Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

FirstBank justifies N200 billion credit to SMEs First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) said it has identified poor funding as one of the biggest challenges facing micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. Head of SME Banking at FirstBank, Abiodun Famuyiwa, stated that the need to bridge the funding gap for MSMEs and support growth in the sector prompted the bank to lend over N200 billion to the sub-sector in 2024. Speaking at the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) 2025 National MSMES Conference held in Lagos, Famuyiwa said: “One of the major problems MSMEs…

NNPC Limited Posts ₦5.4 Trillion Profit, Unveils $60 Billion Investment Roadmap To Drive Growth Through 2030 NNPC Limited has announced a Profit After Tax of ₦5.4 trillion for the financial year ended 2024, supported by a robust revenue performance of ₦45.1 trillion. The results, released during the company’s earnings call with analysts, reflect a year marked by strong operational delivery, improved efficiency, and sustained financial resilience. According to the Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, the performance reinforces the positive momentum of the company’s ongoing transformation. “The earnings highlight the positive momentum of our ongoing transformation and the unwavering…

SANWO-OLU RECOGNIZED WITH DOCTORATE DEGREE AT ROME BUSINESS SCHOOL * He has increased the number of state-owned universities from one to three. The Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has been conferred with an honorary Doctorate in Business Administration by the Rome Business School, Nigeria. Governor Sanwo-Olu was honoured with the doctorate on Saturday during the 2025 Graduation Ceremony of Rome Business School, Nigeria, and the presentation of the Honorary Doctorate Award held at Victoria Island, Lagos. The founder of Rome Business School and Rome Business School, Nigeria, Prof. Antonio Ragusa, said Governor Sanwo-Olu was conferred with a Doctorate…

Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers wins Best Pension Fund Administrator Nigeria 2025 at Global Banking & Finance Awards With a legacy built on trust, innovation, and results, Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings, has emerged as the Best Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) Nigeria 2025 at the prestigious Global Banking & Finance Awards®. The award celebrates Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers’ dedication to securing the financial future of millions of Nigerians. This latest recognition further raises Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers’ standing as a PFA built for excellence, innovation and trust. Since its inception in 2011, the Global Banking &…

Union Bank Unveils “Save & Gain” Campaign To Reward Smart Savers Union Bank of Nigeria, one of Nigeria’s most trusted financial institutions, is excited to announce the launch of its new customer reward initiative designed to deepen engagement, drive premium account activity, and promote consistent savings behaviour among its customers. Open to new and existing customers, the Save and Gain promo requires participants to open accounts, maintain and grow a monthly average balance of ₦50,000, complete at least five transactions monthly, and actively use digital channels such as cards, USSD, mobile, or internet banking. Top deposit contributors will receive monthly…

Ogun to know foreigners, non-indigenes through registration, curbing insecurity File photo: Ogun State Governor, Abiodun Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, said that his administration will never leave any stone unturned to ensure that nothing hurts the security architecture of the state. Abiodun said that his administration has therefore decided to embark on the registration of all foreign nationals and non-indigenes residents in the state to curb infiltration of those entering the state illegally to perpetrate illegal activities. He disclosed this on Monday while addressing journalists at his private residence at Iperu Remo after an almost two-hour meeting with…

CAN ready for five-day peace crusade in Plateau, December The Christian Association of Nigeria is set to embark on a five-day crusade aimed at promoting peace and unity in Plateau State. The event, dubbed “Jos Jesus Crusade,” will take place from December 17 to 21, 2025, at St. John’s College, opposite the Polo Field, Jos. Addressing a press conference in Jos on Monday, CAN Chairman, Rev. Dunka Gomwalk, emphasized the need for Christians to come together and pray for the nation’s peace and unity. He stated that the crusade would provide an opportunity for reconciliation with the Creator, promote peace…

UK turns down Nigeria’s request to relocate Ekweremadu File photo: Ike Ekweremadu … though news await clarification and authentication. The British Government has rejected a request by Nigeria to deport former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who is serving a prison term in the United Kingdom for organ trafficking, The Guardian UK reports on Monday. Ekweremadu, 63, was jailed for nine years and eight months in 2023 after a UK court found him, his wife, Beatrice, and a medical doctor, Obinna Obeta, guilty of conspiring to exploit a young Nigerian man for his kidney. The kidney was intended for their…

WHO, Japan donate $500,000 in cholera response commodities towards health – FG The WHO Representative and Head of Mission to Nigeria, Dr. Pavel Ursu; the Director General of NCDC, Dr. Jide Idris, and the Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Suzuki Hideo, at the handover ceremony. Credit: Lara Adejoro The Government of Japan, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation, donated $500,000 in commodities, equipment, training, surveillance tools, and emergency preparedness support to strengthen Nigeria’s Cholera response. As part of this support, life-saving commodities valued at $104,951 were delivered to the Federal Government through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and…

Shettima lands for AU-EU summit in Angola President Kashim Shettima • Shettima was to address on Africa–EU cooperation on security and trade. Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived at the Protocol Hall, venue of the 7th African Union–European Union Summit being held in Luanda, the Angolan capital. Shettima arrived at about 02:00 p.m. local time on Monday. He is representing President Bola Tinubu, who cancelled his trips to South Africa and Angola to oversee urgent security concerns following the recent abduction of more than 300 people, mostly schoolchildren, within the past week. The Vice President departed Johannesburg for Luanda late…