London - The Financial Services Authority (FSA) of the United Kingdom (UK) has licensed Intercontinental Bank (UK) Plc, a subsidiary of Intercontinental Bank Plc, as a full-fledged bank offering wholesale banking services in the United Kingdom.

The bank is authorized to perform trade services business, including letters of credits, collections and guarantees. Other aspects of its business include structuring and funding of structured trade and project finance transactions as well as arrangement of funding for group entities.

A seasoned international banker, Mr. Marcus Hopkins, has been appointed chief executive, while another international banker, Mr. Richard Wailes, will serve as Chief Operating Officer.

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Abuja - Nigeria Super Eagles have now officially qualified for the the final phase of the 2010 Nations and World Cups qualifiers, while also maintaining a clean sheet with the weekend’s 2-0 thrashing of Equatorial Guinea at the Abuja International Stadium.

Without conceding a goal in all the four matches played in the qualifiers, the Coach Shuaibu Amodu-tutored side confirmed their superiority in the group with 12 points to top the group, and became the first country to qualify for the African Cup of Nations tournament.

Goals from Yakubu Aiyegbeni and substitute Ike Uche in each half of the game gave the Eagles the needed victory against their visitors.

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Freetown (Sierra Leone) - Super Eagle’s assistant captain, Joseph Yobo’s 89th minute goal against Sierra Leone in Freetown yesterday was all the Super Eagles needed to maintain their steady march to the South Africa 2010 World Cup.

Yobo scored with only one minute remaining to give the Eagles a lone goal win and keep then on top of Group Four with six points.

Desperate to erase the heartbreak of the 2006 qualifiers, which saw them losing the Germany World Cup ticket to Angola, the Eagles attacked their hosts from the first minute of the game, but the less fancied hosts put up stout resistance to put Nigeria at bay in the first half.

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Lagos - The United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) has announced the introduction of a UBA Dual Currency Debit Card, which is issued in two currencies— Naira and US dollars. The card is usable at domestic and international locations.  This is coming on the hills of a financial services partnership agreement with Arsenal FC of England.

In a statement announcing the introduction of the card as instrument in the Nigerian money market, UBA said: “The chip and a PIN driven card is issued by the bank on the platform of Visa international platform and provides for maximum protection and security.”

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London - Premiership giant, Arsenal FC has signed an exclusive financial service deal with the United Bank for Africa (UBA) PLC in London to develop sport facilities in Africa. The deal will involve an introduction of Arsenal branded credit and debit cards in several West African countries including Nigeria.

This is a confirmation of the growing popularity of English Premier League among Nigerian football fans. The exclusive and strategic partnership deal was struck at the Emirates Stadium in London yesterday with Arsenal Manger, Arsene Wenger, Mr. Chika Mordi, CEO, UBA Capital , and Mrs. Angela Nwabuoku, Executive Director, Product and Segment Banking, United Bank for Africa Plc, in attendance.

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