Internal Control Officer Job at Bleuapple Consulting Bleuapple Consulting 2020

Lagos

Bleuapple Consulting is a company built on the right foundation of years of experience in multi-cultural environment with high business standard anchored on professionalism, Integrity and long business relationships to provide a range of HR, Training and Advisory services to our clients.
We work directly with some of the most established business associates and trainers overseas to provide a strategic solution to your business and business culture.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Position: Internal Control Officer
Job Location: Lagos
Role Summary

• The Internal Control Officer carries out control functions; monitors and increases the efficiency of the Bank’s operations, detects, eliminates fraud and ensures compliance with relevant regulations
• He/She performs an audit of the accounting and financial data and information of the different business units.

Duties

• Identify all aspects of non-compliance with internal policies & procedures; its implementation of products & services and make recommendations for improvement.
• Conduct field visit to verify the formation of groups, the existence of the client and their household, the existence of business(s) which the loan is disbursed, quality and maintenance of collateral pledged (in the event of a loan)
• Prepare reports of inspection visits and submit to the Head, Internal Control within a few days after the visit
• Based on findings, provide recommendations for improvement of policies and procedures
• Review all banking processes in compliance with set policies and procedures and report any anomalies or discrepancies to the Head, Internal Control.
• Ensure compliance with KYC procedures in processing new customers in an effort to control Money Laundering activities or fraud.
• Ensure that suspicious transactions are identified and duly reported as per the reporting guidelines to the Head, Internal Control for further action.
• Ensure the implementation of treasury and cash management policies in the back office and report any identified weaknesses.
• Ensure proper record keeping of all customer documents and any other accounting support documents to secure confidentiality.
• Ensure implementation & compliance with Business Continuity Management Policies.
• Participate in the review of policies and procedures
• Conduct organisational audits to make sure that departments adhere to established procedures
• Identify risks and develop plans & strategies to mitigate against them/prevent them
• Evaluate the business’ recovery procedures for operational disruptions
• Communicate potential risks and disruptions of the business to managers
• Act as middle-men between the business and external auditors and regulatory bodies.

Educational Qualifications

• B.Sc qualification in Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Statistics, Accounting
• Minimum of 2 years experience in Audit process, Compliance and Regulatory requirements
• Experience in writing internal policies, procedures and process evaluation & documentation.

Skills and Competencies:

• Attention to detail
• Analytical and Critical Thinking skills
• Excellent communication skills - both verbal and written
• Good Knowledge of Health & Safety policies
• Great use of Microsoft Suite
• Ability to maintain accurate record-keeping
• Great Interpersonal skills
• Ability to interpret financial information
• Highly organized with strong leadership skills.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to recruitment@bleuappleconsulting.com using the Job Title as the subject of the mail.

News: Japan man faces verdict in murder of 19 at disabled care home

source: AFP


JIJI PRESS/AFP/File / Masato YAMASHITA Uematsu appeared before the court in January when the trial began, and has not denied involvement in the grisly stabbing rampage

A Japanese court hands down its verdict Monday in the case of a man accused of murdering 19 disabled people at a care home in 2016, in one of the country's worst mass killings.

Satoshi Uematsu, a former employee at the facility, does not dispute his involvement in the grisly stabbing rampage that shocked Japan where violent crime is rare. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

His lawyers have entered a plea of not guilty, arguing the 30-year-old was suffering a "mental disorder" linked to his use of marijuana.

But prosecutors say Uematsu was capable of taking responsibility for the attack at the Tsukui Yamayuri-en centre in Sagamihara town outside Tokyo and should be executed for his crimes.

The rampage was "inhumane" and left "no room for leniency", prosecutors argued last month.

Uematsu's behaviour in court, including apparently trying to put something in his mouth, disrupted proceedings in the first hearing in January, with the judge calling a recess and then resuming without him.

He faces six charges including murder and has reportedly said he will not appeal whatever decision the court hands down.

But he has also defended himself, arguing his actions do not deserve the death penalty.

Uematsu has reportedly said he wanted to eradicate all disabled people in the horrifying attack that also left 26 people wounded.

He turned himself in to police after the assault, carrying bloodied knives.

It later emerged he had left his job at the home just months earlier and had been forcibly hospitalised after telling colleagues he intended to kill disabled people at the centre.

Uematsu had been discharged after 12 days when a doctor decided he was not a threat. He had also written a letter outlining plans to attack the home, claiming "disabled people only create unhappiness".

- 'I will never forgive you'-


AFP/File / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU Dozens of people queued outside the court in Yokohama outside Tokyo for a seat at the opening session of the trial in January


Among the few victims to be identified publicly was a 19-year-old woman, Miho, whose mother had said at the court that Uematsu "didn't need a future".

"I hate you so much. I want to rip you apart. Even the most extreme penalty is light for you. I will never forgive you," her mother said, according to public broadcaster NHK.

"Please bring back my most precious daughter... You're still alive. It's not fair. It's wrong."

"I demand capital punishment," she added.

Uematsu has shown no remorse for the attack, telling Japan's Mainichi Shimbun daily that people with mental disabilities "have no heart", and for them "there's no point in living".

"I had to do it for the sake of society," he said.

Uematsu's beliefs shocked Japan, with experts and activists raising questions about whether others might hold similar views.

Japan has been making efforts to increase accessibility -- particularly in Tokyo ahead of this year's Paralympic Games -- and activists hailed last year's election of two disabled lawmakers.

But some critics feel the country still falls short of fully integrating people with disabilities.

News: Dutch queue for cannabis as coronavirus closes cafes 2020

source: AFP

ANP/AFP / Phil NIJHUIS People queue outside cannabis cafe in The Hague on Sunday

Cannabis smokers aiming to keep calm and carry on despite coronavirus queued up outside Dutch "coffee shops" on Sunday after the government ordered their closure to beat the outbreak.

Customers lined up in their dozens as they tried to beat a deadline for the closure of the marijuana cafes and stockpile weed supplies for what could be weeks of lockdown.

The Netherlands' famed coffee shops have become as much a part of the country's popular image abroad as sex clubs in Amsterdam's famed red light district, which were also ordered to shut by 6:00 pm along with all bars and restaurants.

"For maybe for the next two months we're not able to get some weed so it should be nice to at least have some in the house," Jonathan, a Dutch buyer, said outside The Point coffee shop in The Hague.

"My friend called me like five minutes ago, he saw the press conference -- good friend," he told AFP.

The queues built up minutes after the Dutch health and education ministers gave a televised press conference announcing the closure of many businesses, along with all Dutch schools.

Similar scenes were reported around the country, with pictures on social media of long queues outside coffee shops in the capital Amsterdam and the historic university city of Utrecht.

Whereas days earlier it was supermarkets besieged with people trying to hoard toilet paper and pasta, the sudden announcement of the coffee shop closure meant there were new priorities.

- 'Bit of weed' -

Staff set up separate lines for cash and cards as customers hurried to order supplies of exotically named strains like "Doctor", "Bubble" and "Purple Haze" before the doors shut.

"I wouldn't mind having a little bit of weed -- keep it easy while we're at home for so long. It might be a long time in quarantine," said an Irish woman who gave her name as Hannah as she queued in The Hague.

"I was literally just watching the press conference with my flatmate and then I just went downstairs and suddenly there's this queue of like 30 people, and all these cars arriving as well now."

Lines also built up at Roermond near the border with Germany, amid fears that the German government would shut its borders with the Netherlands next after introducing strict controls for those arriving from France, Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Denmark from Monday


ANP/AFP / Remko DE WAAL Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (r) and Health minister Bruno Bruins using the elbow bump greeting last week to avoid hand-to-hand contamination


Cannabis is technically illegal in the Netherlands, but it decriminalised the possession of less than five grammes (0.18 ounces) of the substance in 1976 under a so-called "tolerance" policy.

The cannabis queues came despite Health Minister Bruno Bruins making an "urgent appeal" to Dutch people during Sunday's press conference, saying: "Do not hoard. It is not necessary."

Prime Minister Mark Rutte will on Monday make a televised address to the nation, which has so far recorded 20 deaths from COVID-19 disease and 1,135 infections.

News: Spanish king distances himself from scandal-hit father

souce: AFP

POOL/AFP/File / Juanjo Martín Juan Carlos handed over power to his son, Felipe in 2014

King Felipe VI of Spain moved Sunday to distance himself from his scandal-hit father, stripping him of his palace allowance and renouncing what he was due to inherit from him.

The announcement came after reports earlier this month in the Swiss daily Tribune de Geneve that former monarch Juan Carlos had received 100 million dollars (90 million euros) from Saudi Arabia via an offshore account.

The money was lodged in a Swiss bank account in the name of a Panamanian foundation, the paper reported, according to which $65 million of that sum was given by Juan Carlos to his former mistress, Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein.

A later report in Britain's Daily Telegraph said that 52-year-old King Felipe was also a beneficiary of the fund, which it said had been set up when Juan Carlos was still on the throne.

In the palace statement released Sunday, the reigning king said that in April he had made it clear to a notary that he would accept no money from the foundation in question.

He also said he had absolutely no knowledge of having been named as a beneficiary to another foundation, which according to press reports paid millions of euros towards his father's flights in private jets.

The statement said King Felipe was renouncing any assets, shares or investments that might be either illegal or compromise the royal family's integrity.

Spanish media reports say Juan Carlos has until now received an annual allowance from the state of more than 194,000 euros ($216,000).

- Growing pressure from the left -

The reaction from leftwing parties Sunday evening suggested that for them, at least, it was not enough.

On Twitter, economist Carlos Sanchez Mato of the United Left party, called on the king to renounce everything he stood to inherit from his father -- including his role as head of state.

On Tuesday, the Spanish parliament decided against launching an investigation into suspected money laundering by the former king.

Spain's hard-left Podemos party had called for it after reports earlier this month that in 2008 Juan Carlos received $100 million from Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah via the Swiss account of an entity listed in Panama.

Podemos, which is part of the ruling coalition with Pedro Sanchez's Socialist Party, is avowedly republican.

Juan Carlos, now 82, came to the throne after the death of the military dictator Francisco Franco in 1975 and is widely respected for having favoured a transition to democracy.

But he lost his immunity from prosecution after handing power to his son, Felipe, in June 2014 following a 39-year reign.

He resigned from public life last year after a series of scandals about his private life.

In 2012, he outraged Spaniards by going elephant hunting in Botswana at the height of the country's recession.

But he is not the only Spanish royal to have been caught up in a scandal.

In 2018, King Felipe's brother-in-law Inaki, the husband of Princess Cristina, was jailed for more than five years for siphoning off millions of euros from a foundation he ran in the island of Majorca.

News: US Fed slashes key interest rate, rolls out massive response to pandemic

AFP

AFP / JIM WATSON US President Donald Trump welcomed the Fed's second emergency rate cut in less than two weeks, in response to the coronavirus pandemic

Faced with a growing economic shutdown from the coronavirus pandemic, that could cause the US economy to contract, the US Federal Reserve on Sunday announced drastic emergency measures to shore up confidence and keep the financial sector running, including slashing the key interest rate to virtually zero.

The Fed made its second emergency rate cut in less than two weeks, lowering the benchmark borrowing rate to a range of 0-0.25 percent, where it was during the 2008 global financial crisis, and pledged to keep it there "until it is confident that the economy has weathered recent events."

The central bank also announced massive asset purchases, opened its discount-lending windows to banks, making it easier for them to borrow from the Fed and urging them to use it to help businesses and households.

It also removed bank reserve requirements to allow them to use cash backstops to meet unexpected funding needs.

The Fed joined forces with other major central banks to guarantee the global financial system has enough cash to continue to operate.

President Donald Trump, who in the past has repeatedly berated the independent central bank for not acting more aggressively, praised the moves.


AFP / Johannes EISELE The Fed announced massive asset purchases, opened its discount-lending windows to banks, making it easier for them to borrow from the Fed urging them to use it to help businesses and households


"What's happened with the Fed is phenomenal news," Trump said at a regular briefing of his coronavirus task force. "I can tell you, I'm very happy."

The massive show of financial force, coming with more countries are on lockdown due to the spread of the COVID-19 illness, aims to contain the economic fallout as businesses are forced to shut their doors in an already sluggish global economy.

Even with these moves, Powell told reporters "the second quarter will be a weak quarter with probably output declining a bit."

But "after that it becomes hard to say," and "it's going to depend again on the path of the virus," Powell said in a call with reporters following the emergency meeting of the Fed's policy-setting Federal Open Market Committee.

In joint action coordinated with the European Central Bank, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Bank of Canada and the Swiss National Bank, the central banks moved to counteract global "dollar funding pressures," Powell said.

"The swap lines are available standing facilities and serve as an important liquidity backstop to ease strains in global funding markets," a joint statement from the central banks said.


AFP / Eric BARADAT The massive show of financial force aims to contain the economic fallout as businesses are forced to shut their doors in an already sluggish global economy

While the Fed rolled out all of its weapons to support the economy, Powell said fiscal measures from the government will be "critical," and applauded the measures being considered by Congress. "We hope they will be effective."

Following its emergency meeting, the FOMC said "the coronavirus outbreak has harmed communities and disrupted economic activity in many countries, including the United States."

The committee, which had been due to hold a regularly-scheduled two-day meeting starting Tuesday, vowed to "use its tools and act as appropriate to support the economy."

Powell said the Fed still has some firepower left if the uncertainty is prolonged, but financial markets seemed uncertain: Wall Street plunged in futures trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average "mini" index losing more than 1,000 points or 4.5 percent, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting similar declines.

Tokyo's Nikkei stocks index also dropped slightly after opening.

- 'Time is of the essence' -

Former Bank of England board member Adam Posen told AFP central banks are showing they have learned the lessons from the last crisis: "Don't wait for the data. Don't save your ammo."

But Posen, head of the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, said the nature of this shock, which affects demand not just financial markets, is different than the last crisis, and the Fed moves will not be sufficient without government spending.


AFP / Johannes EISELE Wall Street plunged in futures trading, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average "mini" index losing more than 1,000 points or 4.5 percent, and the S&P 500 and Nasdaq posting similar declines


"We have to be realistic that there's a limit on what monetary policy can achieve in this environment," he said, while praising the Fed's signal to banks that they should not just sit on their cash.

In the wake of the global financial crisis, the bank regulators, including the Fed, required lending institutions to build up a large cash buffer in case of another emergency, so they would not require a government bailout.

The Fed decision on Sunday unleashed those reserves so bank can help support families and businesses, with more than $4 trillion at their disposal, and encouraged banks to make use of low-cost short-term loans from the central bank

"This action eliminates reserve requirements for thousands of depository institutions and will help to support lending to households and businesses," the Fed said.

The Fed also revived the "quantitative easing" policy used during the last crisis that involves buying debt to keep money flowing through the economy. The Fed will in coming months buy $500 billion in US Treasury debt and $200 billion in mortgage-backed securities.

Economists praised the rapid and aggressive policy steps.

"We have been urging this action for some time and we're very happy that the Fed did not wait until Wednesday's meeting," said Ian Shepherdson, chief economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

"Time is of the essence."

News: Aussies chide Tom Hanks over his quarantine Vegemite diet

AFP


AFP/File / Chris Delmas Hanks has been in hospital isolation with his wife Rita Wilson since they tested positive for coronavirus last week

Quarantined US actor Tom Hanks has prompted a wave of gentle ribbing from his Australian hosts concerned about his fervid use of their beloved Vegemite spread.

Hanks has been in hospital isolation with his wife Rita Wilson since they tested positive for coronavirus last week.

On Sunday he posted a photo showing two pieces of toast smothered in Vegemite, a salty and pungent paste made from yeast extract.

"Thanks to the Helpers. Let's take care of ourselves and each other," Hanks wrote in the social media post alongside a photo of a crushed Vegemite tube, a kangaroo doll and the thickly slathered toast, with a large bite missing from one piece.

The response from bemused Aussies was immediate.

"WHERE WERE THESE HELPERS WHEN TOO MUCH VEGEMITE WAS BEING SPREAD ON THAT TOAST??????," tweeted Melbourne comedian Kirsty Webeck.

"Okay you need to scrape around 60% of that vegemite off, otherwise it's gonna be nasty and hurt your mouth friend," warned Amy Thunig.

"Cripes, we've given him coronavirus *and* Vegemite," added Greg Jericho, a Canberra-based journalist.

Hanks and Wilson, both 63, were isolated in hospital on the Gold Coast south of Brisbane last week.

Hanks was in Australia for filming of a biopic about Elvis Presley in which he was due to portray the singer's longtime manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

Wilson, a singer-songwriter, had given a number of performances and interviews in Sydney and Brisbane, prompting authorities to try to trace spectators and journalists who came into contact with her.

At least one of those contacts, TV entertainment reporter Richard Wilkins, has since revealed he has tested positive for coronavirus.

News: Tunisia herbalists cash in on coronavirus fear

AFP


AFP / FETHI BELAID Tunisians flock to the Souk el-Blat in Tunis and its herbalist stalls, where flasks, powders and dried herbs are stacked high

There is no known cure for the new coronavirus, but in the medicinal herbs souq in Tunis, anxious Tunisians are consulting with herbalists and stocking up on traditional remedies.

"I am afraid for my father, who is old and sick, so I have come here to look for plants to boost his immunity," said Baya, a 43-year-old civil servant.

Tunisia has reported 20 COVID-19 cases since March 2. While no deaths have been reported, authorities have taken tough measures to halt the spread of the disease and fewer customers are crowding the paved alleys of the capital's ancient medina.

But in the heart of the old city, Tunisians continue flocking to the Souk el-Blat and its herbalist stalls, where flasks, powders and dried herbs are stacked high.

Local and imported herbal medicines are traditionally valued for warding off winter flu, which shares some symptoms with the new coronavirus -- a respiratory infection that has killed more than 6,000 people worldwide.

Fear of contagion has seen a rush on garlic, sending the price soaring to 25 dinars (eight euros) a kilo, while other customers look for plant remedies that are effective and affordable.


AFP / FETHI BELAID Local and imported herbal medicines are traditionally valued for warding off winter flu, which shares some symptoms with the new coronavirus


"I can understand people falling back on tradition," said Hedi Oueslati, a pharmacologist and Tunisia's director general of health.

"But there is currently no medicine nor miracle plant effective against the new coronavirus."

He continued: "If we're talking about a grandma's remedy that is not dangerous and poses no problems, ok."

But, he added, "you have to be careful not to fall for quackery."

Some people were profiting from public anxiety to sell "concoctions" with unknown ingredients, he warned.

- 'Ancestral remedies' -

"What can I take for coronavirus?" Hanen Oueslati (no relation to the health director) asked a vendor at a stall selling fresh rosemary and oregano.

"I want plants to sterilise the home and others for making herbal infusions," said the 38-year-old woman.

"The goal is to protect us, that's all, especially since there is no medication against the virus," she said.


AFP / FETHI BELAID Haj Mohamed offers preparations of ginger, jujube honey and tumeric

Fethi Ben Moussa, a 61-year-old herbalist, explained: "Tunisians love everything traditional and natural: in times of panic they trust in the remedies of our ancestors.

"People are asking for things to prepare at home like thyme, ginger and moringa," he said, claiming that they were "good for immunity and fighting viruses."

At another shop, Haj Mohamed offered preparations of ginger, jujube honey and tumeric that he claimed, without evidence, are "100 per cent effective against viruses."

A second generation herbalist, he claimed these are "magic ingredients for fighting all kinds of flu".

But Dr Chokri Hamouda, the director general of healthcare in Tunisia, has a warning: "Just because it's natural doesn't mean it's not harmful."

News: CDC recommendation suggests lengthy sports shut-down

AFP

GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / Gregory Shamus With US sports in a holding pattern in the face of the cornavirus pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have recommended an eight-week moratorium on 'mass gatherings' including sports events

The NBA and other major sports leagues in the United States could be idle for longer than intially anticipated under new recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

The CDC recommended Sunday that sporting events and other "large events and mass gatherings" be cancelled or postponed for the next eight weeks.

"Large events and mass gatherings can contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States via travelers who attend these events and introduce the virus to new communities," the agency said in a statement.

"Examples of large events and mass gatherings include conferences, festivals, parades, concerts, sporting events, weddings, and other types of assemblies."

The NBA became the first major US pro sports league to suspend its season in the face of the coronavirus pandemic after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday.

Three NBA players are now known to have tested positive.

The NHL and Major League Soccer have also suspended competition, while Major League Baseball cancelled Spring Training games and pushed back the scheduled March 26 start of its season "at least two weeks."

The PGA Tour and LPGA Tour have cancelled tournaments into April, and the Masters, first men's major of 2020 will not take place at Augusta National April 9-12.

Tennis, motor racing, figure skating and boxing are also among the sports that have been affected in North America.

The NBA suspension was open-ended, with commissioner Adam Silver saying Thursday that the league had determined it would be "most likely at least 30 days."

An eight-week shut-down from Sunday would extend to May 10, past the scheduled end of the NBA regular season and the scheduled April 18 start of the playoffs.

The NHL, which "paused" its season on March 12, was also in the final weeks heading into its Stanley Cup playoffs.

Both Silver and NHL commissioner Gary Bettman have said that with so many unknowns it was impossible to predict whether they could eventually resume their regular seasons and play on through July or even August, resume with a shortened schedule or perhaps even find themselves unable to resume play at all.

"It's a bit of a puzzle, and part of the problem is, we don't know what all the pieces are yet," Bettman said in an interview posted on NHL.com on Friday.

News: Biden, Sanders attack Trump on virus -- and spar on record

AFP

AFP / MANDEL NGAN Democratic presidential hopefuls Joe Biden (L) and Bernie Sanders greet each other with an elbow bump at the start of their debate

White House hopefuls Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders launched a joint attack on Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic as they faced off in a high-stakes debate Sunday, accusing the president of undermining his own scientists with misinformation.

The two rivals also sparred about their record, taking advantage of the first one-on-one format of the marathon campaign to engage in extended -- though civil -- policy clashes on everything from universal health care and climate change to deportations and foreign policy.

But with Biden appearing to have a good night, riding high as the frontrunner following three weeks of strong performances in multiple primaries, the 77-year-old made a splash by saying he will "commit" to picking a female running mate if he is the Democratic nominee.

Sanders said he would "in all likelihood" do the same, following the most diverse nomination contest in US history that saw no fewer than six women in the running to take on Trump in November.


 AFP / US Democratic primaries


Going head to head days before four large states hold Democratic primaries, the two main candidates left in the race stood six feet (1.8 meters) apart and elbow bumped one another at the start of a televised debate held with no live audience as a virus precaution.

Sanders, the 78-year-old underdog, took a stinging shot at the president, accusing him of fomenting confusion and eroding public trust in a time of crisis.

"We have to shut this president up right now because he's undermining the doctors and the scientists who are trying to help the American people," Sanders added, referring to multiple Trump statements at odds with expert views.

"It is unacceptable for him to be blabbering unfactual information that is harming the American public."


AFP / Mandel NGAN Biden, after a near-calamitous start to the primary season, has staged a spectacular comeback

Biden essentially agreed, saying: "the existential threat to the United States of America is Donald Trump."

With the debate overshadowed by the fast-moving health crisis, Biden and Sanders spent the first half-hour on how to address the pandemic which has already caused almost 70 deaths and more than 3,600 coronavirus cases nationwide.

"We're at war with the virus," said the former vice president.

"I would call out the military. Now," he added, warning that the Pentagon and the Federal Emergency Management Agency must step in immediately to dramatically expand the number of intensive care beds.

"The present system can not handle the surge that is likely to come," he said.

Sanders called for "aggressively" ramping up testing but also for expanding the safety net to make sure Americans are not pushed deeper into economic crisis.


 AFP / Mandel NGAN Bernie Sanders took a stinging shot at the president, accusing him of fomenting confusion and eroding the all-important trust in government institutions in the time of crisis


"What happens if I'm sick? It's going to cost thousands of dollars for treatment. Who is going to feed my kids?" Sanders said, putting himself in the shoes of a workingclass parent.

This 11th Democratic debate has placed the most intense spotlight yet on the duel between the former vice president and the leftist US senator from Vermont.

Of the four states voting Tuesday, Florida, Illinois and Ohio have among the largest troves of Democratic delegates at stake.

- 'Weakness and dysfunction' -

Both candidates have cancelled planned rallies, and on Sunday they acknowledged shifting from live gatherings to televised or online events -- and that they are each taking precautions like routine hand-washing to avoid getting infected.

Scrapping live events could pose a particular handicap to Sanders, who has consistently mobilized large and enthusiastic crowds.


AFP / MANDEL NGAN This 11th Democratic debate has placed the most intense spotlight yet on the duel between the former vice president and the leftist US senator from Vermont

He may find one advantage. The pandemic "exposes the incredible weakness and dysfunction of our current healthcare system," said Sanders, who advocates a government-run system that expands coverage to all Americans.

Biden, after a near-calamitous start to the primary season, has staged a spectacular comeback.

The states voting Tuesday, which all show Biden with double-digit leads in polling, should help him consolidate his lead, particularly in Florida where he holds a 40-point advantage.

Sanders was the campaign's putative leader just weeks ago, but he is the clear underdog now.

"If I lose this thing, Joe, I will be there for you," Sanders said, in a revealing moment.

But he expressed worry that Biden would not be able to rally young and Latino voters, two crucial constituencies.


 AFP / US Democratic primaries


"I have my doubts that Biden's campaign can generate that energy and excitement and voter turnout," Sanders said.

For some, Sanders' continued campaign was a way to gain a last bit of leverage before finally dropping out -- to help advance elements of his "political revolution" and bring some of his progressive ideas more firmly into the mainstream.

But as Sanders repeatedly promoted his Medicare for All plan, Biden pushed back saying it was unlikely to pass Congress.

"We have problems we have to solve now," Biden said. "What's the revolution going to do? Disrupt everything in the meantime?"

Head of Admin at Heritage Homes 2020

Head of Admin

Lagos

• Similar Jobs

Administrative & Office

Heritage Homes

Administrative & Office

Lagos|Full Time|Healthcare|

NGN Confidential

Job Summary

The Head of Admin will ensure the operations of the home are within a secure, efficient and organized work environment. The Head of Admin is required to play a key role in overseeing finances, logistics, information systems and special projects; researching organisations and individuals to find opportunities, increasing the value of current donors while attracting ones

• Minimum Qualification: Degree
• Experience Level: Mid level
• Experience Length: 5 years

Job Description

Reports To:

• The Head of Admin will report to the Assistant General Manager (AGM)

Resposibilities and Duties:
ADMINISTRATION:

• Organize office operations and procedures in line with the approved policies guiding the Home.
• Manage contract and price negotiations with office vendors and service providers
• Receive incoming calls and emails; respond appropriately and route correspondences to the appropriate quarters

FINANCIAL:

• To ensure that the Company's financial and administrative procedures are adhered to and to work within a set budget.
• Forecast requirements; provide support in the preparation of annual budget; schedule expenditures; analyse variances; initiating corrective actions

INVENTORY MANAGEMENT:

• Create database and spread sheets to improve inventory management and reporting accuracy
• Receive store supplies, donations (cash and kind) in the home.
• Set up a structure for monitoring fixed and non-fixed inventory in the home.
• Monitor maintenance and repairs of all company assets in home

HUMAN RESOURCE:

• To be involved in recruitment of staff in the Home, including vetting, interviewing and inducting employees.
• provide daily training and motivation for staff
• Assess HR requirements in Ikota and advise appropriately

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/P.R MANAGEMENT:

• Researching business opportunities and viable income streams for the orphanage.
• Manage company publicity and programmes
• Manage company social media platforms and online communications including Heritage website and online chats.
• Liaise with the various internal and external partners /stakeholders and donors to ensure that the care needs of and existing children are met.
• Complete special projects by organizing and coordinating information and requirements; planning, arranging, and meeting schedules; monitoring results
• Design and implement a strategy for raising funds for the home.

HEALTH, SAFETY & ENVIRONMENT:

• To ensure a clean and safe environment at all times; ensure that the physical state of the building is maintained to a high standard and that all repair/maintenance problems are dealt with promptly.
• Any other such duties as may be required from time to time by the Management.

Head of Admin’s Requirements:

• B.Sc. or HND in Business Administration or any related discipline
• Experience working in an educational, non-profit or medical institution (not less than 5 years ) required
• General office administration
• Excellent time management skills and ability to multi-task and prioritize work
• Attention to detail and problem solving skills
• Emotional resilience
• High level of integrity and discretion
• Ability to communicate and interact well with people of different educational, linguistic, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds.
• A creative mind with an ability to suggest improvements
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Exceptional leadership, time, task, and resource management skills
• Working with children out of their home environment
• Ability to offer a high level of pastoral care to children

Apply here>>>> 

News: Global banks take crisis measures as virus death toll surges 2020

AFP

 AFP / Kazuhiro NOGI Markets were not euphoric about the Fed decision

The US Federal Reserve and other central banks unveiled emergency measures to prop up the coronavirus-battered global economy, as the three worst-hit European countries recorded their deadliest days of the pandemic.

The virus has upended society around the planet, with governments imposing restrictions rarely seen outside wartime, including the closing of borders, home quarantine orders and the scrapping of public events.

After the COVID-19 pandemic began in China late last year, Europe in recent weeks emerged as the biggest flashpoint and the death toll on the continent surged over the weekend.

Italy on Sunday announced 368 deaths over the previous 24 hours, the worst single-day toll for any country of the crisis and far exceeding the deadliest day in China recorded in February.

Spain and France registered 183 and 29 new deaths respectively on Sunday, also their worst one-day tolls.

Globally, there have been more than 6,500 confirmed deaths from the virus. The weekend saw a tipping point with a majority of the fatalities now outside of China.


AFP / Gal ROMA US Federal Reserve


With the virus infecting nearly every sector of the global economy, concerns are growing the world will be catapulted into a damaging recession, leading to stock markets enduring horror losses and wild swings.

The Fed attempted to stem the panic with drastic measures announced before Asian markets opened on Monday, slashing its key interest rate to virtually zero.

"What's happened with the Fed is phenomenal news," US President Donald Trump said Sunday at a regular briefing of his coronavirus task force. "I can tell you, I'm very happy."

The Bank of Japan on Monday also announced emergency economic stimulus measures for the world's third-biggest economy, adding to similar efforts from European central banks.


 GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP / TASOS KATOPODIS President Donald Trump declared himself very pleased with the Fed cut

But investors remained in panic mode, with the futures markets on the Dow Jones Index predicting another sharp move downwards and Asia-Pacific stocks tumbling again.

Australia's main share index fell 9.7 percent on Monday, its largest-ever percentage drop, with investors fearing that governments had few other tools to fire up the global economy.

"The biggest concern has to be that the big G7 central banks have exhausted their policy tool kit, especially the biggest and most influential one of them all, the Fed," said AxiCorp's Stephen Innes.

China provided more evidence of COVID-19's dire economic impact, announcing factory output had contracted for the first time in nearly 30 years.

- Stocking up on weed -

Normal life is at a standstill in much of western Europe, with France ordering all non-essential businesses closed and Spain banning people from leaving home except to go to work, get medical care or buy food.


AFP / Frederic J. BROWN Panic-buying has been seen around the world as people stock up on essentials fearing a lengthy period of enforced quarantine


Despite Trump's insistence there is enough food to last through the pandemic, panic-buying has been seen around the world as people stock up on essentials fearing a lengthy period of enforced quarantine.

Larry Grossman, manager at a Manhattan supermarket, said he had never seen anything like it in 40 years.

"I have been through Hurricane Sandy... through 9/11, I have never seen shopping like this," he told AFP, as he restocked the store's empty shelves.

In New York and Los Angeles, bars and restaurants have been closed, while several casinos in Las Vegas have shuttered.

In the Netherlands, cannabis smokers aiming to keep calm and carry on queued up outside Dutch "coffee shops" on Sunday after the government ordered their closure.

"For maybe for the next two months, we're not able to get some weed so it should be nice to at least have some in the house," said Jonathan outside a "coffee shop" in The Hague.

- 'Really upset' -

There was pandemonium at several airports as travellers scrambled to get home with countries increasingly slamming shut their borders to prevent the virus spreading.


EISELE In the US, passengers complained of massive queues as staff battled with new entry rules and stipulations on medical screening

In the US, passengers complained of massive queues as staff battled with new entry rules and stipulations on medical screening, leading some to worry they were exposing themselves to the virus in the crowds.

Joanna, a British student in Cyprus, said she was scrambling to get home, fearful of further restrictions on movement.

"I think if I stayed here and if it was a lockdown, I think I would be really upset, the fact that I could not go home and see my family," she told AFP.

There were continuing signs of improvement in China, with only four new cases recorded in Wuhan -- where the virus was first detected in December -- although imported cases rose.

And there have been heartwarming scenes around the world as people attempt to lift spirits.

In Switzerland, where cases nearly doubled to 2,200 on Sunday, Geneva residents applauded, whistled and rang bells from their balconies and windows to thank health workers on the frontline.

Images of Italians singing from their balconies have also gone viral and the choir of Stockholm's Katarina church decided to livestream their performances online.

"People need something to cling on to, I think, and something to listen to," said chorister Birgitta.

burs-ric/kma/qan

News: Germany says virus vaccine research not for sale 2020

AFP

 AFP/File / JIM WATSON US President Donald Trump reportedly offered 'a billion dollars' to secure research into a coronavirus vaccine by a German biotech firm

Germany's foreign minister said Monday the rights to coronavirus vaccine research were not for sale, following reports Donald Trump wanted the US to buy exclusive access to a potential vaccine developed by a German biotech firm.

The comments, made in an interview to media group Funke, come as scientists raced to develop a vaccine against the deadly coronavirus that has killed some 6,000 people, seen millions placed under lockdown and devastated global markets.

"German researchers play a leading role in drug and vaccine development and we cannot allow others to seek exclusive results," Heiko Maas told Funke.

Citing sources close to the German government, Die Welt newspaper had previously reported that Trump had offered "a billion dollars" to secure research into a vaccine by German biotech firm CureVac "only for the United States".

"Germany is not for sale," economy minister Peter Altmaier told broadcaster ARD on Sunday, reacting to the report.

At a news conference, interior minister Horst Seehofer was asked to confirm the attempts to court the German company.

"I can only say that I have heard several times today from government officials today that this is the case, and we will be discussing it in the crisis committee tomorrow," he said.

CureVac said in a statement Sunday that it "abstains from commenting on speculations and rejects allegations about offers for acquisition of the company or its technology".



- Fury -

The report prompted fury in Berlin.

"International cooperation is important now, not national self-interest," said Erwin Rueddel, a conservative lawmaker on the German parliament's health committee.

A US official told AFP Sunday that the report was "wildly overplayed".

"The US government has spoken with many (more than 25) companies that claim they can help with a vaccine. Most of these companies already received seed funding from US investors."

The official also denied that the US was seeking to keep any potential vaccine for itself.

"We will continue to talk to any company that claims to be able to help. And any solution found would be shared with the world."

- 'Take action' -

CureVac, founded in 2000, is based in the German state of Thuringia, and has other sites in Frankfurt and Boston.

The firm markets itself as specialising in "development of treatments against cancer, antibody-based therapies, treatment of rare illnesses and prophylactic vaccines".

The lab is currently working in tandem with the Paul-Ehrlich Institute, linked to the German health ministry.

Last week, the firm mysteriously announced that CEO Daniel Menichella had been replaced by Ingmar Hoerr, just weeks after Menichella met with Trump, his vice president Mike Pence and representatives of pharma companies in Washington.

"We are very confident that we will be able to develop a potent vaccine candidate within a few months," CureVac quoted Menichella as saying on its website shortly after the visit.

On Sunday, CureVac investors said that they would not sell the vaccine to a single state.

"If we are successful in developing an effective vaccine, then it should help and protect people across the world," said Dietmar Hopp, head of principal investor dievini Hopp Biotech Holding, in a statement.

Economy minister Altmaier welcomed the statement, saying it was a "fantastic decision".

He also pointed out that the government has the power to scrutinise foreign takeovers, saying that "where important infrastructure and national and European interests are concerned, we will take action if we have to."

News: Hong Kong political rivals woo voters with free face masks

AFP

AFP / ISAAC LAWRENCE Local councillor Eason Chan said he believed the swift response from the pro-democracy camp to the virus pushed their opponents to up their game

Hong Kong's rival political camps have embraced a new tactic to woo potential voters as the city hunkers down during the coronavirus pandemic: free face masks.

Masks have been in desperately short supply in Hong Kong since the start of the year when the epidemic reached the financial hub.

Politicians from both the resurgent pro-democracy camp and their embattled pro-Beijing rivals have seized on the shortage, beginning a charm offensive with voters even before official campaigning kicks off for the city's legislature elections in September.

Already riding high after last year's huge anti-government protests, three pro-democracy parties were the first to pull off something of a public relations coup -- securing 1.2 million masks form Honduras.

The move did not go unnoticed, and one week later the pro-Beijing camp announced that had one million masks of their own.


AFP / ISAAC LAWRENCE Supporters of a pro-beijing alliance responded by securing their own haul of masks to hand out to the public


Local councillor Eason Chan said he believed the swift response from the pro-democracy camp to the virus pushed their opponents to up their game.

"That we started earlier and kept bringing supplies to the community, in some ways, forced all parties to join the competition," he told AFP.

"The Pro-Beijing camp wants to use this chance to return to the community and reinforce their local support," he added.

Beijing's powerful Liaison Office in Hong Kong announced the neighbouring Chinese mainland city of Shenzhen had donated one million masks that were being distributed among the community by a newly-formed group called "Hong Kong Community Anti-Coronavirus Link".

"As long as the public can be benefitted, it's fine for different parties in society to do their own part," said Bunny Chan, a well-connected politician within the pro-Beijing side and one of about 30 conveners of the Link.

"Our conveners have either extensive local networks or professional background, and we have more than 5,000 volunteers across the city to help," he told AFP.

- Anger at slow response -

Hong Kongers will be able to elect half the lawmakers in the city's legislature, a body designed to ensure the pro-Beijing block always holds sway.

But after last year's huge anti-government protests and a landslide victory in November local council elections, the pro-democracy camp have their best chance ever to capture most of the electable seats in the legislature.


AFP / ISAAC LAWRENCE Eason Chan said sourcing masks to hand out for free was one of the first tasks on his to-do list after he was sworn in as a local councillor

And the pro-Beijing block are scrambling to avoid another humiliating defeat.

Eason Chan said sourcing masks to hand out for free was one of the first tasks on his to-do list after he was sworn in as a local councillor for Kwun Tong, a reliably pro-government district until last year's protests.

The 23-year-old political novice has distributed 10,000 masks since January, gathered through donations and paid for out of his own pocket.

"Mask handouts are closely related to the election in September," he added.

Beijing continues to full-throatedly back chief executive Lam even though she is grappling with historic low approval ratings.

But many of her allies in Hong Kong's pro-establishment camp have begun distancing themselves from her administration and even openly criticising it, especially after the virus outbreak.


AFP/File / Anthony WALLACE There has been widespread public anger towards the city's unelected pro-Beijing leaders over their failure to stockpile supplies in a city traumatised by a 2003 outbreak of the SARS virus that killed more than 300 people


There has been widespread public anger towards the city's unelected pro-Beijing leaders over their failure to stockpile supplies in a city traumatised by a 2003 outbreak of the SARS virus that killed more than 300 people.

The COVID-19 disease has so far infected 149 people, four of whom have died.

"It's become clear that whoever has a close association with the government is doomed," Chung Kim-wah, a social scientist at the Public Opinion Research Institute told AFP.

He said the pro-government camp will need to try harder to persuade voters in a city still seething with public anger and clamouring for democratic reform.

"Hong Kong voters have many other and deeper grievances from what happened last year," he said.

News : Equities plunge as central bank moves fail to ease economy fears

AFP

 AFP / STR The virus outbreak saw Chinese industrial production contract in January-February for the first time in 30 years, putting huge pressure on the world's number two economy

Asian markets tumbled Monday as interest rate cuts and fresh stimulus measures by central banks failed to lift confidence, with analysts warning that the Federal Reserve may have reached the limits of its power to fend off recession as the coronavirus spreads.

The Fed move added to efforts by central banks around the world to combat the outbreak, which observers say will likely cause a global recession.

The scale of the crisis was laid bare by data showing Chinese industrial production for January and February shrank 13.5 percent, the first contraction in around 30 years.

Equity markets continue to be whipsawed by the disease, which has now infected almost 170,000 people and killed more than 6,000 with several countries going into lockdown as Europe becomes the new epicentre of the outbreak.

The Fed on Sunday slashed borrowing costs to almost zero -- its second emergency cut in less than two weeks -- and unveiled a massive asset-buying programme, similar to measures put into place during the global financial crisis.

The Bank of Japan on Monday unveiled a series of emergency monetary policy measures, saying it would ramp up its own bond-buying programme.

New Zealand's central bank also slashed rates to record lows in an attempt to cushion the economic blow, while the People's Bank of China has injected vast sums into financial markets to ease liquidity worries.

In joint action coordinated with the European Central Bank, Bank of England, Bank of Japan, Bank of Canada and the Swiss National Bank, the central banks moved to counteract global "dollar funding pressures", said Fed boss Jerome Powell.

But traders were left unimpressed, with the virus showing no sign of letting up, while the head of the World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said it was impossible to tell when it would peak globally.

"While these moves may go some way to easing any potential blockages in the plumbing of the financial markets, they won't adequately compensate for the upcoming economic shocks that are about to come our way as a result of the events currently unfolding across Europe, as borders get closed and populations get locked down," said CMC Markets analyst Michael Hewson.

Sydney led losses, tumbling 9.7 percent in its worst drop on record, while Manila shed nearly eight percent and Bangkok and Mumbai dropped more than five percent.

Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Jakarta all lost more than four percent. Wellington and Seoul were more than three percent off.

- Anything left in the tank? -

Shanghai dropped tumbled 3.4 percent after the release of the industrial production data, which came a week after news that Chinese exports had collapsed.

Tokyo ended 2.5 percent lower, after a rally sparked by the Bank of Japan's support measures announcement fizzled.

In early trade, London, Frankfurt and Paris all lost more than four percent.

The broad retreat follows a tumultuous week that saw some stock markets suffer their worst days in decades and in some cases their worst ever.

And experts said there was a concern that the Fed might be running on empty with regards to further action.

Sunday's move "raises the question of whether the Fed has anything left in the tank should the spread of the virus not be contained", said Kerry Craig at JP Morgan Asset Management.

"Our view is that the drag on the services sector from social distancing policies and shock from the fall of the oil price on the energy sector will be enough to tip the US into recession, but not necessarily a long one."

The unease has seen futures on Wall Street tumble around five percent.

"The biggest concern has to be that the big G7 central banks have exhausted their policy tool kit," said AxiCorp's Stephen Innes.

"The markets now appear kind of defenceless to another selling onslaught, so the fiscal step is crucial in avoiding a dreaded global credit event."

On currency markets, the dollar dropped against the yen after the Fed rate cut, though the greenback was up against higher-yielding, riskier assets such as the Australian dollar and the Thai baht.

Oil dropped again, hit by a price war between major producers Saudi Arabia and Russia adding to demand concerns caused by the virus.

- Key figures around 0820 GMT -

Tokyo - Nikkei 225: DOWN 2.5 percent at 17,002.04 (close)

Hong Kong - Hang Seng: DOWN 4.0 percent at 23,063.57 (close)

Shanghai - Composite: DOWN 3.4 percent at 2,789.25 (close)

London - FTSE 100: DOWN 4.8 percent at 5,108.31

Dollar/yen: DOWN at 106.45 yen from 108.02 yen at 2130 GMT on Friday

Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1144 from $1.1098

Pound/dollar: UP at $1.2348 from $1.2273

Euro/pound: UP at 90.24 pence from 90.18 pence

Brent North Sea crude: DOWN 6.3 percent at $31.73 per barrel

West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 4.4 percent at $30.34 per barrel

New York - Dow: UP 9.4 percent at 23,185.62 (close)

News: Oil prices extend losses on price war, virus fallout

AFP




 AFP / Frederic J. BROWN Last week's price war began after Saudi Arabia and other members of the OPEC oil cartel pushed for an output cut to combat the impact of the virus outbreak

Oil prices extended the gloom on Monday after a Saudi-Russian price war and an equities meltdown sparked by the coronavirus pandemic saw their biggest weekly losses in more than a decade.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) briefly fell below $30 a barrel, or 5.5 percent, in morning Asian trade before regaining its footing.

It was trading at $31.13 a barrel at around 0530 GMT, down nearly two percent from Friday's close.

The Brent global benchmark was down 3.28 percent at $32.74 a barrel.

Last week's price war began after Saudi Arabia and other members of an informal alliance of major crude producers led by the OPEC oil cartel pushed for an output cut to combat the impact of the virus outbreak.

But alliance partner and non-OPEC member Russia, the world's second-biggest oil producer, refused -- prompting Riyadh to drive through massive price cuts and pledge to boost production.

The COVID-19 outbreak added to downward pressure as it throttled global equities, with growing concerns over a potential worldwide recession and escalating travel restrictions prompting a crash in demand forecasts.

Prices made a feeble rally late last week after US President Donald Trump announced $50 billion in Federal spending to stem the damage from the coronavirus and plans to buy "large quantities of crude oil" to top up strategic reserves.

But both benchmarks still fell by around 25 percent in the biggest weekly drop since the global financial crisis in 2008, and more losses are expected.

"Rallies will likely continue to fade so long as the market continues to weigh the double-whammy of the COVID-19... and the massive jump in supply," said Stephen Innes, global chief markets strategist at AxiCorp.

"The rare combination of severe shocks to both supply and demand has caused the crude market to collapse as producers... steel themselves for an unexpected glut of oil in coming weeks," added Sukrit Vijayakar of Trifecta Consultants.
source: https://www.afp.com/en/news/3954/oil-prices-extend-losses-price-war-virus-fallout-doc-1pw8ui3

News: 'Don't sacrifice lives': doubts grow in Japan over Tokyo Olympics 2020

AFP


AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU Pessimism is rising in Japan over holding the Tokyo Olympics as scheduled

Doubts are growing in Japan about the Tokyo Olympics, with growing opposition to holding them as scheduled and some urging officials not to risk lives by pressing ahead during the coronavirus emergency.

Officials like Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach have repeatedly insisted preparations should continue to light the Olympic flame on July 24.

But with events from the Premier League to NBA basketball scrapped, and Japanese sport also at a standstill, even US President Donald Trump has suggested putting the Olympics on hold.

Japan has seen relatively few cases, with 814 testing positive and 24 dead. But some people on the streets of Tokyo voiced concern for the fans that would pour in from abroad.

Koki Miura, a 27-year-old employee at an internet company, told AFP: "To be honest, even if Japan overcomes this crisis, we wouldn't receive visitors from the world. I think we'd better not hold it."

"We cannot sacrifice people's lives for it," added Miura, who said the Games should be postponed -- if not cancelled outright.

Public opinion in Japan appears to be moving against the Games. A poll for public broadcaster NHK taken March 6-9 suggested 45 percent were opposed to going ahead as planned, with 40 percent in favour.


AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU Japanese residents have expressed concern that the spread of the new coronavirus may make it impossible to host the Olympics this summer


Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike has said it is "unthinkable" to cancel the Olympics but the decision rests with the IOC, which is planning emergency talks with international sports federations over the virus on Tuesday, according to an IOC source.

Bach has stressed the IOC will follow World Health Organization recommendations regarding a possible postponement. But he has also acknowledged that the cancellation of qualifying events was already posing "serious problems".

At the beginning of March, Bach said the IOC would show "flexibility" regarding the qualifications for the Tokyo and encouraged "all athletes to continue to prepare" for the Games.

- 'Look at the panic' -

Masao Sugawara, a 90-year-old pensioner, told AFP: "Personally, I think it would be safer to postpone the Olympics for a year, just as President Trump said. Look at the panic."

"Of course it would be disappointing, though," he admitted.


AFP / CHARLY TRIBALLEAU Organisers and Japanese officials insist preparations for the Games are continuing as scheduled

Manfred Otto, 45, a half-Japanese, half-German lawyer, said he was "worried" about the Games and stressed: "We really need to be careful."

"If the outbreak does not get controlled by June or July, I think we should postpone it," said Otto.

The betting odds are increasingly shifting towards the opening ceremony not taking place on July 24. Bookmaker Paddy Power is offering 4-1 against the Games opening on time.

This comes as the virus -- which has killed 6,400 people worldwide -- shreds the international sporting calendar, with almost no elite sporting action taking place last weekend.

Scrapping the Olympics would be a heartbreaking decision for Tokyo residents who rushed to buy tickets, and authorities whose preparations have won widespread praise -- with the majority of venues ready well ahead of schedule.

Hisaya Suzuki, 47, said he had tickets to see baseball, Japan's most popular sport.

"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I really wanted to take my son," he said, but added: "If there will be negative consequences, it may be wiser to pause it (the Games)."

Sugawara said the magnitude of the coronavirus trumped sporting considerations.

"I am 90 years old. Except for wartime, I have never felt so worried."

Financial Analyst Job at Cormart 2020

Cormart a leading specialty chemicals company in Nigeria and active in production and sales/marketing of chemicals and raw materials such as paint, glues & adhesives, oil lubricants, breweries, distilleries, beverage, food, confectionaries, cosmetics, and personal and home care chemicals. Cormat is part of TGI Group, an international investment and holding company with diverse interests and investments in Nigeria, Ghana, Benin Republic, and several other emerging markets. It is a sister company to TGI Distri., Chi Farms Ltd., Chi Pharmaceuticals Ltd., WACOT Ltd., WASIL Ltd., Romson Oil Field Services and various other companies.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Position: Financial Analyst
Job Location: Lagos
Basic Responsibilities

• Analyzing current and past financial data
• Reviewing current financial performance and identifying trends
• Providing analytical, forecasting, reporting to finance and business management
• Produce monthly reports, which include key metrics, financial results, and variance reporting

Basic Requirements

• First degree in Accounting / Finance or related discipline
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance or related discipline is an added advantage
• Having a professional qualification like ICAN, ACCA is also an added advantage
• 0-5 years previous working experience as a Financial Analyst
• Flexibility: willingness to work in different locations in Nigeria when required

Interview Date
Suitable candidates will be invited and assessed as per the schedule below:

• Qualitative and logic testing: Saturday, May 2nd, 2020
• Assessment Centre / Executive Interview: Friday, May 15th, 2020

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should forward all Applications to: career.cormart@clicktgi.net using the "Job title" as subject of the email.

N150,000 Stipend Worth of BudgIT Civic Hive Media Fellowship Program for Creative Journalists in Nigeria 2020

The BudgIT Media fellowship program started the year 2017, where it featured journalists who were focused on writing human-angle stories that raised advocacy on topics like budget access, project tracking, use of extractive revenues, social justice, anti-corruption, open governments, and transparency.
BudgIT’s platform helped to give voice to the stories and backed stories up with real time data. They are focused on telling stories that will give results to advocacy issues to make the society a better place and create a more egalitarian society that works for all.
This year, the Civic Hive Media fellowship program will be more focused on stories on Gender Inequality, Health, People with special needs, Agriculture, Education, Social Investment programs, civic issues, and the extractive industry. They are looking for stories that will advance and bring attention to transparency, accountability, and civic engagement in these thematic sectors. They do not mind the scale of the stories – local or international – and they are open to the diverse use of technology – radio, text, print, IoT, machine learning, artificial intelligence or social media – as a channel to disseminate the stories. They are more focused on the impact on the people, the sustainability of ideas to deliver value and the unrelenting spirit of the journalists.
BudgIT Civic Hive Media Fellowship Program Eligibility.

• Applicants are ideally full-time writers, print or broadcast journalists, filmmakers, bloggers, or other media makers, with well-established records of publication, dissemination or broadcast in local, regional or national markets, or among targeted audiences or constituencies.

BudgIT Civic Hive Media Fellowship Program Benefits.

• A monthly stipend of N150,000 meant to cover feeding and logistics will be provided.
• They will also hold rounds of engagements with stakeholders on the ideas to receive feedback and potential support. Other sessions on Centring People in your stories, Storytelling for journalists, Making sense of the data, Data Visualisation Tools, Multimedia storytelling will be handled by the civic hive team.

Method of Application
Due to the number of expected applications, they will conduct reviews and interviews in April. Interviews will be done by their selected team of judges which include experienced civil society leaders, Journalists, Industry thought leaders and pioneer media fellows.
APPLY HERE OFFICIAL LINK

2020-2022 IAS Educational Fund / Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme for Clinicians in Sub-Saharan Africa

The Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme, an initiative of the IAS Educational Fund,  is aimed at contributing to improving the quality of HIV service delivery in resource-limited settings by providing two-year fellowships to five clinicians from sub-Saharan Africa, who will spend one year in Europe and one year in Africa at clinical institutions.
The programme will offer in-depth training for clinicians committed to careers in HIV clinical service delivery in sub-Saharan Africa with the aim of strengthening access to high-quality services for sub-Saharan Africa populations, with a client-centred service delivery approach.
Many African countries face an unmet need in the training of medical practitioners who want to become specialized in HIV. HIV medicine sub-specialization is not attractive for many young healthcare professionals, which is in sharp contrast to the need for such specialized personnel and leadership in the hardest-hit countries in sub-Saharan Africa.
Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme Eligibility.

• Applicants must have a terminal research degree as a medical doctor (or equivalent);
• Minimum of two years’ clinical experience;
• Currently working in sub-Saharan Africa;
• Commitment to become a specialist in HIV;
• English, French or Portuguese speaking.

Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme Benefits.

• Fellows will receive a living allowance for the duration of the Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme. Applicants should ensure they are financially able to enroll in the 2-year programme before accepting the fellowship.

How to Apply for Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme.

Eligible candidates can apply for the Mark Wainberg Fellowship Programme by completing the electronic application form in English, French or Portuguese.
Please have a scanned copy of your terminal research degree and letter of support from your institution ready to upload at the time of application.
OFFICIAL LINK

2020 Eco Friendly Recyclable Art Contest at Eko Hotel & Suites

This year’s competition promotes recycling and reuse of materials emphasizing creativity and innovation, in line with Eko Hotel & Suites goals to build and eco-friend eco-system.
The Recycling Art Contest is an opportunity for children to learn more about recycling, responsible use of recycling, responsible use of  resource and sustainable living through creative exploration.

Eko Hotel & Suites Eco Friendly Recyclable Art Contest Awards.

• Third place winner receives N100,000 prizes and a personal laptop computer
• Of the selected participant schools, 10 will be shortlisted to partake in the grand finale. Shortlisted to partake in the grand finale.
• Shortlisted artists and their guardians will be treated to a 3 days all expense paid, activity fill at the Eko Hotel and Suites leading  up to contest date which falls on April 22nd (Earth Day).
• First place winner receives N250,000 prize and personal laptop computer
• Second place winner receives N150,000 prizes and a personal laptop computer

Eko Hotel & Suites Eco Friendly Recyclable Art Contest Entering Details.

• Entry must be orignal work of the contestant
• 1 entry per participant / 5 entries per school
• Entry must be accompanied by entry form signed by art teacher
• This contest is open to all public & private schools in Lagos State
• Art Form: Crafting / Sculpting
• Subject: Sea Life
• Entry size: 1ft x 1ft
• Material: Participants may use any recyclable and reusablemarials e.g plastics / glass / paper / fabrics / wood / tweed / twin etc.

Eko Hotel & Suites Eco Friendly Recyclable Art Contest Terms and Conditions.

Interested and qualified candidates should download and fill the Entry Form below and submit along with their Artwork to the address below:
Eko Hotels & Suites,
Plot 1415 Adetokunbo Ademola Street,
P.M.B 12724, Victoria Island,
Lagos, Nigeria.
DOWNLOAD FORM
Deadline: 27th March, 2020.

Scholarships for International Students at University of Northampton in the UK, 2020

Highly skilled students from across the globe have a great way to manage their finances for an undergraduate or postgraduate course by applying for this the International Scholarship. The program is offered by the University of Northampton for the session 2020/21.
The main purpose of this educational award is to provide some tuition fee discount to international student’s undergraduate or postgraduate degree studies at UON.

• Course Level: Undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme
• Award: 10%, 20%, or 30% reduction in the cost of tuition fees
• Access Mode: Online
• Number of Awards: Unlimited
• Nationality: Any
• The award can be taken in the UK       
• Eligible Countries: Applications are open to students from across the globe
• Acceptable Course or Subjects: The sponsorship will be awarded in any subject offered by the university
• Admissible Criteria: To be eligible, the applicants must meet all the following criteria:
• You must hold an offer to study a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate taught programme (BA, BSc, BEng, MEng, LLB, Joint Honours, MA, MSc, LLM or MBA).
• The grant is available for the 2020/21 academic year only. In the case of deferral, withdrawal or restarting a programme, an award that has been offered will be withdrawn and must be re-applied for.

How to Apply: To apply for the grant, applicants are required to apply for the admission at the university. After being enrolled, they will be automatically considered for the award.

• Supporting Documents: Candidates must upload academic transcripts, CV, evidence of your English language ability.
• Admission Requirements: They must have a previous year degree from a recognized university.
• Language Requirement: If English is not your first language then you will need to show that your English language skills are at a high enough level to succeed in your studies.

Benefits

The UON will provide up to 30% reduction in the cost of tuition fees for the full length of the programme of study.

Apply Now

Application Deadline: March 31, 2020

2020 Kaduna State Government Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme for Young Nigerians

Established in 2018, KIF is an initiative of the Kaduna State Government (KDSG). The Fellowship is named after Sir Kashim Ibrahim, the first post-independence Governor of the Northern Region (1962-1966) who was known for his passion for education and selfless leadership which he demonstrated not only as Governor, but also as a Minister at various times.
The programme’s objective is to develop and nurture leadership ability across Nigeria, with specific focus on the promising leaders of the future. The one-year programme aims to create a network of high potential young Nigerians who are expected to rise to top leadership positions in the public sector and other spheres of activity over the next decade. The overall mission of the non-partisan programme, as envisioned by His Excellency, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, is in his words, “to raise the next generation of leaders who will most likely be absorbed into the Nigerian public sector having had a first-hand experience of its workings and challenges”.
Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme Eligibility.
To be eligible as a Kashim Ibrahim Fellow, applicants must demonstrate a public interest orientation.

• • Diversity: The programme will admit twenty-four (24) Fellows representing diverse ethnic, religious, and gender backgrounds, with varied educational and economic environments; working from all angles and with different perspectives to strengthen their communities and civic life.
  • An established record of self-discipline, punctuality, dedication, respect, confidentiality and integrity as Fellows MUST embody the change they wish to see in the society.
  • Commitment to engaging in crucial issues and to making a difference at the national level.
  • Promise of a future career of leadership and notable impact.
  • Special capacity for critical, creative, entrepreneurial, and strategic thinking.
  • Commitment to a rigorous programme of activities and to full-time residence in Kaduna for the ENTIRE duration of the programme.
  • Fellowships are available for individuals who are working to solve important public problems in creative and powerful ways.

• Proficiency in English: Fellows must be fluent in spoken and written English as all programmes will be conducted in English.
• Applicants must be Nigerian citizens between 25 to 35 years of age.
• Have graduated from an undergraduate or graduate degree programme from a recognised University and have completed the National Youth Service Corp programme.

Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme Benefits.

• A salary and benefits equivalent to that of Special Assistant to the Governor from the Ministry, Department or Agency for which Fellows work.
• Accommodation in a nicely furnished one-bedroom apartment for the duration of the programme, and breakfast

Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme Components.
Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme comprises of four components, namely;

1. Work PlacementEngagement in the work of Kaduna State Government lies at the heart of a Kashim Ibrahim Fellowship. Work assignments can offer unparalleled experience working with senior administration officials on ever changing issues and challenges. Fellows will spend a year as full-time, paid assistants to senior Government House Staff, Cabinet members and other top-ranking government officials in State Departments and Agencies.
   1. Job Assignments:  Fellows responsibilities would range from supporting public service delivery, interagency meetings and designing and implementing state government policies, to drafting speeches for government principals to representing their agencies outside Kaduna State. Fellows’ assignments demand a capacity for quick learning and a willingness to work hard, often on issues outside of their area of expertise.
      Job assignments in consultation with heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the basis of interviews conducted during “Placement Week”.
   2. Remuneration:  Fellows will receive salary and benefits equivalent to that of a Special Assistant to the Governor from the Ministry, Department or Agency for which they work. Kashim Ibrahim Fellows cannot receive compensation from any other source during their year of government service. Additionally, accommodation will be provided throughout the course of the programme.
2. Education ProgrammeThe mandatory Education Programme serves as an important aspect of the Fellowship as it is intended to augment and enhance the work placement experience. Fellows are expected to fully undertake the Education Programme which would include speaker series, domestic policy trips, an international policy trip and Aspen Institute style quarterly seminars. During this process, a balance is maintained between personal development, self-reflection and the Nigerian context of leadership. The values and ethics of leadership also form a major component of the learning experience. The Education Programme increases the Fellows’ exposure to renowned leaders from the public and private sectors. Each class will meet with notable global individuals who will improve and enrich their understanding and experience of public service. These sessions generally take place during the week, and are off-the-record, lively and frank.
   Study of government policies in action across the country is at the heart of the Education Programme. Kashim Ibrahim Fellows are expected to undertake several policy study trips during the year. They will travel throughout Nigeria to study a range of issues such as education, healthcare, security and transportation, energy, economic development, local governance and urbanisation. These studies provide participants with an intensive learning and broadening experience on the principles and application of leadership, and an opportunity to explore the issues and specific characteristics of African leadership, as well as the global challenges and dimensions of same.
3. Community ServiceCommunity service is a key component of the Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme. Fellows have a strong legacy of service to their communities and participate in community service projects throughout their year in Kaduna Metropolis. Fellows will be expected to pursue projects to assist the urban poor with solid waste management and recycling system, volunteer teaching, mentoring secondary school students, assisting Nigerian Legion members, or participating in the clean-up of local schools.
4. FellowshipPerhaps the most enriching component of the programme is class fellowship, which often results in enduring friendships and collaborative ventures. Alumni will convene at yearly meetings in Kaduna hosted by the Governor, to eagerly welcome new Fellows into what we hope would be one of the most prestigious networks of professionals and leaders in the state and our nation. In return for the privilege of participating in the Fellowship year, Fellows are expected to apply what they have learned by contributing to Kaduna State and the nation as greater leaders in their respective communities, professions, and in public service. Fellows are expected to return to their former or new occupations more experienced in public policy decision-making and better prepared to contribute to state and national affairs, thereby fulfilling the mission of the programme.

How to Apply for Kashim Ibrahim Fellows Programme.

Applicants are required to submit a Résumé/Curriculum Vitae (maximum 3 pages), an essay (word document of 1000 words maximum), and two letters of recommendation.
An important part of the application is the essay where you have the opportunity to demonstrate what you have accomplished and what your goals are for the future as we want to see people who have had a track record of imbibing change and are looking forward to making change as they move forward.
The most important criterion is to have a real commitment to put your new leadership skills into use to benefit your community, State and Nigeria upon the successful completion of the Fellowship.
APPLY HERE OFFICIAL PAGE
Apply Before: 20^th March 2020.

Administration Manager At Thyaura Limited Lagos 2020

Thyaura Limited is a middle size, fast paced Facilities Management company who also undertake specialist projects and janitorial Services to various clients across Nigeria. We are recruiting to fill the position below: Job Title: Administration Manager Location: Lagos Job Description We are urgently looking to recruit for an experience, flexible and dynamic person to join us as the Administration Manager and the role will work out of our Head Office in Lagos. Key Responsibilities Create and maintain good relationships with suppliers, vendors and service providers with the purpose of getting high quality products and services at good bargains. To support all departments and oversee the general running of the office by planning, organizing, and implementing administrative systems.

Responsible for the company fleet, ensuring the all company vehicles are compliant with traffic legislation Ц this to include insurance information, building insurance etc. Drafting and implementing policies and procedures that address fleet management and the drivers within the company, ensuring that there is efficiency of service for day to day business Overseeing the drivers and fleet ( logistic) management within the business Responsible for the security service (outsourcing) and ensuring the contracts are up to date and they invoices reviewed as applicable, Responsible for the collaborative weekly and monthly business reports that overarch the departmental objectives. Ensuring there is an annual servicing programme of all company equipment and machineries in both HO and all retail outlets Responsible for the uniformity and style of the Head office layout and furniture ensuring 100% consistency across the business Responsible for scheduling routine maintenance for core and non -core machinery and equipment relevant to the business and service delivery. Ensuring that the administrative needs of all departments are urgently addressed Liaise with the Quality Assurance Department to create a seamless operation of scheduled and unscheduled activities.

Confirm the quantity and quality of materials and consumables needed for projects and storage. Ensure continuous availability of regularly used materials and consumables in the store. Liaise with the Accounts Department in order to ensure prompt acquisition of goods and services for the business needs at all times. Effectively delegate assignments to subordinates in order to achieve departmental and company objectives.

Conduct weekly maintenance checks on all office equipment, assets and vehicles. Organize the office layout and order stationery and equipment Carryout proper cataloguing and indexation of company assets and prepares and updates assets register. Responsible for all Health and Safety issues in the Head Office Ensuring the relevant head office utility bills are addressed in good time and records kept Responsible for ensuring the reception and front desk are business compliant Carry out proper record keeping, archiving and retrieval of corporate document, records and reports. Manage office general and administrative budget, ensure accurate and timely reporting.

Carryout Printing/production of expression of interest documents Assist in planning in-house or off-site activities, like parties, celebrations and conferences. Required Qualifications/Experience Minimum of BSc/HND in or any related fields. Must have a minimum of 2 years working experience managing a business. Must be familiar with financial and financial management principles.

Proficiency in the use of MS office is Compulsory (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Publisher). Must have deep knowledge of office management procedures and departmental and legal policies. Understand and be able to work with document scanning and photo manipulation. Proficient in report writing.

Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication-skills required to maintain good working relationships with colleagues, train co-workers, write and summarize standard reports. Ability to work successfully in a team environment; acquire a thorough knowledge of procedures, policies and operations which apply to functional area in which the position is assigned. Ability to adapt quickly to constant changes in priorities and deadlines, moving between assignments effectively. Ability to organize, coordinate, and perform multiple tasks efficiently and accurately.

Proven work experience is an administrative office or role. Remuneration The salary is competitive and the benefits are rewarding. Application Closing Date 18th March, 2020. 

 

How to Apply Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: recruitment@thyaura.com using the "Job Title" as subject of the email.

Note: Only applicants with the relevant experience will be contacted.