News

Experts Charge Media Practitioners, Auditors To Promote Accountability

Published

4 years ago

October 7, 2022

Editor

By Joseph Kanjo, Benin

Experts from the finance sector and media have urged journalists to prioritise audit reporting in order to promote accountability in Nigeria.

They added that Auditors-General in the 36 states and the media are critical to ensuring the accountability of public officers in the control and management of public funds.

They further advised both journalists and state auditors-general to follow
the dictates of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do proper audit reporting.

These were the positions taken by resource persons at the maiden edition of Audit Report workshop held in Benin City between October 5th and 6th 2022.

Info Daily reports that Audit Reporting Training-X-raying State Government Audit Reports is a flagship capacity development programme of FrontFoot Media Initiative under the auspices of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) and sponsored by MacArthur Foundation.

In his opening remarks, Sully Abu, a veteran journalist, former Managing Director of New Age newspapers and The African Guardian, charged journalists to be courageous, ethical, and conscientious in unfolding the contents of audit reports.

According to him, until media practitioners rise to the responsibility of holding public office holders accountable, they will continue to handle Nigeria’s common wealth with impunity.

On his part, Emeka Izeze, also a veteran journalist and former Managing Director of Guardian Newspapers Limited, showed the
participants various pathways to generating needed information and urged creativity in reportage of subjects such as the audit reports of states.

In his presentation, Sonala Olumhense, a renowned columnist of and former Editor of ThisWeek declared that auditors-general should play a crucial role in promoting accountability as the Nigerian constitution empowers them.

“The Auditor-General of a State is appointed by the Governor on the
recommendation of the State Civil Service Commission and confirmed bythe House of Assembly. The Auditor-General is not accountable to the governor or supervised by the governor or any other authority.”

Citing six pillars of the legal and professional authority of auditors-general, Olumhense added, “The Auditor-General has the authority to undertake periodic checks of all government statutory corporations, commissions, authorities, agencies, including all persons and bodies established by any law of the House of Assembly of that State.”

One of the resource persons, Chief Chukwuemeka Anika, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants, urged auditors to stay ethical in their audit engagements and to sign only audits that align with their professional, ethical, and moral standards.

Another resource person, Mr Godswell Omenogo, a chartered accountant and auditor, while noting the campaigns against corruption, affirmed, “These
clamours can only be effective if all relevant stakeholders adhere strictly to processes and procedures as enshrined in our laws and related gazettes.

Relevant questions need to be asked, adequate information need to be provided, all relevant functionaries need to objectively carry out their respective functions.” He added.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

3 hours 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

4 hours 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

6 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.