Business

Osinbajo launches Kemi Adeosun’s online thrift-for-charity initiative

Published

4 years ago

June 14, 2021

Former Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, has launched “Dash Me Store”, an online thrift-for-charity initiative, with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as a special guest.
The store, inaugurated on Sunday and established to mobilise resources for distribution to vulnerable people in the society through grassroot charities, provided an opportunity for the former minister to make her first public appearance after leaving office in 2018.
Adeosun resigned as minister in 2018 over a case of a forged National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate she presented as part of her credentials.
She had maintained a low profile after the incident.
She established the Dash Me Foundation, a vehicle being used for the online charity initiative.
In her remarks, Adeosun said the organisation would work closely with charitable organisations in the grassroots to ensure that funds and other materials donated via the Dash Me Store would get to actual beneficiaries.
Speaking at the event, VP Osinbajo said one factor responsible for the impactful implementation of the social investment programmes of the Federal Government was the realisation that one could not reach Nigerians without a plan for the grass roots.
The vice-president lauded Adeosun for the initiative which he described as the first of its kind in the country.
“I am excited to be here for several reasons, but most of all because of Mrs Adeosun’s commitment to the notion that all service to man is actually service to God, and she took that very seriously,” he said.
The VP also said, “This is why, as minister, she prioritized the Social Investment Programmes, when for the first time, the country voted almost N500bn of our annual budget to welfare programmes which are called the Social Investment Programmes, which involved engaging 500,000 young men and women, and also giving microcredit to about two million traders and a home-grown school feeding programme for 9.5 million children daily in public schools across the country.
“I am therefore really not surprised that she has decided to use some of her enormous talent and influence to establish an organization that raises funds and provides resources for indigenous grassroot charities working with orphaned and vulnerable children, disadvantaged youth, and victims of domestic violence.
“What I think is happening here is that philanthropy is not like it used to be when all you needed was a good and kind heart and you didn’t need to plan or organize as you would a business for-profit.
“What Kemi and her team have done is to bring the new notion of social enterprise to this project. Philanthropy runs with the discipline, attention to detail, and financial prudence of a successful business, and she can do all of that, and I am sure her team is imbibing that, given her background in finance in both private and public sector.”
Osinbajo added, “The idea of this thrift-for-charity store is brilliant and the first of its kind in Nigeria. It is a unique model which does not just give to the needy in the conventional way of merely handing out donations.
“It is an innovative and structured way of aggregating donations to earn income to transform the lives of the vulnerable and needy while creating jobs in the process.”

Related Topics:Adeosun Featured online thrift Osinbajo

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MaxAir suspends flight operations for five days

Published

19 hours ago

January 5, 2025

Trends Admin

MaxAir suspends flight operations for five days

MaxAir Limited has announced a temporary suspension of flight operations from January 4 to January 8, 2025, to conduct scheduled aircraft maintenance.

In a statement issued Sunday, the airline’s management stated, “This necessary maintenance ensures we continue delivering safe, reliable, and efficient services to you.”

The airline noted that some routes might face disruptions or cancellations during the maintenance period. However, MaxAir assured passengers that normal flight schedules would resume by January 9, 2025.

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Passengers impacted by the changes can reschedule their flights at no additional cost.

The announcement comes just weeks after an incident in December 2024, when an engine on a MaxAir aircraft carrying Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Umar Kadafur, and over 100 passengers caught fire shortly after departing Maiduguri International Airport.

The aircraft, en route to Abuja, suffered engine failure caused by a bird strike approximately 10 minutes into the flight. The pilot and crew successfully performed an emergency landing back at Maiduguri Airport, averting a potential disaster.

In a subsequent statement, the airline confirmed the pilot’s decision to return to the airport was prompted by “abnormal engine parameters.”

MaxAir suspends flight operations for five days

Business

8 financial mistakes to avoid in 2025

Published

1 day ago

January 5, 2025

Trends Admin

8 financial mistakes to avoid in 2025

Managing your money is more crucial than ever as 2025 approaches. Although Nigeria’s economy is unpredictable, you might go from barely making ends meet to actually flourishing by avoiding common financial mistakes.

Here are eight financial mistakes to avoid in 2025.

1. Taking unnecessary loans

Although taking out a loan can seem tempting, doing so can eventually make you take on more debt. High interest rates and undisclosed costs are some of the features of loans, which may quickly add up and make repayments difficult. Before taking out a loan, always consider whether it is necessary and make sure it fits with your financial situation. Consider whether you truly need anything before taking out a loan.

2. Mixing personal and business finances

Combining your personal and business money in a single account could lead to confusion. Keep them separate to ensure transparency and accountability. If your business generates your major income, pay yourself a salary and keep separate accounts for personal and business spending. This can help you keep organised and avoid money problems down the road.

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3. Investing without proper understanding

Investing is an intelligent way to build wealth, but putting your money in projects you don’t completely understand might cause harm. Whether it’s stocks, real estate, or mutual funds, take the time to study the dangers and benefits while seeking professional counsel. Do not fall into “get-rich-quick” schemes and instead use technology to enhance your knowledge. And, as you invest carefully, avoid making reckless lifestyle decisions that strain your budget. These decisions have the potential to undermine your progress toward financial stability.

4. Confusing saving with investing

Savings accounts provide security and access to funds, but they typically fail to keep up with inflation. Investing, on the other hand, can help you create wealth through earnings that compound. Distribute funds for suitable investment options, such as equities or mutual funds, for long-term goals like retirement or owning a home. Seek advice from financial professionals to create a diverse portfolio.

5. Neglecting an emergency fund

Without an emergency fund, unexpected expenses such as car maintenance, medical expenses, or sudden job losses may arise. These unforeseen expenses might throw you off if you don’t have an emergency fund. Aim to accumulate 12–18 months’ worth of living costs in liquid funds in a different account. Having this reserve will help you feel more at ease and prevent you from depending on loans when things get hard.

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6. Living pay cheque to pay cheque

If you spend every naira as soon as it arrives, leaving little provision for emergencies or savings, you risk becoming overly reliant on each pay cheque for everyday costs. Identify and reduce nonessential spending, such as eating out or unused subscriptions, and set aside some funds for savings. If possible, search for ways to supplement your income, such as freelancing or converting a pastime into a side hustle.

7. Ignoring budgeting

It’s simple to lose track of your finances without a budget, which can lead to both excessive spending and insufficient savings. Make a thorough budget that breaks down your sources of income so that you can save for fixed costs like your child’s school, a down payment on a home, or retirement while prioritising necessities like rent, food, and medical care. Put your earnings and outlays in writing, then create a strategy that you can follow. Budgeting is about maintaining control, not about limiting oneself.

8. Forgetting about inflation

The money you have now will not purchase as much tomorrow due to inflation. To beat inflation, make sure your money holds its value by investing in assets like stocks or real estate that can grow faster than inflation. Making money work harder is necessary to maintain its worth; simply preserving money is insufficient.

Financial management can be stressful, but avoiding these costly mistakes can help significantly. Financial growth takes time, so be patient with yourself and maintain consistency. In a challenging economy, every wise decision counts. Let 2025 be the year you take control of your finances and begin creating the future you want.

8 financial mistakes to avoid in 2025

Business

Meta deletes AI accounts after backlash over posts

Published

2 days ago

January 4, 2025

Trends Admin

Meta deletes AI accounts after backlash over posts

Meta promptly deleted several of its own AI-generated accounts after human users began engaging with them and posting about the bots’ sloppy imagery and tendency to go off the rails and even lie in chats with humans.

The issue emerged last week when Connor Hayes, a vice president for Meta’s generative AI, told the Financial Times that the company expects its homemade AI users to appear on its platforms in much the same way human accounts do.

“They’ll have bios and profile pictures and be able to generate and share content powered by AI on the platform… that’s where we see all of this going.”

That comment sparked interest and outrage, raising concerns that the kind of AI-generated “slop” that’s prominent on Facebook would soon come straight from Meta and disrupt the core utility of social media — fostering human-to-human connection.

As users began to sniff out some of Meta’s AI accounts this week, the backlash grew, in part because of the way the AI accounts disingenuously described themselves as actual people with racial and sexual identities.

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Facebook users have complained of an increase in AI-generated spam content on the platform, as new artificial intelligence tools make it easier than ever to generate large numbers of fake images.

In particular, there was “Liv,” the Meta AI account that has a bio describing itself as a “Proud Black queer momma of 2 & truth-teller,” and told Washington Post columnist Karen Attiah that Liv had no Black creators — the bot said it was built by “10 white men, 1 white woman, and 1 Asian male,” according to a screenshot posted on Bluesky. Liv’s profile included a label that read “AI managed by Meta,” and all of Liv’s photos — snapshots of Liv’s “children” playing at the beach, a close-up of badly decorated Christmas cookies — contained a small watermark identifying them as AI-generated.

As media scrutiny ticked up Friday, Meta began taking down Liv and other bots’ posts, many of which dated back at least a year, citing a “bug.”

“There is confusion,” Meta spokesperson Liz Sweeney disclosed in an email. “The recent Financial Times article was about our vision for AI characters existing on our platforms over time, not announcing any new product.” CNN reported.

Sweeney said the accounts were “part of an early experiment we did with AI characters.”

She added: “We identified the bug that was impacting the ability for people to block those AIs and are removing those accounts to fix the issue.”