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On Monday Movement for Islamic Culture and Awareness donated a set of orthopedic surgical equipments to the department surgery, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital.

The items are automatic, used for most open reduction/internal fixation and implant procedures, for deformity correction procedures and others.

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It is a common opinion that Africa offers excellent opportunities for the global development and expansion of Islamic finance. The bank's managing director, Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Bintube, explained that the bank has made steady progress regarding number of accounts opened, number of deposits, and numbers of proposals that received on a daily basis. The bank offers various products in the field of retail such as Jaiz Home Finance, Jaiz Auto Finance, Jaiz Home Appliance Finance etc. After the approval of the shareholders, the bank plans to increase its capital base from N7bn to N12bn.

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Nigaria's financial minister, Dr. Yerima Ngama, stated that it was necessary to assure greater sensitisation to create better awareness on Islamic banking option in the country. Thus, people would gain some understanding about the operation principles of the system. The minister also pointed out that Islamic financing was not addressed to Muslims only and that therefore the goal is to carry non-Muslims along.

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Alhaji Mohammed Mustapha Bintube, the Managing Director of Jaiz Bank Plc, stated that even though the bank started on a low key, it has been making steady progress in terms of number of accounts opened, deposits, and numbers of proposals received every day. Of course, there are some challenges the bank is facing which it intends to adress by relying on several publicity initiatives. The goal of these initiatives is to teach Nigerian people confidence about the new kind of banking model.

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According to its Managing Director/Chief Executive - Mallam Mohammed Bintube - Jaiz Bank Plc is ready for the acquisition of a a national banking license in the following year. The required minimum capital is already raised usong private placement. Mallam Mohammed Bintube pointed out that it took as little as three months for all shares on offer to be fully subscribed.

More on: http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/jaiz-bank-to-acquire-national-bankin...

After the approval for “Sharia compliant” equities by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year, in 2012 an Islamic window opened on the trading floor at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE). This is the first faith-based financial window in Nigeria, which fact causes fears that a deliberate Islamic financial services industry may have unintended consequences on equity transactions. The goal is to enthrone Islamic financial principles in equity trading, by tracking the performance of Sharia compliant stocks on the exchange floor.

In a recent interactive session with journalists in Lagos, Mohammed Bintude, Manging Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jaiz International Bank, discussed the intoduction of Islamic banking in Nigeria. He stated that in spite of the initial controversial reception, Jaiz Bank Plc is now fully operational. Moreover, there are plans of nation wide expansion of the bank.

Today is the start date of the new Islamic Equity Index. It debuts on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and aims to contribute to the expansion of the Nigerian market. NSE's management has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Lotus Capital Limited, according to which the “NSE Lotus Islamic Index” (with the code NSE LII) will be compliant with the principles of Shari’ah.

S&P Indices made an anouncement that a new Index will be launched due to increase in the demand for a shariah-compliant benchmark in Islamic countries. The new S&P/OIC COMCEC 50 Shariah Index will measure the performance of 50 leading Shariah-compliant companies from members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Eligible countries and territories for the Index are: Bahrain, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) revealed some plans to invest $98 million for the implementation of bilingual education in Nigeria.
The funds will be used in supplying support for the integration of Quranic schools into western education. The bank’s decision is focused at improving enrolment in schools, most especially for the girl child.
Before stating its developmental plans for Nigeria, the president of the bank, Dr. Ahmad al-Madani, corrected the notion that the bank is a religious institution.

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will be hosting a two-day business forum under the title “IDB Group-Nigeria Business Forum” in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Finance of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
The objective of the Business Forum, planned to be held during the period from 15-16 March 2012, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, is to make the Nigerian public mre sensitive and underline the products and services being provided by the IDB Group, including eligibility criteria, modes of financing, terms and conditions of financing, procurement, and other operational matters.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, will host a two day business forum under the title "IsDB Group-Nigeria Business Forum" in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Finance of Nigeria and the Nigerian National Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC).
The event will be held during the period from 15-16 March 2012, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. Its objective is to sensitize the Nigerian public and highlight the products and services being offered by the IsDB Group, including eligibility criteria, modes of financing, terms and conditions of financing, procurement, and other operational matters.

KFH Research made a report about the future of Islamic finance in Africa that shows that there are various promising opportunities for the growth and development of Islamic banking in Africa; especially North African countries, in addition to Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa.
In addition, the report noted that Africa hosts 38 Islamic finance institutions, and stressed that most African countries have amended their legislations to allow Islamic institutions to operate.

With the issue of the world’s largest single tranche Sukuk, the industry’s attention is again on that fair-weather barometer the omnipotent Sukuk.
Beside the Saudi issue, it’s been a busy week in the Islamic capital markets, with significant issues in Malaysia and the MENA region and announcements from Nigeria, South Africa, The Gambia and Iran. It seems that the appetite for Sukuk is not diminishing. But the real quesstion is, if this is a good thing. After all, the global depression playing out in extremis in the eurozone and Middle America can be followed back to the wild abandon that individuals and governments ran up their credit card bills and the irresponsible and myopic lending practices of the banks just interested in short-term profits and next year’s bonuses.

aiz Bank Plc, has begun full operation of non-interest commercial banking in Nigeria from three branches in Abuja, Kaduna and Kano.
It seems that most of the early customers were groups of business institutions and private individuals from different religious persuasions making enquiries as well as opening different accounts.
The introduction of Islamic banking is part of a drive by the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to force Nigeria’s economy and promote financial inclusion by presenting alternative products.

Islamic finance banking options are progressively being seen as a viable alternative to traditional banking services in Africa and are growing to found not only the African Islamic community but all those searching for an interest-free banking alternative.
Key speakers from Nigeria, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia will join leading South African experts from ABSA, alBaraka Bank, KPMG and other financial institutions in the Islamic Finance Africa Conference that will take place on 21 - 24 February 2012 in South Africa.

Africa is mooving its economic attention away from the west to the Middle East and Asia as a primary source of capital raising. This shift in alignment partially explains the expected launch of a number of Sukuk across the continent in 2012.
Countries that have announced sovereign Sukuk to raise capital for their budgets are: South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria and Kenya. This move is especially welcomed by sovereign wealth and Islamic finance institutions - especially in the GCC.

Africa has begun to move its economic attention away from the west to the Middle East and Asia as a primary source of capital raising. This shift in alignment partially explains the forthcoming launch of a number of Sukuk across the continent in 2012.
South Africa, Senegal, Nigeria and Kenya have all divulged sovereign Sukuk to raise capital for their budgets, a marked move away from aid and loans from the economies of Europe and the US and a move broadly welcomed by sovereign wealth and Islamic finance institutions – especially in the GCC.
Senegal, for exmaple will issue a $200m Sukuk, initially planned for this year but now most likely for the begin of 2012. Finance minister Abdoulaye Diop stated that proceeds from the Sukuk will be used for budgetary support.

Dubai Standard Chartered Saadiq is researching opportunities to expand into newly-opened Islamic banking markets such as Oman and Nigeria and is closely evaluating the opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region.
With the opening up of new markets in Mena and Africa, Standard Chartered awaites meaningful growth in the asset size of both Islamic banks and the Islamic banking operations of conventional banks.

The Islamic Development Bank’s community development workshop has the purpose to empower Muslim NGOs in different parts of the world by offering them necessary training to boost their leadership skills.
Prominent leaders of Muslim organizations and institutions in 14 countries including Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, c and the Philippines who had come to the Kingdom to perform Haj this year, including professor Siddique Hassan, vice president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, will be included in the program.