Banking Sector Grows

In Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria, the banking sector is forecast to grow 15 percent year-on-year. It could grow more in other cities, like Lagos, that have more citizens. It could grow up to 25 percent more. This information was predicted by a top investment banking analyst, RenCap. RenCap's predictions come from other positive trends in the banking system recently, especially with the on-going clean-up process on banks' toxic assets being undertaken by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). The analyst's report incorporates coverage on: Zenith Bank plc, First Bank plc, Access Bank plc, Diamond Bank plc, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) plc, and United Bank for Africa (UBA) plc, Skye Bank plc, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) plc and Fidelity Bank plc. The report indicated that macro economy and politics look good for the next few years. These positive trends for Nigeria's banks is something to look forward to for Nigerians. These predictions also indicated a "fresh" and "clean" start for the banking cycle. 

Helping Students In Need

Chinelo Bob-Osamor; Chairman of COF

Chinelo Bob-Osamor is the chairman on the Board of Trustees of Chike Okagbue Foundation (COF), which is a business to help with charitable events for those who need it. Some students in Nigeria cannot afford to pay for school. Chinelo is there to help them. She has kept 41 students on full scholarship at secondary school levels on the platform of the COF which she independently funds. This means that their school fees, boarding fees, books, uniform and examination fees are catered for by the foundation. She despises those of their government and other leaders that have so much food and money, but do not share any of it for those who need it. That is why she started this organization. She wants to help those in need. 

The charity of providing young lives access to education has been successful and rewarding to many students. A lot of people in Nigeria suffer hard times and difficult tasks to deal with in daily life. By providing young students with an opportunity to further their education, it gives them hope to do better and help in their community. Many students have been successful thanks to Bob-Osamor's business. This organization for students helps people look beyond everything frustrating, and give them hope that there are still people out there that are good. 

The students who are benefiting from COF

Stem Cell Transplant Technology

Dr. Godwin Bazuaye is a consultant dermatologist and specialist in bone marrow transplants. Recently, he has successfully completed two stem cell transplants. He is the only one trained in the hospital. Although for Americans, this surgery has been done before, but for the Africans this is a new hope. This technology makes Africans optimistic about the future in their health. This is helpful for Nigerians because now they will not have to travel abroad to get a new genotype, especially for sickle cell patients. Dr. Bazuaye was interviewed by a local news man. He was asked what type of risks are associated with this procedure. The doctor said there aren't many risks, especially to the donor. The patient is also very low risk, because he or she is put on drugs to help with the procedure. Dr. Bazuaye said his last procedure was very successful. It takes about three months to go through the whole procedure, through tests and the operation. This can be a very beneficial procedure to Nigerians and all Africans and could be a sustaining outbreak for the future. 

Nigeria Flying Eagles

The Flying Eagles team of 2013

Although many people have a lot of other things to do, in their free time, they enjoy watching sports. To be particular many Africans enjoy soccer. Right now, the 2013 African Youth Championship is being held. Nigeria is the defending champion of this tournament. In the last game, the Nigerian flying Eagles lost to Mali in the semi-finals. The Flying Eagles still have a chance to come back in their next game against Gabon. “The early goal Mali scored set us back and we were just too much in a hurry to equalize. We now know what we have to do on Wednesday.” Lobi Stars’ midfielder, Moses Orkuma said. The players have said they understood their mistakes and they know how to correct them. They realize this tournament is not over yet and they can still win if they work hard. This kind of attitude is the kind that people need to do well in life. Although life may be hard for Nigerians sometimes, this is a positive aspect in their life and something they can look forward to. The fans are able to feel optimistic and the player's attitudes may help them get through their own struggles. The players on this team say they will not give up and fans may look up to them and relate this back to a hard time in their life.

Nigeria Flying Eagles working hard at practice to become better

After the Flying Eagles won in 2012.

Yankari National Park

Yankari National Park is located in northeastern Nigeria. This park was first opened to the public as a premier game reserve on 1 December 1962. It is a unique tourist site for people, and has many natural hot springs. The springs are open for swimming 24 hours a day. This is Nigeria's biggest National Park and is the most popular to its tourists. This park also has many wildlife sites as well. There are over 50 different mammal species including elephants, baboons, monkeys, antelopes, lions, and many more. There are also over 350 different species of birds. Yankari is also known for having the lrgest populations for elephants in West Africa. This park also has a hotel and has a restaurant, bar, and a conference center. Yankari has a museum as well, which displays a variety of skins, tusks, bones, and stuffed mammals directly from the park. Yankari is a beautiful and fun place for tourists to go. It shows a very nice side of Africa and Nigeria.

Some of the animals in the Yankari National Park

                                             

Nigerian Man Wins Human Rights Award

A Nigerian man, Nnimmo Bassey wins a Norwegian human rights award, the Rafto Prize. This award was given to him to recognize his fight for the right to life, health, food and water. Bassey is the chair of Friends of the Earth International, a grassroots environmental organisation. In 2010, he was also the winner of the Right Livelihood Award, which bills itself as the Alternative Nobel Prize.'Nnimmo Bassey links human rights to the climate by demonstrating how climate change has the greatest effect on the world's most vulnerable people, the very people who have contributed least to the problem in the first place,' the Bergen-based Rafto Foundation said in a statement.  This award sometimes surpasses the Nobel Peace Prize.

This is a very positive trend for the Nigerians and Africa itself. Bassey is not the only person to recieve outstanding awards, but he has made an impact for Nigerians. He has showed that no matter what the circumstances, you can still do great things and accomplish a lot. If you work hard, great things can happen.

Bassey with the Right Livelihood Award he received in 2010.

Nnimmo was a chairperson on the FOEI