BusinessDay 01 Apr 2018

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Sunday 01 April 2018 C002D5556 BDSUNDAY 45 Travel Firstnation Airways denies N1.7bn fraud allegation Stories by IFEOMA OKEKE Firstnation Airways has denied fraud allegations of N1.7billion petitioned by Skyebank Pls against Kayode Odukoya, the chief executive officer of the airline. The airline in a release referred to the allegation as false and dubious, adding that the charges are bogus and without basis, targeted at impugning the airline’s integrity. Recall that few weeks back, Justice Mojisola Dada of an Ikeja Special Offences Court ordered the remand of Kayode Odukoya, at the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) over an alleged theft of N1. 7billion. The judge gave the remand order the moment he was arraigned on a four-count charge of forgery, Nigerian travel agents give Ethiopian Airlines its highest Awards at AGM Ethiopian airline was given the highest Award by the National Association of Nigerian Travel Agents (NANTA) as the most Supportive use of false document, perjury and stealing pressed against him by the EFCC. The airline had said in a release that “As the matter is subjudice we are unable to discuss any further details but we wish to clarify and correct, malicious misrepresentations made against us to the media. “Although the charge was filed as far back as December 11th 2017, the EFCC did not inform either Odukoya or First Nation of its existence even though Firstnation and Odukoya in good faith continued to visit EFCC offices on December 16th 2017, February 6th and March 13th 2018. “At the same time, the wrong impression was being created in Court, that Odukoya was avoiding arraignment. FirstNation only learnt of the charges through social media on March 9th 2018,” the airline disclosed. International Airline Award at its Annual General meeting in Port Harcourt. The Award was presented by Steve Isokariri, the Chairman The airline further revealed that on becoming aware of the charges through the social media, Kayode Odukoya voluntarily visited the EFCC on March 13th 2018 at 10 am and was subsequently detained despite the fact that he was already on administrative bail. It lamented that given the fact that the charge had already been filed, he should then have been immediately served with same to allow him effectively defend the action. Instead, Odukoya Board of Trustees of NANTA to the general manager of the Airline supported by the Managers from Abuja, Kano and Kaduna. In her speech Firihewot Mekonnen, the general manager thanked the agents for their support and loyalty to the Airline. “Ethiopian has been in Nigeria since November 1960 and today serves 5 Airports. We have supported Nigeria all through its ups and downs. We have stuck to Nigeria as a brother should. You may recall the Abuja closure experience was only served with the charge on Thursday March 16th and arraigned on Friday, March 17, 2018, well outside the 48 hours required by law. “It is instructive that we clarify that Firstnation do not owe any other banking institution (local or abroad) and dispute in good faith any indebtedness to Skyebank Plc. We will vigorously defend our innocence with respect to the charges and are confident that we will obtain justice from the court,” the airline added. last year and how we made the sacrifice of going to Kaduna. “For the first time an African airline carried the highest number of passengers out of Nigeria which is a testimony to the growing relationship between Nigeria and our airline. We are very happy to serve Nigerians with the most modern aircraft in the world the Airbus A350 and the B787 Dreamliner along with the B777 aircraft. Ethiopian the new Spirit of African is an example of the African spirit of Determination,” Mekonnen added. Emirates named ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards Emirates Airline has been named ‘Airline of the Year’ at the 2018 Air Transport Awards. Emirates won the prestigious accolade based the evaluation from a jury comprised of executives and experts from different sectors within the aviation industry. Thierry Antinori, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Emirates received the award on behalf of the airline. Commenting on the win, Antinori said: “We are honoured to be recognised by the Air Transport Awards for our commitment to excellence. We have a strong customer-centric focus across the airline to deliver the best possible experience both in the air and on the ground by continually investing in a modern fleet, product innovations and service enhancements. “We are also embracing technology across our operations to meet and exceed evolving consumer preferences. This award is a testament to the hard work and efforts of staff across the airline that make a difference everyday by taking care of our customers and keeping our service levels high.” Emirates is one of the world’s largest international airline, with a network that spans 159 destinations in 85 countries, operating one of the world’s youngest wide-body fleets made up of Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 aircraft. Over the past year, the airline has launched a number of significant product enhancements on its Boeing 777 and A380 aircraft. Emirates unveiled its enhanced A380 Onboard Lounge, featuring an airier look and feel, reconfigured seating arrangements around the iconic bar with private yachtinspired décor, as well as new hightech touches. Air France flies film makers to Los Angeles for Nollywood in Hollywood Air France has confirmed its place as the leading airline supporter of the Nigerian entertainment industry by flying Nollywood filmmakers and actors to the historic, inaugural Nollywood in Hollywood event showcasing the best of Nigerian films to the giants of the entertainment industry in Hollywood, California. Air France is the official airline sponsor of the event. Leading the Nollywood contingent are directors Kunle Afolayan and Steve Gukas, and actress Dakore Akande. Co-presented by two of the most prestigious of Hollywood institutions, The Egyptian Theatre and the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California (USC), the event takes place on Friday and Saturday. This will be the first time a Nigerian film will play at the historic Egyptian Theatre that has hosted films by the elite of the industry for several decades as well as film series from seven selected countries around the globe. Nigeria is the eight nation and only African country selected for the screening series. It is also a first for USC, the most prestigious film program in the world. The event will showcase three Nigerian films before an audience made up of Hollywood executives, producers, agents, distributors, cinema professors, film critics, international media, Nigerians in the Diaspora and film lovers. The films selected by a reputable Nigerian jury made up of industry veterans are The Bridge, Isoken and 93 DAYS. “AirFrance believes in Nigeria, Nigerians and Nollywood. Nigeria’s film industry has thrived so far based on the resilience, and creative ingenuity of its filmmakers. We see this partnership as another milestone in our search for additional ways to promote the development of Nigeria’s entertainment industry, just as we are always looking for innovative ways to remain the preferred airline for Nigerians when they travel either from Lagos, Port Harcourt or Abuja” Michel Colleau, general manager, Air France Nigeria. The event started with a red carpet event on Friday the 23rd of March, 2018 and was covered by American and the International media on Hollywood boulevard, the first for a Nigerian film, followed by a screening of 93 Days. The screenings continued at the famous Norris Theatre on the campus of the University of Southern California on Saturday. Air Peace emerges Leadership Company of the Year Air Peace has been selected as Leadership Company of the Year 2017 for maintaining quality flight operations and making bold investment decisions in the nation’s aviation industry. A three-member delegation comprising Olajide Omojolomoju, Leadership Newspapers’ Deputy Editor, Angela Tony-Iji, Acting General Manager, Advert/Special Projects (Southern Operations), and Bukola Idowu, Senior Correspondent, was at the Corporate Headquarters of Air Peace in Lagos to notify Allen Onyema, the airline’s Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, of the development. A letter signed by Abdul Gombe, the Group Managing Director of Leadership, said the Board of Editors of the media outfit voted Air Peace company of the year for “taking on the risks of expansion, maintaining high technical and service standard in the face of harsh economic climate, and giving hope to other investors that Nigeria is still an investment destination.” Omojolomoju, who represented the managing director of Leadership at the visit to Air Peace, said the carrier got the award strictly on merit. The newspaper’s awards, he said, were not for sale. He said the award would be officially presented to the airline at a ceremony being planned by Leadership. Responding, Onyema said the airline was grateful to Leadership for recognising and rewarding merit and excellence. The newspaper, he said, had continued to distinguish itself as one of the most credible and reliable sources of news and information in the country. He urged the newspaper to sustain its high reporting standard.
C002D5556 Sunday 01 April 2018 46BDSUNDAY Health&Science Reliance HMO launches operations with affordable health insurance plans ANTHONIA OBOKOH In a bid to ensure quality and affordable healthcare coverage for Nigerians, a fast growing Health Management Company in Nigeria Reliance HMO has announced its operation and introduction of new allowance of health subscription plans for individuals, families and companies. Reliance HMO is a Nigerianbased health insurance company that has fused technology into its operations to make health insurance more affordable, easier to access and all-round pleasant experience for enrolees. Speaking on the launch of the new health insurance operations Funlola Jide-Aribaloye; CEO Reliance HMO, stated that introduction of the new health plans was informed by the absence of products tailored to meet the needs of Nigerians who do not fit into the target market of large companies and multinationals while addressing the press on Thursday, March 29, 2018 in Lagos. “We understand that there is a valid need from the public for health insurance plans that really work, payment structures that do not burn a hole in people’s pockets, and customer service that addresses their most pressing concerns,” “And that is why at Reliance L-R: Opeyemi Olumekun; Chief Operating Officer, Funlola Jide-Aribaloye; Chief Executive Officer and Femi Kuti; Chief Product Officer, all of Reliance HMO at the media parley held to officially announce the launch of Reliance HMO Health Insurance plans in Lagos, recently. HMO, we have built tailor-made insurance plans that ensure that individuals, families and organisations can stay healthy,” said Jide- Aribaloye. She further explained that the health plans address the need of across range of customers in all levels. “For as little as N3, 500 monthly, individuals can sign up to a health insurance plan that gives them an awesome cover with really incredible benefits. Furthermore, we are the first and only health insurer in Nigeria that gives enrolees the benefit and convenience of monthly payments. “This ensures that everyone can have access to quality and affordable healthcare” added Jide-Aribaloye. Also speaking at the launch Femi Kuti, chief product officer said health insurance is key to addressing challenges faced by health sector. “It is atrocious that only 3 per cent of Nigerians are covered in the health insurance and the country even has more disease conditions than in more developed countries. Research shows that 50 per cent of families are at the risk of catastrophic financial situation, which means almost going bankrupt if they get a big enough health bill. “Our focus is to help more Nigerians, get them enrolled in health insurance and access health care at a decent price” said Kuti. According to Opeyemi Olumekun, chief operating officer, technology forms a crucial part of our business and operations. “We are a Health Insurance company that acts like a technology company, using software, data science and telemedicine to make health insurance more affordable, easier to access and more of a delightful experience for our existing and prospective customers. Integrating technology into our operations also means that our entire customer experience support is top-notch and always available 24/7 via various channels.” “Reliance HMO has an enviable mantra tagged “You Can Rely On Us,” and is focused on doing everything to ensure that the customer’s health insurance experience is delightful and seamless. Customers can also look forward to the 24-hour Reliance Help Centre where friendly and highly-trained agents are always available to provide support and deal with urgent inquiries” said Olumekun. Udom ‘s promises affordable, accessible healthcare services ANIEFIOK UDONQUAK, Uyo The vision of Governor Udom Emmanuel in the health sector is to make healthcare services accessible and affordable and this is being done with the provision of facilities and consumables in both primary and secondary healthcare centres of Akwa Ibom State. Already, arrangements have been completed for the establishment of a primary healthcare development agency as part of a deliberate effort to make health services accessible to the people in local government areas. A bill to give effect to the agency has been signed into law by the governor and the Federal Government has donated 32 motorcycles to the state government to facilitate medical errands among primary health centres in the state. Dominic Ukpong, the commissioner for health who made this known in an interview said the state government has refurbished and rehabilitated eight general hospitals across the state and has selected each primary healthcare facility in each ward of the 31 local government areas to make sure they are brought to the required standard. “Governor Udom Emmanuel is very focused in his efforts to ensure that healthcare service is available. He has the willpower and the willingness. What he has done is that whenever money is available, he gives priority to the health sector,’’ he said. According to him, the General Hospital, Etinan being a beneficiary of the government new approach to the healthcare services has been “significantly equipped and refurbished” with modern operating theatre as well as an accident and emergency centre while the entire maternity unit of the hospital has been reworked and a new laboratory provided. “Government has arranged to import medical equipment, 100 containers, we have taken delivery of the first 25 containers and General Hospital, Etinan is the first beneficiary of a lot of those equipment . We have trained 20 medical engineers. This group of workers in the hospital are very important as they are available to repair and mend the equipment in the hospital,’’ he said. The commissioner disclosed that the state government has taken steps to provide adequate staffing in the hospitals and health facilities adding that the intake of nurses has been improved in the state. Ukpong who lamented the scarcity of nurses and other health workers in the state said the state government has graciously reviewed the policy of retiring nurses to ensure that their years of training do not form part of their service year “There was a time some few years ago nurses were not being produced in our state for four years because of lack of accreditation of the school of nursing. So we have tried to bridge that by not only taking nurses but the policy of retiring nurses had been reviewed. According to him, in the past, when a nurse starts training in the school of nursing, the years of training were added to the years of service explaining that at the end according to policy,nurses are supposed to retire after 35 years those years of training would be part but due o consideration by the Governor, the period of training has now been removed from their service years.. He also said the state government is constructing an emergency response centre worth about N1 billion to be equipped to handle medical emergencies while the process of the digitialisation of medical records in hospitals has commenced saying it would significantly reduce the time patients wait before being attended to by health workers in hospitals. EPWL therapy employs technology to cure pain, others The EPWL all natural employs technology that provides safe, effective and detailed regimens that encourage the body to heal itself by using moving magnet energy waves that changes the way body responds to pain. Speaking at the recent press conference was the Chief medical consultant, Olufunmilayo Braown. In her words, “The therapy delivers naturally-derived energy to weaken cells, which makes for fast, safe and efficient form of treatment from broken bones, scars tissue repair” She said the technology behind EPWL Natural Therapy has been used extensively for decades for many conditions and medical disciplines fully approved by United State FDA specifically to fuse broken bones, wound healing, pain and tissue swelling, working to reduce pain, inflammation, the effect of stress on the body, platelet adhesion and fuse broken bones. She said “You may not realize it and may certainly not feel it, but inside every one of us is a raging electrical storm, there is a biological whirlwind that controls every cell, every nerve, every tissue, every muscle.” Adding that “Your body works on voltage. When voltage is high enough you feel charged, when it is low you feel lethargic. Science teaches that everything is energy. Energy is always dynamic and therefore it has a frequency. It changes by the second or minute at the very least. All energy is electromagnetic in nature. All atoms chemicals and cells produce electromagnetic fields.” In her words, “Every organ in the body produces its own signature bio electric field. Science has proven that our bodies actually project their own magnetic fields and that all the over 70 trillion cells in the body communicate through electromagnetic frequencies. Nothing happens in the body without an electromagnetic exchange. When the electromagnetic activity of the body ceases, life ceases” She said, there is a lot of pollution in the world we live in, from industrialisation and technology. There is the radiation from telephone masts, from domestic microwave ovens, even from our hand held mobile phone. All these contribute in no small measures into the way our bodies fail us over time. A build-up of pollution in our bodies ultimately results in different types of pain and deceases. She however established that EPWL Therapy is a no drugs/pills and non invasive approach to pain management that uses electromagnetic fields to create pulsing moving energy. She stated that EPWL does not treat medical conditions, instead it up-regulates the body’s functions and optimizes the body’s ability to heal itself naturally. And this wonderful technology is right here in Ikeja Lagos
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BusinessDay 01 Apr 2018

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