Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

As part of efforts to promote SMEs and strengthen support for operators in the informal sector, Unity Bank has continued to empower small-scale traders and shop owners across Nigeria through its initiative called Shop Collateralised Facility, SHOCOF. SHOCOF is an innovative loan product, and Unity Bank has disbursed over N500 million to beneficiaries, significantly improving access to financing, and further driving financial inclusion. Originally introduced as a targeted intervention for traders in Southeast Nigeria, SHOCOF quickly gained traction and broad acceptance for its flexibility and tailored structure, prompting the Bank to expand the product nationwide. Under the initiative, eligible customers…

The Nigeria Football Federation has made public the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches of the men’s national U-20 and the U-17 boys national team respectively. Maikaba and Uwejamomere’s appointments followed the reshuffling of the backroom of all age grade national football teams. “The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has endorsed the recommendation of the Federation’s Technical and Development Committee for the appointments of Abdu Maikaba and Eboboritse Uwejamomere as head coaches of the U20 and U17 Boys National Teams,” the NFF announced on Thursday. Maikaba, who has managed several of Nigeria’s prestigious clubs,…

Maltina drinks Maltina has expanded its nationwide Nourishment Tour to Ibadan as part of its efforts to deepen nutrition awareness among students through science-based learning activities. The latest activation was held at Maverick College, Ibadan, in partnership with brand ambassador Tomike Adeoye and STEM Africa. According to the organisers in a statement, the campaign has reached more than 227,000 students across Nigeria through school tours and pop-up activations. The initiative comes as Maltina marks its 50th anniversary, with the company seeking to increase engagement with young consumers through nutrition-focused educational programmes. At the Ibadan event, students participated in science experiments…

Elegbede Abiodun The first quarter of 2026 marked a definitive pivot for First HoldCo Plc, as the parent entity of Nigeria’s oldest commercial bank re-established itself as a financial powerhouse First Holdco Plc delivered a masterclass performance in its first-quarter 2026 financials, recording a 100% year-on-year profit before tax (PBT) growth. Profit before tax (PBT) jumped to N321.12 billion from N186.48 billion in the corresponding period of 2025, supported by steady interest-earning capacity and robust fee income generation. The first quarter of 2026 marked a definitive pivot for First HoldCo Plc, as the parent entity of Nigeria’s oldest commercial bank…

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has opened a new round of applications for its SheVentures proposition, offering zero-interest loans of up to N10 million to women entrepreneurs to ease access to working capital and support business growth. The facility provides loans ranging from N500,000 to N5 million under a general category and N5 million to N10 million for sector-specific businesses, with funding capped at up to 50 per cent of an applicant’s average monthly turnover. At the centre of the offering is a zero per cent interest rate, with all charges embedded in a transparent structure. Repayment is structured over…

• South-East emerged as the most expensive zone for most staple foods. Prices of several key staple foods dropped significantly in March compared to the same period in 2025, the National Bureau of Statistics said in its latest Selected Food Price Watch report. The report showed that brown beans recorded the steepest decline, falling by 49.32 per cent year-on-year to N1,325.85 per kilogram from N2,616.26. White garri also dropped 41.19 per cent to N801.54 per kilogram. A crate of eggs declined by 20.12 per cent to N6,127.62. Onions also fell by 19.63 per cent, settling at N1,153.14 per kilogram. However,…

Vice President Kashim Shettima, yesterday, submitted President Bola Tinubu’s nomination and expression of interest forms to the national officers of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja, signalling Tinubu’s intent to clinch the party’s ticket to contest the 2027 presidential election for a second term. Shettima rallied party faithful, including governors, National Assembly members, and party officials, to support the president’s candidature, saying Tinubu has demonstrated ability to pull Nigeria out of the economic and social morass it had been enmeshed in. Relatedly, former President Goodluck Jonathan fuelled speculation about his 2027 presidential ambition, when he declared that he…

Governor Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State has received the Award of Excellence from the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in recognition of his administration’s commitment to inclusive governance and social protection delivery. The award was presented during a stakeholder engagement event with local government chairmen, held at the Transcorp Congress Hall in Abuja. NASSCO, a federal agency operating under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, is responsible for implementing social safety-net programmes designed to protect and empower vulnerable populations across Nigeria. In her remarks while presenting the award, the National Coordinator of NASSCO, Dr. Funmi…

The Federal Government has announced that the National Examinations Council will begin conducting computer-based examinations this year as part of efforts to tackle examination malpractice and modernise the country’s assessment system. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Thursday during NECO’s 25th anniversary celebration held in Abuja. Alausa stated that the transition to technology-driven examinations marked a significant step in strengthening the credibility of public examinations in the country and enhancing Nigeria’s competitiveness in global education standards. “We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination,…

File Copy: House of Representatives Elegbede Abiodun • Education sector received N162bn. The House of Representatives on Thursday passed the 2026 statutory budget proposals of the Federal Capital Territory Administration and the Niger Delta Development Commission, approving N2.29tn and N1.75tn respectively for the two agencies. The approvals followed the consideration and adoption of reports presented to the House during plenary by the relevant committees. Presenting the report on the FCT budget, Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory, Muktar Betara, said the N2.29tn proposal was structured to address personnel obligations, overhead costs and critical infrastructure projects across…