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1,000 Nigerian SMEs to benefit from Polaris Bank, EAS funded training on export to US, Europe

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…Provides local funding for stock purchase

Polaris Bank, in its show of commitment towards empowerment of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with Export and Sell (EAS), a renowned expert in export solutions, to train and subsequently fund over 1,000 successful SMEs on export opportunities to the USA via Amazon and other international platforms.

Polaris Bank is leveraging the expertise of EAS as an intermediary between Online and African Stores in the US, UK and Nigerian businesses, for supply of Raw foodstuffs and other items from Nigeria. With a focus on e-commerce sales through Amazon, the training provides in-depth exposure to Nigerian SMEs on export opportunities and sales expansion into the American market. The training will provide an opportunity to educate SMEs on how to find buyers and how to meet specifications for export, especially into the US market.

The training programme is slated to commence in October 3, 2023 as a hybrid model, with in-person sessions slated to hold in Port Harcourt, Abuja and Lagos. Subsequently intensive sessions will hold for four days with over 1000 successful SMEs; many of whom could access facilities of up to ₦20m for SMEs and ₦1billion for large corporate.

This collaboration aims to equip SMEs with the knowledge and tools required to successfully export their products.

In today’s global marketplace, SMEs face unique challenges, including, access to financing, shipping, product registration and finding buyers for their business. Polaris Bank recognizes the importance of fostering economic growth by supporting SMEs, as the backbone of the Nigerian economy. Through the partnership with EAS, Polaris Bank is taking a significant step towards fulfilling its commitment to SME growth and development in Nigeria.

The partnership and training programme, will provide SMEs with a comprehensive understanding of onboarding on Amazon and exporting successfully to the USA, with insights on export credit insurance and risk mitigation strategies. Participants will gain insights into available funding windows provided by Polaris Bank as well as be equipped on how to leverage them effectively.

The training sessions will be led by industry experts from both Polaris Bank and EAS, ensuring that participants receive the highest quality education and guidance.

Commenting on the Export and Sell Business Model, Polaris Bank’s Group Head, Products & Market Development, Adebimpe Ihekuna expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “At Polaris Bank, we understand the pivotal role SMEs play in driving economic growth. Through our collaboration with EAS, we aim to empower SMEs with the knowledge and tools necessary to access export financing opportunities and compete effectively on the global stage. This partnership underscores Polaris Bank’s commitment to SME development and Nigeria’s economic prosperity.”

A BusinessDay news article published on March 23, 2023, quoting Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that a total of N598.2billion worth of agricultural produce were exported in 2022, accounting for 18.5 percent increase when compared to the figure recorded in 2021.

Polaris Bank was adjudged Digital Bank of the Year in 2021 and 2022 by Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. It also emerged as the best MSME Bank because of its ability to use technology to enable bottom-up support to the MSME sector.

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Tinubu: My govt has created 650,000 jobs via National MSME clinics In 19 states and FCT

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President Bola Tinubu on Monday disclosed that his government has created 650,000 jobs through its National Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Clinics in 19 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Tinubu also vowed to remove all bottlenecks militating against Nigerians turning ideas and skills into successful businesses.

The President made this known via his verified X handle, @officialABAT and explained that a tailor should not need millions of naira to buy industrial machinery before she can grow her business while a food processor should not have to build a factory before producing at scale.

This, he stated, informed why the Federal Government, “under our Renewed Hope administration, is investing in shared MSME hubs through our National MSME Clinics, giving entrepreneurs access to modern equipment, reliable power and production facilities without carrying the full cost alone.”

According to Tinubu: “Today, 21 shared facilities across 19 states and the FCT are supporting businesses and an estimated 650,000 jobs. ReadPolitical News

“Nigerians do not lack ideas, skill or ambition. Too often, they lack access to the tools and infrastructure needed to turn them into successful businesses.

“Our job is to remove those barriers.

“When small businesses can produce more, at lower cost, they become more competitive. They grow. They employ more people. They create income and opportunity for Nigerian families.

“Giving Nigerian enterprise the tools to succeed is how we build prosperity from the ground up. That is the Nigeria we are building.”

 

 

 

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Experts raise alarm on Shawarma, Cancer, Kidney Disease

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Health professionals have warned that regular consumption of shawarma containing high amounts of salt, sugar, fat, seasoning and processed meat may contribute to hypertension, obesity, diabetes and kidney disease.

Excessive salt can raise blood pressure and put additional strain on the kidneys, while high-calorie sauces may contribute to weight gain.

Nutrition experts advised Nigerians to eat shawarma in moderation, use less mayonnaise and other sauces, choose lean grilled meat and add more vegetables. Consumers were also urged to check vendors’ cleanliness and avoid food prepared where ingredients are exposed to flies, dust or poor handling.

 

A recent report by experts also warned that frequent consumption of Shawarma may increase the risk of other food-borne infections and long-term health problems.

The report contains documented cases of people who suffered vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach pain and weakness after eating shawarma, with some requiring hospital treatment.

According to the report,  poor hygiene could allow bacteria and other contaminants into shawarma, causing illnesses including cholera, dysentery, typhoid and salmonellosis.

It also raised concerns about mayonnaise and creamy sauces kept without proper refrigeration and warned that poor storage could encourage bacterial growth and increase the risk of food poisoning.

A study cited in the report found bacterial contamination in ready-to-eat shawarma sold on the streets

Experts also raised concerns about processed meat such as sausage, noting that the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies processed meat as carcinogenic to humans.

 

 

 

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Phone communication exposes married woman in the case of Abuja resident who died in a hotel

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The mystery surrounding the death of a man whose body was found by the roadside in Abuja has taken a new turn, with police tracing the case through his missing mobile phone to a married woman who allegedly spent time with him at a hotel.

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Sanusi, disclosed this on Saturday in Abuja, saying investigators arrested Rukayat Muhammed after tracing the deceased’s final communications.

The man was found dead on August 26 along the Kubwa Expressway, near Katampe under the bridge, after his family had earlier reported him missing.

According to the police, the case initially raised suspicion of a possible “one chance” incident. Investigators, however, established that the dead man was the missing person after identifying his remains.

Sanusi said the deceased’s mobile phone was missing and had been switched off. Police investigators subsequently traced his last known communication, leading them to Rukayat, a resident of Garki Area 2.

Investigators reportedly discovered that Rukayat, who is married, was allegedly in a romantic relationship with the deceased. The police said she had saved his contact under the name “Safiyat.”

The CP said the pair had lodged at Good Samaritan Guest House on 2nd Avenue, Gwarinpa, where the man later died.

Sanusi said Rukayat allegedly discovered that the man was no longer breathing but failed to alert the police or hotel management. Instead, she allegedly took his phone and left the hotel.

The case took another turn when hotel management later discovered the man’s body inside the room after attempts to contact the occupants failed.

Rather than reporting the discovery, two hotel staff members, Ibrahim Omeiza and Kefat Bitrus, allegedly removed the body from the room and transported it to the Kubwa Expressway, where they dumped it under the Katampe bridge.

The police said the action was apparently intended to distance the hotel and its management from the death.

Sanusi said detectives were still working to establish exactly how the man died and determine the individual roles of those connected to the incident.

He warned that anyone found to have participated in the death, concealment or abandonment of the body would face prosecution.

The commissioner said the investigation remains ongoing.

 

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