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http://ift.tt/2rUXj9q *Staying active, eating well keeps arteries youthful, lowers risk of heart disease by up to 55% Humans may live to 120 in just 60 years time, according to a leading expert.Research reveals it is possible to slow down our biological, or ‘inner’, ageing process, which could help us to live decades beyond the current life expectancy of 81. Drugs that interact with our Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material maintain the function of our bodies for longer, the research suggests.Experts stress, however, this must be combined with a healthy lifestyle for full effect. Yet, how a 120-year-old life expectancy may impact our quality of life is unclear. The side effects of such treatments are also unknown. Several European countries are in talks to start drug trials within the next three years. Professor Vladimir Khavinson, head of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, said: “It is important to understand that nobody would want to liv...

http://ift.tt/2rV3x9m Babs Ogundeyi There is a digital storm brewing in the global banking marketplace – facilitated by mobile networking, social technologies, data analytics, and new disruptive customer experiences. Technology has transformed our way of life, from how we communicate, to how we travel, cook, book taxis, interact, and work, technology has truly permeated and impacted on every sphere of life changing it irrevocably. Technology has also disrupted the finance industry, questioning the status quo and challenging archaic and inefficient operational norms. We have seen the scaling back of physical money transactions and bank teller-led withdrawals being replaced by online transfers, card transactions and automated teller machines (ATM). All types of financial transactions from banking to payment to wealth management and beyond have benefited from this disruption, increasing the efficiency, speed and customer-centric nature of the financial industry, driven largely by co...

http://ift.tt/2rUWnSu Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige. As November 18 date for the gubernatorial poll in Anambra State approaches, the tempo of political activities rises with every passing day. Every opposition party professing any kind of presence in Awka talks tough on wresting power from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Expectedly, however, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has assumed the epicentre of opposition in the state, having upstaged the People’s Democratic Party’s supremacy in the national political space. Not one to gloss over the fixations of his party’s gains of the moment, Dr. Chris Ngige has jumped into the fray to characterise the opposition. Ngige easily passes for the face of APC in the South East. This and the implicit ceding of spokesperson by majority of the opposition groups to him embolden Ngige to seek brazen radicalization, if not militarization, of opposition politics in the state; caring less about the imminent sou...

http://ift.tt/2pnREGX Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai In a profound historical recollection, 1983 is back in our consciousness. And the tell-tale signals are assailing our sensibilities: first was the tendentious rumour alleging the poisoning of President Muhammadu Buhari; there was the wicked threat in the social media by a police officer of Biu origin, Borno State, to kill 200 Nigerians if Buhari dies; then the ludicrous warning and hubris by two northern leaders, Junaid Mohammed and Ango Abdullahi, that power would remain in the north in 2019; and, wait for the bomb, the devious alarm raised by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, which was suggestive of a proclivity towards a coup plot. These disingenuous propositions with far-reaching political implications are capable of sinking or submerging the very socio-economic and political foundations of the nation. Although, while it may be speculative that these characters acted some prepared script, histo...

http://ift.tt/2p65JIq When the details of the N125 billion budget were published a fortnight ago, many lawmakers confirmed that they were not surprised because it had been the subject matter at many National Assembly leadership meetings. The recent disclosure of the expenditure profile of the National Assembly as contained in the 2017 budget is just one of the many tasks expected of the legislature as a body charged with the responsibility of checking other arms of government against abuses. When the details of the N125 billion budget were published a fortnight ago, many lawmakers confirmed that they were not surprised because it had been the subject matter at many National Assembly leadership meetings. It was learnt that the fear of ‘banana peels’, which had swept many leaders of the Assembly from authority in the past, contributed mostly to delaying the publication of the budget details. One of the lawmakers who craved anonymity told The Guardian, “Many of our colleagues ...

http://ift.tt/2oNRJ7G Standard chartered bank Nigeria Standard Chartered Bank has launched a brand campaign titled “No.1 Bank: Power Your Ambitions” in a move to highlight its recent achievements and reiterate commitment to the Africa and Middle East (AME) region. It noted that its domination of awards is backed by the wide-range of world-class products and services for personal and business customers across the region, adding that from financing major energy, telecommunications, mining and infrastructure projects to growing businesses and building communities, its acclaimed No. 1 position is well-established. The bank has recorded transactions across its diverse markets in project finance, debt capital markets, wealth management, digital, private banking and Islamic banking, with awards. The Regional Chief Executive Officer of Africa and Middle East, Sunil Kaushal, said: “2016 saw a turnaround performance for our AME business despite the diverse set of challenges faced acr...

http://ift.tt/2oPyRkq Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, as part of the 50th anniversary of the state, released about N1.05 billion to pay accrued pension rights of retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in its Public Service including Local Government Councils, and Local Government Development Authorities. According to the Governor, employees who had served and are now retired deserved to be specially recognised, and also be a part of the Lagos at 50 celebrations, hence, the release of the fund to 241 retirees in the month of May. Speaking at the 39th Retirement Benefit Bond Presentation Ceremony, the Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) Folashade Onanuga, advised the beneficiaries not to look for quick gains, as the higher the returns, the higher the risk. “At the noon time of your life, you should not take risk that would aggravate your old age health challenges,” she advised.She also explaine...

http://ift.tt/2rUXj9q *Staying active, eating well keeps arteries youthful, lowers risk of heart disease by up to 55% Humans may live to 120 in just 60 years time, according to a leading expert.Research reveals it is possible to slow down our biological, or ‘inner’, ageing process, which could help us to live decades beyond the current life expectancy of 81. Drugs that interact with our Deoxy ribonucleic Acid (DNA)/genetic material maintain the function of our bodies for longer, the research suggests.Experts stress, however, this must be combined with a healthy lifestyle for full effect. Yet, how a 120-year-old life expectancy may impact our quality of life is unclear. The side effects of such treatments are also unknown. Several European countries are in talks to start drug trials within the next three years. Professor Vladimir Khavinson, head of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, said: “It is important to understand that nobody would want to liv...

http://ift.tt/2rV3x9m Babs Ogundeyi There is a digital storm brewing in the global banking marketplace – facilitated by mobile networking, social technologies, data analytics, and new disruptive customer experiences. Technology has transformed our way of life, from how we communicate, to how we travel, cook, book taxis, interact, and work, technology has truly permeated and impacted on every sphere of life changing it irrevocably. Technology has also disrupted the finance industry, questioning the status quo and challenging archaic and inefficient operational norms. We have seen the scaling back of physical money transactions and bank teller-led withdrawals being replaced by online transfers, card transactions and automated teller machines (ATM). All types of financial transactions from banking to payment to wealth management and beyond have benefited from this disruption, increasing the efficiency, speed and customer-centric nature of the financial industry, driven largely by co...

http://ift.tt/2rUWnSu Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige. As November 18 date for the gubernatorial poll in Anambra State approaches, the tempo of political activities rises with every passing day. Every opposition party professing any kind of presence in Awka talks tough on wresting power from the ruling All Progressives Grand Alliance, APGA. Expectedly, however, the All Progressives Congress, APC, has assumed the epicentre of opposition in the state, having upstaged the People’s Democratic Party’s supremacy in the national political space. Not one to gloss over the fixations of his party’s gains of the moment, Dr. Chris Ngige has jumped into the fray to characterise the opposition. Ngige easily passes for the face of APC in the South East. This and the implicit ceding of spokesperson by majority of the opposition groups to him embolden Ngige to seek brazen radicalization, if not militarization, of opposition politics in the state; caring less about the imminent sou...

http://ift.tt/2pnREGX Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai In a profound historical recollection, 1983 is back in our consciousness. And the tell-tale signals are assailing our sensibilities: first was the tendentious rumour alleging the poisoning of President Muhammadu Buhari; there was the wicked threat in the social media by a police officer of Biu origin, Borno State, to kill 200 Nigerians if Buhari dies; then the ludicrous warning and hubris by two northern leaders, Junaid Mohammed and Ango Abdullahi, that power would remain in the north in 2019; and, wait for the bomb, the devious alarm raised by the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, which was suggestive of a proclivity towards a coup plot. These disingenuous propositions with far-reaching political implications are capable of sinking or submerging the very socio-economic and political foundations of the nation. Although, while it may be speculative that these characters acted some prepared script, histo...

http://ift.tt/2p65JIq When the details of the N125 billion budget were published a fortnight ago, many lawmakers confirmed that they were not surprised because it had been the subject matter at many National Assembly leadership meetings. The recent disclosure of the expenditure profile of the National Assembly as contained in the 2017 budget is just one of the many tasks expected of the legislature as a body charged with the responsibility of checking other arms of government against abuses. When the details of the N125 billion budget were published a fortnight ago, many lawmakers confirmed that they were not surprised because it had been the subject matter at many National Assembly leadership meetings. It was learnt that the fear of ‘banana peels’, which had swept many leaders of the Assembly from authority in the past, contributed mostly to delaying the publication of the budget details. One of the lawmakers who craved anonymity told The Guardian, “Many of our colleagues ...