Day: September 20, 2023

WilsonHCG named No. 1 global RPO provider in HRO Today’s 2023 RPO Baker’s Dozen List

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — WilsonHCG has been recognized as the No. 1 Recruitment Process Outsourcing (RPO) provider in HRO Today’s 2023 Baker’s Dozen List.

The longest-standing customer satisfaction survey in the RPO industry, HRO Today’s Baker’s Dozen List is designed to highlight the world’s top RPO providers and lends transparency into the RPO partnerships that are most impactful. Providers are rated on a range of factors including breadth of solutions, quality of service and size of deal.

“It’s an honor to be ranked No. 1 in the Baker’s Dozen List,” said John Wilson, CEO at WilsonHCG. “This recognition means so much to us as a business because it’s solely driven by client feedback. It really is a testament to the commitment and care that our people place in our client relationships. I want to say a huge thank you to the team and can’t wait to build on this success as we continue to add even more value to our client partnerships.”

“Since WilsonHCG’s first placement on the HRO Today Baker’s Dozen as a challenger brand, it has focused on great customer service and innovative approaches to recruitment process outsourcing and workforce solutions. It has transitioned from its early days as a challenger to a large and market dominating leader which is helping redefine what success should look like for clients of these service offerings. Remarkably, WilsonHCG’s service orientation has continued to improve as it has grown to one of the largest and most successful companies in the space and we congratulate it and its leadership team on ranking as the top provider on the HRO Today RPO Baker’s Dozen,” said Elliot Clark, CEO of HRO Today.

Visit the HRO Today website here to find more information about the Baker’s Dozen List.

About WilsonHCG
WilsonHCG is an award-winning, global leader in total talent solutions. Operating as a strategic partner, it helps some of the world’s most admired brands build comprehensive talent functions. With a global presence spanning more than 65 countries and six continents, WilsonHCG provides a full suite of configurable talent services including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, contingent talent solutions and talent consulting.

TALENT.™ It’s more than a solution, it’s who we are.

www.wilsonhcg.com

Media contact
kirsty.hewitt@wilsonhcg.com

+44 7889901517

813-418-4479

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8925480

Acino significantly expands presence and capabilities in Latin America through acquisition of M8 Pharmaceuticals

Over 300 M8 employees, product portfolio and pipeline to enhance Acino’s footprint and strategic position in key Latin American markets.

Zurich, Switzerland, Sept. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Acino, a Swiss pharmaceutical company headquartered in Zurich, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire M8 Pharmaceuticals (M8), a fast-growing specialty biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Mexico City and focused on licensing, marketing, and distributing innovative and established medicines in Mexico and Brazil.

Through this acquisition, Acino will enter the two largest pharmaceutical markets in Latin America, significantly expanding its geographic footprint and strengthening its position in the region, providing a more powerful and comprehensive offering for healthcare professionals and patients. The acquisition will complement Acino’s existing Latin American division, which is based in Panama and operates across eight countries in Central America, the Caribbean, and Ecuador, delivering high-quality medicines to improve people’s health in this key region.

M8, a Montreux Growth Partners portfolio company, has a highly successful record of signing exclusive licensing agreements with large pharmaceutical and biotech companies for the rights to market and commercialize products in Latin America. M8 brings a portfolio of well-known proven brands and innovative products, a best-in-class deal-making platform and an outstanding reputation among its partners. Moreover, it has built a large pipeline across a broad range of key therapeutic areas, including CNS, cardiometabolism, respiratory, gastroenterology, oncology and hematology, and rare diseases.

Andrew Bird, Interim CEO at Acino commented: “This is a transformative deal for Acino, significantly expanding our presence in Latin America and delivering against our overall strategy and stated intention to increase patient’s access to high-quality pharmaceuticals and diversify our footprint in key high-growth markets. We see M8 and Acino as highly complementary offerings, and we are confident that we can use this acquisition as a catalyst to further increase value and accelerate growth for Acino in this key region.”

Joel Barlan, CEO at M8 commented: “This agreement will provide M8 with considerable additional resources, expertise, and access to a much wider geographic footprint, which will further accelerate our growth. We look forward to leveraging the skills and capabilities of both teams to grow the combined business and continue to bring proven and innovative treatments to patients and caregivers throughout Latin America and other emerging markets.”

Dan Turner, Managing Director at Montreux Growth Partners commented: “We could not be more pleased with what M8 has achieved during our ownership. We first invested in the early stages of its development. We were able to bring on board a world-class management team, who have focused the company on patient critical therapeutic areas, with a product portfolio that now includes over 30 leading brands from major pharmaceutical companies around the world. The company has delivered tremendous growth and profitability, while also doing much good for the lives of patients. Acino is the perfect acquirer to continue that history of success”.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including antitrust clearance, and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023. Banco J.P. Morgan S.A. is acting as exclusive financial advisor, Goodwin LLP as exclusive legal advisor, and PWC as exclusive accounting and tax advisor to Acino. Stifel, Cooley LLP and Credit Suisse, a UBS Group Company acted as advisors to M8.

About AcinoAcino is a Swiss pharmaceutical company headquartered in Zurich with a clear focus on selected markets in the Middle East, Africa, Ukraine, the CIS Region, and Latin America. Acino is part of ADQ, an Abu Dhabi based investment and holding company. We deliver quality pharmaceuticals to promote affordable healthcare in these emerging markets and leverage our high-quality pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and network to supply leading companies through contract manufacturing and out-licensing.

About M8 Pharmaceuticals

M8 is a specialty biopharmaceutical company focused on licensing, marketing and distributing innovative and established therapeutics in Latin America: Brazil and Mexico. We aim to become the preferred pharmaceutical partner for the licensing of high-value innovative and proven therapies across our main therapeutic areas CNS, respiratory, cardiometabolic, immunology, gastroenterology, onco-hematology, and rare diseases. Our mission is to provide the people of Latin America with access to the proven and innovative medicines they need to transform their lives.

About Montreux Growth Partners

Founded in 1993, Montreux Growth Partners has a long history of investing growth capital into category-leading companies that are advancing healthcare and financial technology. It focuses on commercial stage companies which have highly differentiated products, technologies, and services. It is an active and collaborative investor, working closely with the management teams at its portfolio companies.

Attachment

Acino
Larisa Bernstein, Global Head of Communications
larisa.bernstein@acino.swiss

M8 Pharmaceuticals
Joel Barlan, Chief Executive Officer
+52 (55) 4431 2933 
us.wm@moksha8.com

Rafael Ferrer, Vice President of Corporate Development & Strategy
+1 (305) 299 6998
rafael.ferrer@m8pharma.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8925525

Lifezone Metals Announces Publication of H1 2023 Financial Results and Shareholder Letter

New York (United States), Sept. 20, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lifezone Metals Limited (“Lifezone Metals” or the “Company”) (NYSE: LZM), a modern metals company creating value across the battery metals supply chain from mine to metals production and recycling, announced today that it has published the Company’s first half 2023 financial results in a Form 6-K and an accompanying Shareholder Letter.

Highlights to-date in 2023, as expanded upon in detail in the Shareholder Letter, include:

  • Lifezone Metals’ public listing on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as LZM, creating the first pure-play NYSE publicly traded nickel resource and cleaner technology company
  • Completion of a second investment by BHP of $50 million, enabling continued progress at the Kabanga Nickel (“Kabanga”) project site in North-west Tanzania and on key study areas
  • Progress on Kabanga DFS and resource definition activities, building on years of studies and 621 kilometres of historical resource drilling, and further defining the Kabanga resource as the Company works towards an updated S-K 1300
  • Updated Kabanga metallurgical test work results, which indicate Kabanga nickel concentrate is amenable to processing using Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology, and is integral to the Kabanga-Kahama nickel refinery flow sheet
  • Headway on Kabanga site operations, early works and site access, with simultaneous critical path activities including expanded camp and internal roads upgrades enabling drilling and land surveys
  • Key achievements in the areas of Kabanga external affairs, sustainability and permitting, with a comprehensive program in place comprised of an operating team of 100+ actively focused on community engagement, environment, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and social performance
  • Acquisition of Simulus Laboratories, expanding capabilities for Lifezone Metals’ growth strategy beyond Kabanga
  • Formal commencement of off-take marketing of Kabanga nickel cathode, creating an off-take monetization opportunity for the nickel, copper and cobalt production from Kabanga given the interest in these products from original equipment manufacturers
  • Evolved Hydromet opportunities beyond Kabanga, entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a global platinum group metals (PGM) customer for a commercial scale PGM recycling facility

Keith Liddell, Founder & Chair of Lifezone Metals, said: “We are excited to share our first ever Shareholder Letter. As we are new to the public market, our first instalment of this communication will both introduce Lifezone Metals to those who are new to our story and present a detailed overview on what we believe are the key accomplishments for our Company so far in 2023.”

The documents can be accessed via the links below:

If you would like to sign up for Lifezone Metals news alerts, please register here.

About Lifezone Metals

Lifezone Metals (NYSE: LZM) is a modern metals company creating value across the battery metals supply chain from resource to metals production and recycling. Our mission is to provide commercial access to proprietary technology and cleaner metals production through a scalable platform underpinned by our tailored Hydromet Technology. This technology has the potential to be a cleaner and lower cost alternative to smelting, allowing us to responsibly and cost-effectively provide cleaner metals.

By pairing the Kabanga Nickel project in Tanzania, which we believe is one of the largest and highest-grade undeveloped nickel sulphide deposits in the world, with our proprietary Hydromet Technology, we will work to unlock the value of a key new source of supply to global battery metals markets. We have a long-standing partnership with BHP on the Kabanga Nickel project, with BHP having invested USD100 million, as we work to empower Tanzania to achieve full value creation in-country and become the next premier source of nickel.

www.lifezonemetals.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made herein are not historical facts but may be considered “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and the “safe harbor” provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “believe,” “may,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “predict,” “potential,” “seem,” “seek,” “future,” “outlook” or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology or expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future events, the business combination between GoGreen Investments Corporation (“GoGreen”) and Lifezone Holdings Limited (“LHL”) that formed Lifezone Metals, the estimated or anticipated future results of Lifezone Metals, future opportunities for Lifezone Metals, including the efficacy of Lifezone Metals’ hydromet technology (“Hydromet Technology”) and the development of, and processing of mineral resources at, the Kabanga Project, and other statements that are not historical facts.

These statements are based on the current expectations of Lifezone Metals’ management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on, by any investor as a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Lifezone Metals. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties regarding Lifezone Metals’ business, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: general economic, political and business conditions, including but not limited to the economic and operational disruptions and other effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against the Lifezone Metals in connection with the business combination; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the business combination, including difficulty in integrating the businesses of LHL and GoGreen; the risks related to the rollout of Lifezone Metals’ business, the efficacy of the Hydromet Technology, and the timing of expected business milestones; Lifezone Metals’ development of, and processing of mineral resources at, the Kabanga Project; the effects of competition on Lifezone Metals’ business; the ability of Lifezone Metals to execute its growth strategy, manage growth profitably and retain its key employees; the ability of Lifezone Metals to maintain the listing of its securities on a U.S. national securities exchange; costs related to the business combination; and other risks that will be detailed from time to time in filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive. There may be additional risks that Lifezone Metals presently does not know or that Lifezone Metals currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements provide Lifezone Metals’ expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Lifezone Metals anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Lifezone Metals’ assessments to change. However, while Lifezone Metals may elect to update these forward-looking statements in the future, Lifezone Metals specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Lifezone Metals’ assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Nothing herein should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results in such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements in this communication, which speak only as of the date they are made and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the cautionary statements herein.

Certain statements made herein include references to “clean” or “green” metals, methods of production of such metals, energy or the future in general. Such references relate to environmental benefits such as lower green-house gas (“GHG”) emissions and energy consumption involved in the production of metals using the Hydromet Technology relative to the use of traditional methods of production and the use of metals such as nickel in the batteries used in electric vehicles. While studies by third parties (commissioned by Lifezone Metals) have shown that the Hydromet Technology, under certain conditions, results in lower GHG emissions and lower consumption of electricity compared to smelting with respect to refining platinum group metals, no active refinery currently licenses Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology. Accordingly, Lifezone Metals’ Hydromet Technology and the resultant metals may not achieve the environmental benefits to the extent Lifezone Metals expects or at all. Any overstatement of the environmental benefits in this regard may have adverse implications for Lifezone Metals and its stakeholders.

Attachment

Natasha Liddell
Chief Sustainability & Communications Officer, Lifezone Metals
natasha.liddell@lifezonemetals.com

Ingo Hofmaier
Chief financial Officer, Lifezone Metals
ingo.hofmaier@lifezonemetals.com

ICR, Inc.
Investor Relations, ICR, Inc.
+1 (646) 200 8879
LifezoneMetalsIR@icrinc.com

Bronwyn Wallace
US Media Enquiries, H+K Strategies
+1 (713) 724 3627
Bronwyn.Wallace@hkstrategies.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8925404

Annonce des lauréats des Prix Stevie pour les grands employeurs 2023

Bank of America et Globe Telecom figurent parmi les grands gagnants

FAIRFAX, Virginie, 19 sept. 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Les lauréats des Prix Stevie® pour les grands employeurs 2023, un concours international, ont été annoncés le lundi 18 septembre pendant un gala à New York. Les prix récompensent les meilleurs employeurs au monde ainsi que les professionnels, les équipes, les réalisations des ressources humaines ainsi que les produits et fournisseurs liés aux RH qui aident à créer et à favoriser des lieux de travail exceptionnels.

Une liste complète de tous les lauréats des Prix Stevie d’or, d’argent et de bronze 2023 par catégorie est disponible à l’adresse http://www.StevieAwards.com/HR.

Ces lauréats incluent divers individus et organisations du monde entier. L’entreprise qui a remporté le Grand Prix Stevie de l’Organisation la plus récompensée de l’année est Bank of America, basée à Charlotte, en Caroline du Nord, avec sept Prix Stevie d’or, sept Prix Stevie d’argent et sept Prix Stevie de bronze, qui totalise ainsi 45,5 points. Le prix d’Organisation de l’année revient à l’entreprise ayant remporté le plus de points, chaque Stevie d’or représentant trois points, chaque Stevie d’argent représentant deux points et chaque Stevie de bronze représentant un point et demi.

Le Grand Prix Stevie de la Nomination la mieux notée de l’année revient à Globe Telecom Inc., basée à Taguig, aux Philippines, pour sa nomination d’Ato Jiao en tant que directeur des RH de l’année, qui a reçu un score moyen du jury de 9,5 sur 10.

Les plus grands gagnants des Prix Stevie d’or comprennent Bank of America (7 prix), Cathay United Bank (5 prix), IBM (4 prix), Tata Consultancy Services (4 prix), Tech Mahindra (4 prix), Dimes Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (3 prix), Enerjisa Enerji (3 prix), Product Madness (3 prix), TELUS International (3 prix), Akbank T.A.S. (2 prix), American Systems (2 prix), Ayala Land Inc. (2 prix), BlueSky Personnel Solutions (2 prix), Borusan (2 prix), DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (2 prix), FedEx (2 prix), Globe Telecom (2 prix), GoHealth (2 prix), Golden Hour Veterinary Telemedicine (2 prix), Kordsa Teknik Tekstil A.Ş. (2 prix), Saint-Gobain North America (2 prix), Siemens AG (2 prix) et Top Hat (2 prix).

Plus de 1 000 candidatures d’organisations de 28 pays ont été évaluées dans le cadre du concours de cette année. Les gagnants ont été sélectionnés en fonction des scores moyens de plus de 125 professionnels à travers le monde, jouant le rôle de juges.

Les lauréats des Prix Stevie dans les 31 catégories Employeur de l’année ont été déterminés en combinant de manière exceptionnelle les scores donnés par les professionnels et les votes du grand public.

Les Prix Stevie pour les grands employeurs récompensent les réalisations dans de nombreux aspects du lieu de travail. Les catégories comprennent :

  • Prix d’employeur de l’année
  • Prix des réalisations en matière de RH
  • Prix individuels des RH
  • Catégories des équipes de RH
  • Prix des fournisseurs de solutions
  • Prix des solutions, mises en œuvre et programmes de formation ou médias
  • Catégories leadership éclairé
  • Prix de réponse à la COVID-19

Les prix sont présentés par les Prix Stevie, qui organisent huit des plus grands programmes mondiaux de récompenses commerciales, dont les International Business Awards® et les American Business Awards®.

À propos des Prix Stevie

Les Prix Stevie sont décernés dans huit programmes : les Prix Stevie en Asie-Pacifique, les Prix Stevie en Allemagne, les Prix Stevie pour le Moyen-Orient et l’Afrique du Nord, les American Business Awards®, les International Business Awards®, les Prix Stevie pour les femmes entrepreneurs, les Prix Stevie pour les grands employeurs et les Prix Stevie pour les ventes et le service à la clientèle. Les concours des Prix Stevie reçoivent chaque année plus de 12 000 nominations émanant d’entreprises de plus de 70 pays. En récompensant les entreprises de tous types et de toutes tailles, ainsi que leurs collaborateurs, les Prix Stevie reconnaissent les performances exceptionnelles sur le lieu de travail dans le monde entier. Pour en savoir plus sur les Prix Stevie, rendez-vous sur le site http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Parmi les parrains de la 8e édition annuelle des Prix Stevie pour les grands employeurs, on peut notamment citer HiBob.

Contact marketing
Nina Moore
Nina@StevieAwards.com
+1 (703) 547-8389

Une photo accompagnant ce communiqué est disponible à l’adresse : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06939e25-fba1-4760-aacd-ed60700c9173

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8925066

Vencedores do Stevie Awards de 2023 para Grandes Empregadores

Bank of America e Globe Telecom Entre os Principais Vencedores

FAIRFAX, Va., Sept. 19, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Os nomes dos vencedores do Stevie® Awards for Great Employers (Stevie Awards para Grandes Empregadores) de 2023, uma competição internacional, foram anunciados na segunda-feira, 18 de setembro, durante um evento de gala na cidade de Nova York. Os prêmios reconhecem os melhores empregadores e profissionais de recursos humanos, equipes, conquistas e produtos e fornecedores relacionados a RH do mundo que ajudam a criar e impulsionar ótimos locais de trabalho.

Uma lista completa de todos os vencedores do Stevie Award Ouro, Prata e Bronze por categoria pode ser encontrada em http://www.StevieAwards.com/HR.

Um grupo diversificado de organizações e indivíduos de todo o mundo está entre os reconhecidos. A organização que ganhou o Grand Stevie Award de Organização Mais Honrada do Ano foi o Bank of America de Charlotte, Carolina do Norte, com sete prêmios Ouro, sete Prata e sete Bronze Stevie Awards, totalizando 45,5 pontos. O prêmio de Organização do Ano foi concedido à organização com mais pontos, com cada Stevie de Ouro contando três pontos, cada Stevie de Prata dois pontos, e cada Stevie Bronze contando 1,5 ponto.

O Grand Stevie Award de Melhor Indicação do Ano foi concedido à Globe Telecom Inc. de Taguig City, Filipinas, por sua indicação de Ato Jiao para Diretor de RH do Ano, que recebeu uma pontuação média dos juízes de 9,5 de um total de 10 possíveis.

Os principais vencedores do Gold Stevie Awards incluem Bank of America (7), Cathay United Bank (5), IBM (4), Tata Consultancy Services (4), Tech Mahindra (4), Dimes Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. (3), Enerjisa Enerji (3), Product Madness (3), TELUS International (3), Akbank T.A.S. (2), American Systems (2), Ayala Land Inc. (2), BlueSky Personnel Solutions (2), Borusan (2), DHL Global Forwarding, Freight (2), FedEx (2), Globe Telecom (2), GoHealth (2), Golden Hour Veterinary Telemedicine (2), Kordsa Teknik Tekstil A.Ş. (2), Saint-Gobain North America (2), Siemens AG (2), e Top Hat (2).

Mais de 1.000 indicações de organizações de 28 países foram avaliadas na competição deste ano. Os vencedores foram escolhidos por uma pontuação média de mais de 125 profissionais de todo o mundo que atuaram como julgadores.

Os vencedores nas 31 categorias de Empregador do Ano foram esolhidos por uma combinação única de classificação de profissionais e votos do público em geral.

Os Stevie Awards for Great Employers homenageiam as conquistas em muitas facetas do local de trabalho. As categorias são:

  • Employer of the Year Awards (Prêmios de Empregador do Ano)
  • HR Achievement Awards (Prêmios de Conquista de RH)
  • HR Individual Awards (Prêmios Individuais de RH)
  • HR Team Categories (Categorias de Equipes)
  • Solution Provider Awards (Prêmios de Provedor de Soluções)
  • Solutions, Implementations, and Training Programs or Media Awards (Prêmios de Soluções, Implementações e Programas de Treinamento ou de Mídia)
  • Thought Leadership Categorias (Prêmios de Liderança de Pensamento)
  • COVID-19 Response Awards (Prêmios de Resposta à Covid-19)

Os prêmios são apresentados pelo Stevie Awards, que organiza oito das principais premiações de negócios do mundo, incluindo os International Business Awards® e American Business Awards®.

Sobre o Stevie Awards

Stevie Awards são concedidos em oito programas: Stevie Awards Ásia-Pacífico, Stevie Awards Alemão, Stevie Awards Oriente Médio e África do Norte, The American Business Awards®, The International Business Awards®, Stevie Awards para Grandes Empregadoras, Stevie Awards para Mulheres Empresariais e Stevie Awards para Vendas e Serviço ao Cliente. Os concursos Stevie Awards recebem mais de 12.000 nomeações todos os anos de empresas de mais de 70 países. Honrando empresas de todos os tipos e tamanhos, e as pessoas por trás delas, os Stevies reconhecem excelente desempenho no local de trabalho em todo o mundo. Saiba mais sobre os Stevie Awards em http://www.StevieAwards.com.

Um dos patrocinadores do 8º anual Stevie Awards para Grandes Empregadores é o HiBob.

Contato de Marketing
Nina Moore
Nina@StevieAwards.com
+1 (703) 547-8389

Foto deste comunicado disponível em: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/06939e25-fba1-4760-aacd-ed60700c9173

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8925066

Institute vows to eliminate quacks from procurement profession

The Chartered Institute of Purchase and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPMN) said it was working to eliminate unqualified public office holders parading as procurement officers.

Alhaji Sikiru Balogun, the CIPMN President, during the induction of new fellows of the institute in Abuja on Tuesday urged procurement officers to be professionally certified.

He said: “We do not confer honourary membership to just anyone, you have to be trained, write an examination and have knowledge of this profession before we can give you membership.

“We do not give honourary membership without certifying that you are academically qualified. Our law does not permit anybody who does not have certified knowledge by us to head any procurement department.

“And we are making sure that this type of people are flushed out because they are quacks.

“Although, because of the Nigerian factor they still find themselves in the profession and they are fighting tooth and nail to make sure that we the professionals are not allowed to practice.”

According to Balogun, most people (quacks) parading themselves as procurement officers are the major challenge the country has, as they lack training and knowledge of the profession and cannot function adequately.

The president, therefore, advised unqualified procurement officers to desist from such acts as there were sanctions of five to ten years for procurement violations.

He also urged the President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ensure the use of qualified procurement administrators to ensure proper planning, budgeting and distribution for the good of Nigerians.

Similarly, Alhaji Mohamed Aliyu, the Registrar of the Institute decried that procurement professionals were not performing their duties in delivering dividends of democracy to the citizens.

Aliyu, however, urged the newly inductees to be responsible and diligent in their endeavors because if Nigeria is better, it will be better for us all.

“What is happening in Nigeria and the observations of the outside country is not palatable; they look at us as if we do not have professionals in the field.

“But I believe my people will go out there, if given the opportunity, cooperate with the new administration to ensure that we put everything in better perspective.

“The most unforgivable sin for any procurement person is to go above the budget. Budget has to go in tandem with the procurement otherwise you cannot implement,” Aliyu said.

The registrar commended President Tinubu for the way he had hit the ground running, saying there were still some gray areas that needed to be addressed.

“To inaugurate the public procurement council without wasting time, the bureau of public procurement needs to be put in the hands of capable people who have what it takes to manage that place.

“If quacks are assigned roles they are not capable of, they cannot perform because if you cannot build, then you can destroy and destruction is very easy.

“Let procurement take the center stage because that is where the totality of the budget goes.

“So let procurement take center stage if any government wants to triumph and that is the basic truth,” he said.

Abdul Mamman, a fellow and North Central Coordinator of the institute said that procurement had been identified all over the world as a cost and profit centre where public money was spent for public good.

Mamman said procurement had become the only window approved by any serious government to spend her money through management principles.

He said the institute was mandated to train professionals since procurement is a profession.

“If you go through the gamut of the law, you will see in part 2 sections 5K, where it says that the bureau is to organise training for procurement professionals.

“Professional are the ones to do this job,” he said.

An inductee, Blessing Echewodo, expressed joy at the opportunity given to her to serve, while pledging to inculcate professional ethics in her endeavors going forward.

She said: “With the knowledge I have gotten, I will ensure due diligence in whatever I am doing in my chosen career. I will make sure I represent the institute to make sure this noble profession is not put to shame.

“I will ensure to buy right, ensure value for money when making any purchase because cost is our watch word; I will not buy because I want to benefit, but for the advantage of my company or organisation I am representing.” Echewodo said. (NAN)(www.nanews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

AMAC Chairman assures of speedy completion of projects

Mr Christopher Maikalangu, the Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has reiterated his commitment to completing ongoing projects in the council in the next three months.

Maikalangu said this in Abuja, when he led council officials and journalists on inspection tour of some ongoing projects and completed ones in four political wards of Zone A.

He said that the projects were in fulfillment of his campaign promises, adding that he would not relent in providing the dividends of democracy to the people at the grassroots.

The chairman, while calling for more cooperation among residents of the communities where road projects were sited, attributed the delay in their completion to the rainy season.

“I am happy with the progress of the projects so far, but the contractors must deliver in line with the required standards.

“We appeal to the communities where projects are sited to cooperate with the contractors; else the projects will be moved to another community that needs it.

“I also want to warn that any contractor that fails to deliver standard projects would not be paid,” he said.

Maikalangu who had a stopover at the Emir of Karshi Palace, assured him and his subjects of more dividends of democracy in the domain.

The Emir of Karshi, Malam Ismaila Mohammed, appreciated the chairman on the visit and also for initiating various projects.

He however, tasked the chairman not to relent in providing quality leadership to the people.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the projects visited included the 500KVA transformer rural electrification projects and the 500 metre road project in Kugbo.

Others were the 945 metre road at Jikwoyi, Phase 1, 10,000 litres overhead tank solar borehole in Agwan Gade-Jikwoyi and the rehabilitation of 2.15km Kpeyegyi Phase 2 Asphalt and extension access road in Karu ward.

The constructed motorised borehole at Agwan Gbagyi in Karshi, 800 meters Asphalt Access road at Orozo community, rehabilitation of access road in Kurudu, installed 500KVA transformer in Gidan-Diya community and rehabilitation of access road in Gbagalape community in Nyanya were also part of the projects. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria

NEMA unveils charter for effective service delivery

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has unveiled its service charter toward promoting efficiency and accountability in service delivery.

Mr Mustapha Ahmed, the Director-General, NEMA, joined by the National Coordinator of SERVICOM, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, performed the unveiling of the service charter at agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.

Ahmed described the event as a significant milestone for NEMA and disaster management in the country, saying it would spur the agency to deliver excellent services to vulnerable persons and victims disasters in the country.

“I am proud to say that we have always strived hard to deliver the highest standard of service.

“However, we believe that there is always room for improvement and we understand that our customers, that is, those in distress, deserve the best.

“It is therefore our duty to ensure that their needs are met efficiently and effectively within the period they need support,” he said.

The director-general added that the NEMA SERVICOM charter outlined the agency’s commitment to providing timely and accurate information, responding promptly to emergencies and treating all individuals with respect and dignity.

He said the charter was a significant step toward achieving the agency’s goal by providing exceptional service in a transparent, accountable and improved manner.

Also speaking, Mrs Nnenna Akajemeli, the National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, SERVICOM, commended NEMA for the unveiling of the charter.

Akajemeli, represented by Mrs Ngozi Akinbodewa, Head of Operations, SERVICOM, added that the agency must strive to meet public expectations as it carried out its mandates.

“The agency has taken the right steps, we implore you to justify public confidence in the delivery of your mandate,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Source: News Agency of Nigeria