This year’s edition of the annual ORAN ROUND TABLE which was held at the Conference Room of The Citypeople Group building located at Gbagada, Lagos, was absolutely exciting in all ramifications as the knowledgeable guest speakers that were invited to address and rub minds with the online publishers and reporters of the dynamic Online Reporters Association of Nigeria; ORAN; a foremost and innovatively-inclined media association, as well as others representing various platforms on the Nigerian and indeed, global online community, gave revealing insights into the issues they separately addressed which included Politics, Finance, and Governance.
The first speaker, Princess Mulikat Fehintola Sanni, industrialist, educationist, motivational speaker, and CEO, of Mulifelong Motors; was a great woman with many firsts who had been deeply and actively involved in the political and commercial affairs of the country since the days of yore, dissected the anatomy of corruption and bad leadership, laying emphasis on how it starts from within the very four corners of our homes. She harped on her courageous effort in industry, and how the cabals thwarted her lofty dreams on the grounds of gender bias.
She rounded up her speech by saying Collective Ideas and Concepts Will Guide Nigeria to Greater Heights. On being asked by one of the participants to advise the youths of Nigeria on disunity Caused by corruption, she said her advice to such youths is to desist from trading away their golden futures on paltry sums that can’t even feed their hunger in a day. She said youths should shun too much love for money and that rather than seeking diabolical and perilous shortcuts to make money, they should embrace the dignity in honest labour instead.
She concluded by saying that rather than seeking confrontational means of demanding their rights, diplomacy dialogue, and discipline is always the best approach, citing an example where she had quelled a student uprising at the University of Lagos, despite her being initially accosted by an angry mob of rioting students.
Then came the turn of Mr. Mathew Obiazikwor, Head, Communications and Brand Management, Unity Bank; a soft-spoken, amiable, eloquent, and intelligent man gifted with such oratorical skills that’s unique to only him. He extended the greetings of Unity Banks MD, Mrs. Jumoke Somefun, emphasizing that she was aware of his being at the seminar, as well as greetings from other members of the Unity Bank Board of Directors.
He began to address the issue of the benefits of Financial inclusion citing that financial literacy is the tool for financial inclusion. He defined financial inclusion as meaning that individuals and businesses can have access to financial products and services citing POS, Credit, Insurance and other tools. He delved into the history of banking stating that modern banking originated from the rural forms of credit and thrift. He ex-rayed the intricate details of commercial banking as well as other facets of his industry in such a way that even an unlettered man can understand, much to the admiration of the participants.
He said banking was created to help people have more control and accountability over their finances and that when money is banked, it is re-introduced into the economy as an investment which will yield returns for the investor and the bank, thereby, creating a win-win situation, as well as create a large capital base where funds can be drawn as loan to help SMEs and corporate organizations expand and grow their businesses.
As a testament to Unity Banks’ greatness and identifying with the grassroots through its special Agric loan scheme for rural farmers, the erudite Princess Mulikat Sanni, interrupted to give glowing commendation of Unity Banks lofty ideals and how it is truly touching lives and affecting destinies, and according to her, unlike other banks that she declined to publicly mention.
Speaking further, Mr.Obiazikwor said the advantage of financial inclusion is that when one saves extra cash, it can generate profits and can equally be drawn upon in case of the unforeseen.
He also dwelled on the effects of bad governance and bad government policies pushed through by corrupt cabals, and how it is seriously affecting the economy and killing off budding businesses and thereby generating more unemployment.
The conclusion of the banker of great reputes address was met with a resounding ovation by everyone therein present while a temporary Q & A session commenced thereafter.
The final speaker of the event, a notable politician and Special Adviser to Odi-Olowu-Ojuwoye LCDA on Information and Orientation, Mr. Abubakar Babatunde Iliyas who was the representative of Hon. Razak Olusola Ajala, the Local Government Chairman, shed light on the ways bad governance affects a country. He explored the various functions that a working government does as regards its electorate and how failure to curb the menace can ultimately destroy the sovereignty of any great country. He also dabbled into the issue of corruption and how our collective honest and sincere resolve to drive out corruption can change the situation of a country within a short time.
Speaking after the event, Mr. Tijani Adegbola, President of the association, thanked all the guest speakers and participants, as well as their various platforms which has been instrumental to the dissemination of authentic news to millions over the years, and how a stronger collaboration between the media, financial industry and government can become more productive, while enjoining those that missed this intellectually rewarding edition not to miss the next one and the Annual ORAN Anniversary celebrations slated for December, 2022.
