News

Arthur Nzeribe: 10 Things To Know About The Maverick Politician

Published

4 years ago

May 8, 2022

Editor

Former Senator Arthur Nzeribe is dead.

The maverick politician died on Sunday at the age of 83.

Here are 10 things to know about the man who played a major role in the June 12, 1993 election annulment:

1 – Arthur Nzeribe was born on November 3, 1938, to Oyimba Nzeribe, a lawyer and state counsel.

2 – Nzeribe lost his mother when he was in primary school at the time when his father was away in Britain studying Law.

3 – He attended Bishop Shanahan College, Orlu, and the Holy Ghost College, Owerri.

4 – After his secondary school, he travelled to Lagos State in 1957 where he got employment with the Nigeria Ports Authority as an engineering cadet, and a year later, he received a scholarship from the NPA to study Marine Engineering.

5 – He attended the Portsmouth College of Technology and Chesterfield College of Technology in England. By 1960 when Nigeria got her independence, Nzeribe was already selling Life Insurance to black immigrants in Britain.

6 – He ran for the Senatorial seat of the Orlu Zone in Imo State in 1983 with the slogan, ‘Change ’83’ and electrified the political space, becoming the senator representing the zone on the platform of the Nigerian Peoples Party.

7 – On June 10, 1993, Nzeribe tried to stop the June 12 election, relying on a court order which his group, Association for Better Nigeria, got from a midnight ruling from late Justice Bassey Ikpeme of an Abuja High Court. ABN was known to be pro-Babangida.

8 – In 1999, when Nigeria returned to democratic rule, he returned to the Senate representing the Orlu Senatorial district on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party. He was re-elected in 2003 and was in the Senate till 2007.

9 – Nzeribe was suspended indefinitely by the then Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, in November 2002 over an allegation of N22 million fraud.

10 – While in the Senate and as the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, he was the brain behind the National Health Insurance Scheme which was born as an Act of the Parliament.

PUNCH.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

59 minutes ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.

News

N5m, N10m Zero-interest Loans: SheVentures Opens Applications For Women Entrepreneurs

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to ₦10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth.

The facility provides loans ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5 million under a general category, and ₦5 million to ₦10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50% of an applicant’s average monthly turnover.

At the centre of the offering is a 0% interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure.

Repayment is structured over four or six months, allowing businesses to match obligations with their cash flow cycles.

Yemisi Edun, Managing Director and Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), said the initiative reflects a deliberate approach to inclusive growth.

“Inclusive growth requires access to capital and the right conditions for businesses to deploy that capital effectively.

“Women-led enterprises are critical to economic activity, yet they face structural barriers.

This intervention aims to help close that gap by providing financing that supports job creation, business expansion, and long-term sustainability for women entrepreneurs.”

“Access to affordable finance remains a major constraint for women entrepreneurs,” said Nnenna Jacob-Ogogo, Group Head, SheVentures and Impact Segments at First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

“By removing the cost barrier and offering quick, flexible funding, this zero-interest loan is designed to safeguard existing jobs, enable businesses to invest in growth initiatives, and foster resilience in challenging economic conditions.”

Women-owned businesses account for a significant share of Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises but continue to face high borrowing costs and limited access to credit.

Through these efforts, SheVentures tackles persistent financing gaps facing women-led businesses, combining targeted funding with broader support to empower women entrepreneurs, encourage business innovation, and enhance their ability to compete on a national scale.

Applications for the zero-interest loan are now open.Apply now.