Personality in Focus
You’ve Been Extraordinary, NAOSNP Celebrates Lagos CP Alabi on Birthday
In our world today, it has become rare to see round pegs in round holes, and so there is every need to celebrate round pegs in rounds wherever they are found, especially on their special days.
It is in that light that the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) felicitates with the man popularly known as Mr Peace, whose ingenuity and crime fighting acumen has placed Lagos State on the security map of the nation and beyond. He is CP Sylvester Abiodun Alabi.
Assuming office in Lagos in January 2022, Alabi has proved that he is a force to reckon, using the calmness of the lamb to put crime and criminality in their proper places, giving the state a lease od freshness, and arguably the preferred abode for both businesses and holidaying.
Speaking on behalf of the Association on the personality of the birthday, the public Relations Officer of NAOSNP, Mr Eric Elezuo eulogized the efficacy that has been the hallmark of the supercop’s stewardship, not only in Lagos, but every other place the job of policing has taken him, adding that he has been extraordinary in the discharge of his duties.
“You have been very extraordinary sir in the field of policing as well as a treasure to both the Nigerian Police and Lagos State, where you are primarily executing your task of keep crimes and criminality at bay.
We celebrate this day and always, and pray the Almighty God to continue to give the enablement to continue to serve your fatherland,” Elezuo said.
Also speaking, the Association’s president, Mr Samson Oki lavished encomiums on the Alabi, describing as a toast for anyone who loves peace. He stressed that with the coming of Alabi to Lagos, a whole way of policing has been introduced.
“We wish you the best of birthdays as you celebrate today, knowing that your passion and zeal to see a professionalised police force and crime free society will continue to drive you and our society to the zenith of greatnes,” Oki said.
A 1986 graduate Alabi of Sociology from the University of Lagos, Alabi is also a Master’s degree holder in the same discipline from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force in March 1990 as a cadet officer after acquiring hi Masters in 1989.
Before assuming the CP position of Lagos In state in January 2022, replacing Hakeem Odumosu, Alabi had previously served as the Commissioner of Police for Bauchi State, as well as the Commissioner of Police in charge of Central Criminal Registry, Force Criminal Investigation Department Annex, Alagbon, Lagos.
He has also been a Deputy Commissioner of Police in Taraba and Ekiti States, as well as Assistant Commissioner of Police of the elite Police Mobile Force.
A fellow of the Nigerian National Defence College, member of Nigeria Institute of Management and also a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Alabi served with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) in 2001 among other missions.
As part of its ongoing transformation from a training institute to a regulatory authority, the Director-General/CEO of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR), Aare (Dr) Abisoye Fagade, has embarked on a high-level courtesy visits to key government agencies.
These engagements aim to foster collaboration, enhance industry standards, and strengthen NIHOTOUR’s regulatory framework for the hospitality, travel, and tourism sector.
So far, Dr. Fagade has met with top officials, including Mr. Ayodele Subair, Executive Chairman of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service (LIRS); Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC); and Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).
Discussions focused on strategic partnerships to ensure compliance, professional certification, and improved service delivery within the travel, tourism, and hospitality industry.
“Our vision is clear – to build a robust, well-regulated travel, hospitality, and tourism sector that meets global standards. This transition requires strong collaboration with key agencies to align our training, certification, and regulatory frameworks with international best practices,” said Dr. Abisoye Fagade.
With more agencies scheduled for engagement, NIHOTOUR remains committed to promoting excellence, innovation, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s travel, hospitality, and tourism industry.
Access Holdings Plc has announced the appointment of Mr. Uche Orji as an Independent Non-Executive Director of its flagship subsidiary, Access Bank Plc.
The Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, said the appointment, which takes effect from January 7, 2025, has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
“This appointment reflects our commitment to enhancing our governance practices and ensuring a diverse and experienced board”, Access Holdings said.
Orji is a renowned investment banking professional, information technology entrepreneur, and finance expert with three decades of professional and board experience. He is the Co-founder and Partner of Titangate Capital Management, an equity firm that invests in deep-tech, enterprise software, semi-conductors, hardware, and artificial intelligence companies.
Orji is the Founder and Director of Vitesse Africa Limited, an investment advisory firm focused on African energy, technology and infrastructure sectors.
He serves as an Executive Board member and investor in Ultrasafe AI, an artificial intelligence/IT development firm that maintains strategic collaborations with leading technology companies.
He also sits on the Board of Private Infrastructure Development Group, London, and chairs the Risk Committee.
Previously, Orji served as the founding Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
He held positions as Managing Director and Senior Analyst at UBS Securities Limited New York and Managing Director and Head of European Technology/Semiconductor Equity Research at JP Morgan Securities, London.
He also served as Executive Director/Portfolio Manager at Goldman Sachs Asset Management, London. Earlier in his career, he was Acting Financial Controller at Diamond Bank Limited and an Audit Trainee at Arthur Andersen & Co.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Port Harcourt and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.
Commenting on the appointment, the Chairman of the Bank, Mr. Paul Usoro (SAN), said: “Mr. Orji has been appointed based on his exceptionally rich professional, academic, and corporate board experience which will be invaluable to the Bank as we continue to pursue our strategic objectives.
“We are confident that his addition to the Board would further enrich the quality of our decision-making process, enabling us to deliver even greater value to our customers and stakeholders.
“His appointment has been made in accordance with the Bank’s internal policies and has been notified to all relevant regulatory authorities underscoring our commitment to upholding the highest standards of corporate governance.
“On behalf of the Board, Management and staff, I warmly welcome Mr. Orji to the Board and look forward to his contributions towards our goal of becoming one of the top five African banks in the shortest possible time.”
A former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Lt Gen. Jeremiah Useni (retd), is dead.
He passed away on Thursday at the age of 82 after a protracted illness.
His death was announced in a statement issued in Jos by Gyang Bere, the Director of Press and Public Affairs to Plateau State governor, Caleb Mutfwang.
He described the of the former Minister and Quarter Master General of the Nigerian Army as a tremendous loss not only to his immediate family but also to the Nigerian Armed Forces, Plateau State, and the entire nation.
Highlighting the roles played by the late army general, Governor Mutfwang noted that he left an indelible mark on Nigeria’s security and political landscape with his tireless efforts to promote peace and security, especially in Northern Nigeria and Plateau State.
The governor prayed that god grants the family, plateau state, and the nation the strength and fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, and also asked for God’s divine presence to comfort and provide solace in the days ahead.
