't caused serious impacts. The effects in El Salvador would be terrible," he warned. For Bukele, however, the push to reopen mining is part of a broader ambition to overhaul El Salvador's economy. His administration is already known for what he calls a "security miracle," which has seen the mass incarceration of more than 80,000 Salvadorans accused of gang affiliation since March 2022. Now, he aims to replicate that same top-down approach to the Salvadoran economy. As one of the most popular leaders in the world, Bukele was reelected earlier this year with overwhelming support. His party holds a commanding majority in El Salvador's Congress and with his opponents politically weakened, there's little standing in the way of his mining agenda. "When Bukele won a congressional supermajority that allowed him to bypass many democratic checks and balances, a major concern was that he would eventually start making unpopular decisions, and those opposing them would have little or no recourse," Adam Isacson, director of the Washington Office on Latin America's (WOLA) Defense Oversight program, told Newsweek . "A rush back into gold mining, at the expense of communities living atop the gold deposits, would be a prime example of that," he added. Signs of a possible resumption of mining activity first emerged in October 2022 with the creation of the General Directorate of Energy, Hydrocarbons, and Mines within the Salvadoran government. Environmental concerns deepened when El Salvador joined the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development (IGF), a global association of countries addressing mining issues. For a nation that was the first to ban all metallic mining operations, joining such a forum struck many as an unusual move that preceded a national pivot on the issue.

"Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 1914 translation by H. Rackham "But I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system, and expound the actual teachings of the great explorer of the truth, the master-builder of human happiness. No one rejects, dislikes, or avoids pleasure itself, because it is pleasure, but because those who do not know how to pursue pleasure rationally encounter consequences that are extremely painful. Nor again is there anyone who loves or pursues or desires to obtain pain of itself, because it is pain, but because occasionally circumstances occur in which toil and pain can procure him some great pleasure. To take a trivial example, which of us ever undertakes laborious physical exercise, except to obtain some advantage from it? But who has any right to find fault with a man who chooses to enjoy a pleasure that has no annoying consequences, or one who avoids a pain that produces no resultant pleasure?" 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Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasionWhy we’re against the power lines | GUEST COMMENTARY

A 9th telecoms firm has been hit by a massive Chinese espionage campaign, the White House says

ANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. Get updates and player profiles ahead of Friday's high school games, plus a recap Saturday with stories, photos, video Frequency: Seasonal Twice a weekANDERSON TOWNSHIP, Ohio (AP) — Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow's home was broken into during Monday Night Football in the latest home invasion of a pro athlete in the U.S., authorities said Tuesday. No one was injured in the break-in, but the home was ransacked, according to a report provided by the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office. Deputies weren't immediately able to determine what items were stolen. A person who is employed by Burrow arrived at the Anderson Township home Monday night to find a shattered bedroom window and the home in disarray. The person called their mother, and then 911 was contacted, according to the report. Deputies reached out to neighbors in an attempt to piece together surveillance footage. “Our investigators are exploring every avenue,” public information officer Kyla Woods said. The homes of Chiefs stars Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce were broken into in October. In the NBA , Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis had his home broken into Nov. 2 and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Mike Conley Jr.'s home was burglarized on Sept. 15 while he was at a Minnesota Vikings game. Portis had offered a $40,000 reward for information. Both the NFL and NBA issued security alerts to players after those break-ins, urging them to take additional precautions to secure their homes. In league memos previously obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL said homes of professional athletes across multiple sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.” And the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Some of the burglary groups have conducted extensive surveillance on targets, including attempted home deliveries and posing as grounds maintenance or joggers in the neighborhood, according to officials. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nflFemi Oshofowora is the chief executive officer of Mbraiz Innovations – a real estate business based in Ogolonto, Ikorodu – Lagos State. In this interview with Josephine Okojie, he spoke about what inspired Mbraiz Innovations and the state of the Nigerian real estate industry. What inspired Mbraiz Innovations? The inspiration came from the need to proffer solutions to people who have had horrible experiences buying properties. We came to preach that and let people know there are genuine people in Nigeria who can do real estate business with them with peace of mind. Secondly, I discovered that real estate is one of the ways people can build massive wealth, thereby I have been able to raise a massive number of young people who are now doing well in their businesses with real estate. What separates your organisation apart from others? At the heart of what we do are our core values, our vision, and a mindset dedicated to changing the misconceptions about real estate. We’re passionate about showing people that real estate can be a trustworthy and rewarding venture. Most importantly, we always under-promise and over deliver. How is your organisation navigating the current economic challenge? We leverage the relationships we have built with people across the years because we are very intentional about these relationships and they help drive our success. Additionally, we make use of technology to ensure that economic challenges don’t hold us back. In this part of the world, 95 percent of businesses fail within the first five years, and 98 percent fail within the next five. But the key to surviving and thriving is learning to leverage people from those you’re building with and clients at different financial levels. When you combine that with the right use of technology, you can not only overcome challenges but scale your business even through tough times. How do you cater to customers who might not be able to afford high-end properties and ensure satisfaction through the entire spectrum of your clients? Customer satisfaction is really important to us. What I’ve realized is that most businesses focus heavily on their customers while they’re still prospects, before they make a purchase. Once the deal is done and they’ve converted to paying clients, many businesses look away and move on to the next prospect. However, we take a different approach. We make it a point to stay in touch with our clients even after the sale. We reach out to collect their feedback, learn where we served them well and where we can improve our clients, also receive our email newsletters and updates, and make sure to celebrate them on their special days. This has helped build a loyal customer base for us that truly values what we do. What’s your approach to sustainability at Mbraiz Innovations? When it comes to sustainability, our approach is all about continuous learning and networking. I believe in constant growth, which is why I invest a lot in training my staff. For example, I just completed a training called Business Sustainability – a famous business coach, where I learned that 98 percent of businesses fail within the first 10 years. I also realised that a business isn’t considered to have started growing until it hits that 10-year mark. Sustainability is crucial because it’s not just about how much you have right now. You could have 10 billion in your account, but without a solid sustainability system, those billions will disappear in no time. Nigeria is being challenged with an increasing rate of brain drain across industries. How do you ensure employee retention? We prioritise training a lot. For example, every Monday, we have personal development sessions for the team. Additionally, whenever there’s a relevant training opportunity related to their department, we ensure they attend. They always come back with new skills and a broader perspective. We also give our team the freedom to make decisions. I don’t impose my views on them because they’re stakeholders too. I share my ideas, but everyone is encouraged to contribute their innovations, and together, we build something sustainable. What are the major challenges you have experienced since inception? The real challenge isn’t really about staff strength, business knowledge, or the economy, because I make sure to train myself and my team to handle economic challenges in advance. The bigger challenge, I’d say, is funding and finance. The real estate industry has been tainted by many amateurs looking to make quick cash and ruined its reputation. This has made it a bit difficult for those of us who are truly passionate to make a real difference. This is especially true for people in the diaspora who want to invest but are hesitant due to trust issues. Many who have the funds to invest are afraid because they’ve had bad experiences, and that’s a major challenge. It’s something I’m working hard to address so that people can trust us and overcome those obstacles to invest with confidence. How do you stay ahead in the very competitive world of Real Estate? In real estate, it’s crucial to understand the specific path you want to take because the industry is so broad. You need to become an authority in that area and keep building yourself in that direction. That’s exactly what I do, and I’m very intentional about it. I make sure that the path I’ve chosen in real estate is one I’m fully committed to, and I continuously acquire the knowledge and skills needed to stay afloat and succeed in that field. How do you ensure ethical business practices, especially how your staff interacts with clients? Every business, organization, or even place of worship has its own set of policies. The key is to establish a strong working system that everyone understands and can follow. As the leader, it’s crucial not to abuse the system or policies in place. We have clear standards that everyone must adhere to, and if changes are needed, I don’t make those decisions alone. I call a management meeting to discuss changes and review our standards together. We also make it a point to review our standards every quarter to see how they’re performing and to stay updated on current trends, ensuring we’re always evolving and not left behind. Have there been any instances where you had to let a customer go because they weren’t following the policies you’ve set for your brand? Yes, this has happened a few times. In real estate, it’s essential to have strong core values, and one of ours is integrity. In this business, you discover that some people get money through questionable means and try to invest in them. When someone applies for a property with us, we require their identification, address, and job details, among other documents, because this is the standard stated by EFCC to avoid money laundering. Some individuals may try to invest stolen money, and we ensure that everything is traceable to protect the business. Additionally, we sometimes encounter clients who resist following our standards because they had negative experiences with unprofessional real estate agents in the past, and in some cases, they’re the ones causing issues but just want to move on quickly, using us as an escape. For us, however, the money you want to pay doesn’t count here; it’s doing business the right and legal way that matters. Are there any challenging or bad experiences you’d like to share? In almost seven years of operation, we’ve never had to deal with any court cases, and that’s a direct result of staying true to our core values. How do you promote diversity and inclusion within your brand? It’s all about understanding and recognizing that everyone has their unique strengths. We ensure to place people in departments where they can excel based on those strengths. The head of our head of marketing is a woman, and our head of accounting is a man. We also have women who go to the site, and sometimes, we all head there as a team. It’s about creating an environment where everyone plays to their strengths, no matter their gender or role. How do you handle the risks involved in real estate? Wisdom and prayer. Real estate is a high-risk industry, especially because it’s capital intensive, but the returns can be significant. We make sure to do thorough due diligence before making any decisions. This process helps us minimize risks by giving us the right information to make informed decisions. How do you go about building partnerships with other companies? We approach partnerships in different ways. We have partnership plans for both organisations and private individuals. Right now, we have over 100 individuals partnering with Mbraiz and we also collaborate with other companies. We currently have an estate in Asaba, a partnership deal with a close friend of mine who’s also in real estate. How do you adapt to the new trends, especially in this Gen Z-driven world? Every business needs to keep up with trends because if you don’t, you risk becoming outdated. It’s important to carefully examine these trends and choose the ones that align with your brand. Some trends can even harm your brand’s identity if you’re not careful. We also leverage the onGen Z trends because they are often so tech-savvy. They’re using their skills to help promote the real estate space in innovative ways, and that’s something we embrace. Are there any ongoing projects? We just wrapped up an event last month called “Vision 30:30,” which aimed to help 30 people under 30 become landowners. We found that many people over 30 still don’t know how to become landowners, so it was a great success. We were able to help a large number of people achieve this goal. We also have another event coming up in January called “NYSC” which stands for New Year Sales Corps. It’s a program designed for people who want to earn extra income, boost their selling skills, and make money in real estate and it’ll be launching on January 1st, 2025.

Joe Burrow's home broken into during Monday Night Football in latest pro-athlete home invasionby Rajan Philips A word first used in 17th century England is gaining new currency in 21st century America. Kakistocracy, a Greek derivative per usual, means government administered by the worst group of citizens – in qualification, competence, experience and scruples. Kakistocracy is in full display in the US with the election of Donald Trump as president for a second term. America is returning to chaos not heeding Kamala Harris’s warning against going back. In Sri Lanka, Rajapaksas epitomized Kakistocracy for nearly two decades before it imploded under Gotabaya Rajapaksa. After them came Ranil Wickremesinghe to clean up the economic mess left behind by the Rajapaksas. To his credit, Mr. Wickremesinghe did clean up the economic mess. But he also created a political mess, characteristically and superciliously The mess that Ranil made, heaped atop the mess that has been piling up for all the years of this century finally became insurmountable for the entire political establishment comprising the UNP, the SLFP, and their offshoots, the SJB and the SLPP. They have been sent packing by the people, unsung, unwept and unhonoured. There is an SJB rump but without a winning leader. Sri Lankans have turned the page and opened a new chapter. There is a new president, a new parliament and a new cabinet. There is both the return to old normalcy, as well as the beginning of a new normal. The end cannot be taken for granted, but there could not have been a better start for the making of a new nation. Politics is nothing but constant work in progress. No government can deliver on everything that is possible. The best any government can do is to maximize the good that is possible and minimize the bad that is avoidable. And achieve within its term durable benefits for the people. There is enough reason to be optimistic about the new government while being alert to the risks – that are also aplenty – of its straying off course. There is already an indication of straying in the elephantine omission of any reference to the future of the executive presidency or the enactment of a new constitution in an otherwise well crafted and comprehensive inaugural Policy Statement by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the opening sitting of the new parliament on Thursday. I read the English version of the speech issued by the President’s Media Division, and even ran the ‘word find’, looking for words like – constitution, executive, president, referendum – and found none of them, let alone abolition! There is one reference to ‘provincial councils’ but that is also in connection with the role they could play in ‘cleaning Sri Lanka’. There is also no mention if and when local government and provincial council elections will be held. I don’t think these omissions are a result of translation from Sinhala to English. And they will be viewed as grave omissions by NPP critics considering the pillorying that was given to Ranil Wickremesinghe over elections and their postponements. Already there have been criticisms over the government’s walking back on the promise to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act. At least the government issued a statement indicating its position on the PTA matter. But omitting any reference to a new constitution or the executive presidency in the Policy Statement flies in the face of the government’s insistence on being transparent and accountable. NPP’s many critics will justifiably view this omission as a sign that the new government is not going be any different from its predecessors in making and breaking promises to abolish the executive presidency. Unless the government has other plans, and we are not privy to it. Otherwise, this will be a part of the old normal. The omission is also unfortunate in that it diminishes the government’s impressive achievements in setting up its first cabinet and in outlining its policy framework in the President’s well thought out statement to parliament. The new president, parliament, the new cabinet and the President’s Policy Statement are also indicative of the sociology of the JVP’s metamorphosis into NPP and the roots of their political success. A New Beginning It could easily be said that the NPP cabinet is the most compact and competent cabinet of ministers to be assembled in Sri Lanka in the 21st century. Unlike other presidents this century, President AKD has restricted his portfolios to three: Defence, Finance and Planning & Digital Economy. This is more in line with President JRJ’s portfolios that closely resembled the Prime Minister’s portfolios during the parliamentary system of government. This is moving away from the practice of presidents assigning themselves too many portfolios that began with President Kumaratunga. However, in keeping Finance under his wings, the President is continuing the practice that was also started by President Kumaratunga in 1994. Finance deserves to be a single portfolio of a single cabinet minister without any other occupational distractions. That is why Professor Mick Moore, who called Sri Lanka’s economic crisis under Gotabaya Rajapaksa, “a man-made problem”, subsequently advocated that Sri Lanka should get back to the old-style finance minister carrying only the finance portfolio. The identification of portfolios and the selection of individual ministers would appear to be based on considerations of ability, political and/or professional experience, and electoral results. Nine of the cabinet ministers led the vote tallies in their respective electoral districts, and include mostly old JVPers and new NPPers. Seven of the ministers are those who came second or third in their electoral districts. The elected MPs in the cabinet reflect the JVP/NPP’s geographical sweep and its sociopolitical roots in the electoral districts in seven of the island’s nine provinces. Six of the cabinet ministers are drawn from the NPP’s 18 National List MPs, which is a high proportion that indicates the need for balancing electoral representation with cabinet competence. Two of the National List cabinet ministers, Bimal Ratnayake and Ramalingam Chandrasekar have been credited for their political work in the Jaffna District that led to the NPP’s electoral success in the district. Mr. Ratnayake is a seasoned JVP parliamentarian, while Mr. Chandrasekar is a new MP and also the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic & Oceanic Resources. Chandrasekar with Saroja Paulraj, who was elected from Matara and is the new Minister of Women’s and Children’s Affairs, are both from the Malayaha Tamil community. The two ministers seem to be part of a new turn in cabinet making that privileges not ethnic representation but political participation. That would be consistent with the vision of an equal, inclusive and ‘non-racial’ Sri Lankan society that President Dissanayake eloquently articulated in his Policy Statement. But until that Eldorado is reached the government has to deal with misgivings about missing Muslim and Sri Lankan Tamil representation in the cabinet.