Lai Labode is CEO of Salt & Einstein MTS, a mobile transaction switch and business aggregator representing a single mobile financial platform that facilitates businesses of all sorts. Educated in various parts of the country, Labode, an accounting graduate of the University of Abuja with higher degrees from the University of Liverpool and Harvard Business School, had worked with Banking Limited, MoneyBox Africa, before going into private consulting. Salt & Einstein parades giants on its board, including Engr. Ernest Ndukwe, former EVC of NCC who is the company’s chairman. In the interview below, Labode defines what an aggregator is, and enunciates what his company is about in the Nigerian business firmament

A popular indigenous artiste cautioned in one of his lyrics that you cannot sow cocoyam and hope to harvest rice. Notwithstanding the above wise counsel, Nigerians inexplicably hope and believe that in spite of over 70% of our population, reportedly, currently living on less than $2/day, our country could still blossom to become one of the top 20 economies six years from now.

By Dayo Johnson Akure—LEADERS of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ondo State are divided over purported 60/40 agreement reached in favour of Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State with the national leaders of PDP without the input of the state chapter, paving way for Mimiko’s defection to the party. This came as All Progressives […]

Some stakeholders in the finance industry have commended the Federal Government for its decision to use Micro-Finance Banks (MFBs) in distributing the N220 billion Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development fund.

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan received the 22-voume, 10,335-page report of the National Conference, along with its 600 resolutions last week Thursday, and went into a poetic rhapsody. He declared: “All those who had predicted the disintegration of our country at the end of our first centenary would wish they chose another country when the possibilities of the new vision for Nigeria are actualised”.N

By EMMANUEL AZIKEN The All Progressives Congress, APC, has alleged a plan by those it described as unscrupulous elements to confuse voters ahead of the 2015 general elections through the registration of parties with same acronyms with the legacy parties that formed the APC. Lai-takeThe party said the plan to register new parties with acronyms […]

IT is baffling that Itsekiris and Ijaws are still folding their hands and watching while policies that ought to be beneficial to their people are confined permanently to office drawers. It hurts to know that the Delta State government is most insensitive to the transportation problem prevalent in the riverine communities of the state.

The Federal Capital Territory, Abuja is the official host of the 2014 General Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation which holds tomorrow. After a meeting with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr Anyim Pius Anyim, both parties agreed to settle for Abuja as host for the congress.

Before now, Nigeria had made few attempts at nation branding, with not so discernible achievements. This started with the ‘Heart of Africa’ project, to the ‘Good people, Great Nation’ concept, the search for a strong national branding platform that could greatly resonate with Nigeria’s internal and external public cut the picture of a twisted journey.

Ekiti State governor-elect, Mr. Ayo Fayose has pledged to give Ado Ekiti, the state capital, a face-lift when he assumes office. He also promised to complete the multi-million naira ongoing Ado Ekiti palace pavilion project within the one year.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, has announced plans to revoke licences of Stockbroking/Dealing member firms that are inactive for six consecutive months in the capital market transactions.

LAGOS — Detectives from Force Criminal Investigation Department, FCID, Abuja at the weekend said they were on the trail of a Lagos State gubernatorial aspirant on the platform of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Babatunde Gbadamosi and his wife, Shade, over alleged property scam.

The Defence Headquarters, yesterday, declared that military operations to secure Gwoza town seized by the insurgents earlier this month was ongoing even as Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau was defiant, proclaiming Islamic caliphate in the town which he said was now firmly in the grip of the sect.

TRADE Union Congress of Nigeria, TUC, weekend in Lagos,expressed concern over Nigeria’s rising external debt profile, which the Debt Management Office, DMO, now puts at $9.38 billion, warning that excessive foreign loans that could mortgage Nigeria’s future to foreign creditors.

Standard Bank Group Limited has announced the appointment of Atedo Peterside as a non executive director to its board and the board of The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited with effect from August 22, 2014.