• Friday, March 29, 2024
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Obaseki swears-in Okundia as commissioner of health

Edo College of Agriculture to takeoff first quarter 2021, Obaseki reassures

Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, has sworn in Patrick Okundia as the new commissioner for health, tasking him to drive the full implementation of the Edo State Healthcare Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP).

At the swearing-in held during the weekly State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, at Government House in Benin City, Obaseki said the expectations from the commissioner were high going by his experience, familiarity with the state public health sector and involvement in the formulation of the Edo-HIP.

“We decided to get someone in the system who is familiar with government processes to champion our health policies and our expectations are high. You have the opportunity to work with us in the formulation of Edo-HIP and we have a lot of hope that you will see to the successful implementation of the programme,” he said.

On his part, Okundia pledged his commitment to the implementation of Edo-HIP, noting that the programme would transform the state to a hub for medical tourism in the country.

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He added, “The health sector in the state has suffered huge neglect with only superficial efforts from previous governments. For the first time, we have a governor who has refused to go the old way in addressing the challenges in the healthcare delivery system in the state rather preferring holistic solution that will make Edo healthcare sector an enviable one.”

Until his appointment, Okundia was the Chief Medical Director, Stella Obasanjo Hospital. He hails from Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of Edo State.

FirstBank partners CFA Society Nigeria to host 2019 Ethics Challenge competition

In furtherance of the bank’s commitment to promote business ethics, professional excellence and education, reflected in the its endowment programme – the Samuel Asabia, chair for Business Ethics at the University of Lagos – First Bank of Nigeria Limited for three consecutive years, is partnering CFA Society Nigeria to host its annual flagship event, the Ethics Challenge, scheduled for November 15 – 16, 2019, in Abuja and Lagos for the regional and national levels, respectively.

The Ethics Challenge is designed to increase students’ awareness of the ethical dilemmas and issues they may face when they enter the investment management industry. At the Ethics Challenge, students are given an ethics case study to analyse, evaluate, recommend and present to a panel of judges.

To determine the winning team, the judges provide feedback based on the identification and understanding of the ethical issues in the case, the recommendations provided with the depth of the analysis, quality of the presentation, and responses to the judges’ questions.

The 2018 winner, Obafemi Awolowo University, would compete with 15 other higher institutions in the country to defend its trophy. Babcock University, Bowen University, Covenant University, Federal University of Technology Akure, Mountain Top University, University of Calabar, University of Ibadan and University of Lagos are the schools competing in the Lagos preliminary round.

Other schools are University of Abuja, University of Maiduguri, Bayero University, University of Ilorin, University of Nigeria and Madonna University in the Abuja based preliminary round.

The competition will be judged by Adeola Asabia, member, Board of Trustees, Business Ethics Chair, University of Lagos; Musa Bagudu, CFA, head, External Funds Management Office, Central Bank of Nigeria; Kunle Anida, CFA, director, Deals Advisory, PWC Nigeria among others.

According to CFA Society Nigeria president, Banji Fehintola, “The annual Ethics Challenge embodies CFA Society Nigeria’s mission to promote the highest standards of ethics in our investment and financial services industry. It touches on many of CFA Institute’s Future of Finance six areas of focus which include: Transparency and Fairness, Regulation and Enforcement, and Safeguarding the System.

“It also promotes ethical awareness and fosters a healthy investment industry that works for the ultimate benefit of society. Through our collaboration with First Bank of Nigeria Limited to run this competition annually, we will continue to invest in our university students and we hope to build the commitment of our future professionals to operate according to sound ethical principles.”

Expressing her delight on FirstBank’s support and participation in the CFA Ethics Challenge, the Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Folake Ani-Mumuney said “through our 125 years of existence, we at FirstBank pride ourselves in being exemplary in ensuring that global best practices are upheld through our adherence to ethical standards across our organisational practices and activities.

“We recognise the impact of the CFA Society Nigeria through its giant strides in fostering Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct amongst university students and other touch points in the society in preparing them to overcome ethical challenges that they may face in the workplace environment.”