Niger Delta demands 14 more states

Niger Delta demands 14 more states. Its easier to make all the 774 LGAs States and leave us alone. All the agitators dont have any plans for these states apart from looting as soon as created.

BankPHB, Rest in Peace

After months of uncertainty and virtually no negotiations Habib Nigeria Bank Plc and Platinum Bank Plc agreed to merge and form Platinum Habib Bank Nigeria Plc in 2006. This bank came out from nowhere and had little chance of makes waves. As at the time of formation, it was ranked 17th amongst the 25 banks that survived the government forced consolidation in the Banking industry.

Within 12months the name changed to BankPHB, and with some aggressive marketing after some unexplainable decisions on the issues of staff and compensation, the bank moved up the ladder to be ranked 10th. This was a astonishing and it became the envy of even bigger banks. The phenomenal growth caused some disquieten in the industry as competitors were not sure what philosophy was drive such a growth. The trajectory was quite clear for everyone to see. Most bankers wanted to wear the "dash of yellow" pin on the suits, and flaunt the bank's ID card. This was helped alot by the array of television adverts that were unknown in this part of the world.

Within no time the bank was ranked amongst the top 3 in public sector business having won the FAAC and JAAC accounts of more than 14 states in the country. The top bank in collections for FIRS and NPA, the best in terms of retail products and services etc.

Little wonder, the bank was named the "most innovative bank" by the press and it indeed won the award.

Suceess managment became a challenge to the managers of the bank and all caution was thrown to winds especially after a successful IPO. Risk assets were being created with reckless abandon, credit policies and guidelines were waived or at best deferred. The bank played heavily in speculating markets like Oil trading and the capital market. New players were employed and the old relaible, loyal and sincere ones were relegated. The new ones were considered whizkids, and their target was top 5 bank ny 2010.

Suddenly, the sub prime crisis bursted in the US, consumed Europe and Asia (to some extent) while Nigerian banks were insolated by the then CBN governor, Charles Soludo. The protection was to allow the government come with a remedial policy without necessarily causing panic in the economy I guess. Instead of the banks to develop aggressive recovery methods and loan workout strategies, the managers continued to live in self deceit and even hid the looming danger from their employees.

Enter Sunusi Lamido Sunusi (SLS). A risk manager that was just appointed the Managing Director of Nigeria's foremost and oldest bank-First Bank of Nigeria Plc has being moved up as Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria. His appointment was not without controversy at all. First, a school of thought was campaigning for the retention of Charles Soludo as the CBN gov for continuity, others were against SLS for political reasons. One reason for him to be dropped by the late President Yar'adua was that the then Minsiter of Finance and Minster of National were both from Kano State, same state with SLS. This effectively means that the economic policies of the country can be decided in the place of His Royal Highness, Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero. President Yar'adua did not buy any of those reasons and stuck to his gun of appointing SLS. It was widely believed that the MD/owners of some of the banks were those against his appointment and had mustered alot of money to carry out the campaign in both the media and National Assembly.

On resumption of duties, he caused a detailed audit of all banks and 8 came out very bad, 3 were marginally in trouble while the others got away with a slap on the wrist. Wema Bank, Unity Bank and ETB were asked to go and seek more capital while the other 8 had the managements sacked and replaced.

After months of intense negotiations on the recapitalisation process of BankPHB, decisions were hardly made and the FG was out to avoid a systemic damage to the industry.

BankPHB lost it banking licence on August 5, 2011 after close of banking hours. Most staff only became aware of this development after getting home, either through friends that heard the news or through the news themselves. Keystone Bank Limited (KBL) was licenced and it inherited the staff and customers of BankPHB along with its assets and liability but not with it sharehloders.

The dash of yellow is gone, the price of greed is paid and the prayers of many have being answered. Who are the losers? The shareholders, those that innocently bought into the bank's IPO, those that initiated the bank, those that were brought into the bank through a merger not well thoughtout and the management of the bank. The winners are Nigerian banking public, loyal staff of the bank, AMCON (new owner) that saw the potential and goodwill of the bank and indeed SLS for initiating and championing the reforms in the industry.

The story of BankPHB should be a case study in business schools and it is a good example of how not to mis manage an acceptable brand, how not to deviate from original plans, how not to be too greedy and how to appreciate those who will look you in the eyes and tell you the home truth.

Adieu, Ciao, goodbye, Good, Better, BankPHB!

JEWEL IN THE SAVANNAH - PRIMARY/POST PRIMARY EDUCATION

The Jewel in the Savannah is the nickname of Gombe State. Gombe State is in the heart of the north eastern part of Nigeria. There are 11 local government area and have diverse tribes with Islam and Christianity as the main religions practiced. There are hardly cases of ethnic or religious crises in Gomber State.
The state is rich in agriculture and solid minerals, has huge potentials for even more commercial activities and tourism. This reasons might be the reason why Gombe is home to one of the ancient railway stations in Nigeria. The trains brought people of various cultures and traditions, it brought the yorubas that dominates Jekada fari and Igbos to Sabon layi, both in the hear of town.
After the initial faulty start of the state after gaining "independence" from Bauchi state, Gombe transformed from been a glorified local government headquarters to a state capital. All thanks to the immediate past Governor of the state - Mohammed Danjuma Goje.
Goje has set a high standard for anyone who aspires to lead Gomber state by delivering roads, hospitals, stadium, housing estates, rural roads, schools etc. However, in all his achievements, the primary education became the orphan. He did the best he could but it was not enough.
With a university that is the envy of even the old federal universities, a schoool of health technology and a school of nursing and midwifery, the schools charged with the responsibility of providing these higher institutions with students are yearning for attention.
The secondary schools are mere structures with little attention given to the human development of teachers and students. The result of the SSCE examinations in 2010 gives an insight into the state of the schools. The rate of growth of private primary schools with no little monitoring says all about the public school system. There was a time in the 1980s when all the pupils of Hina Central Primary School passed common entrance exams and qualified for admission into unity schools. Hina is a village about 50km from Gombe on the highway to Maiduguri. Today, the rate of pass of common entrance of the whole state will have to be looked into.
The major challenge confronting the new Governor and immediate past Account General of the Federation - Ibrahim Dankwambo is how to revise the state of the primary and secondary schools, revive the competition for places in public schools by parents rather than letting them pay so much for yet so little education for their wards/children.
We are expecting that he will search, nominate and appoint someone with a sense of urgency in reviving the primary and post primary education in Gombe State. The appointee need not be a Professor or Ph.D holder but one with sense of discipline and patrotism, one who benefitted from public school system and rose to their present status.Just like His Excellency himself. Its not gonna be easy but this is one thing he MUST do. And monitor he MUST do as well the performance of such a Commissioner.
Maybe the governor should make it an appraisal issue and base the continued retention of any cabinet member of the performance of their sector in the state. For education, the rate of failure in national exams must be used a yard stick for measuring the performance of any Commissioner, Director of Schools, School Principals etc and continued service to the State.
I pray he gets the right person to execute this tall order.