Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

FirstBank hosts FMCG distributors to boost partnership With the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector serving as a lifeline for millions of Nigerians, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the industry by hosting a Key Distributors Forum in Lagos. The event, held in Lagos, brought together leading distributors from across the South West to discuss business financing, supply chain efficiency, and innovative tools designed to deepen growth in the sector. It also featured an award presentation to various companies under different categories. FirstBank’s Chief Executive Officer, Olusegun Alebiosu, described the forum as an extension of the bank’s…

Unity Bank Explains AMCON Stake Sale Unity Bank Plc has made further clarifications regarding the sale of the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria’s (AMCON) 34 percent equity stake in the bank, confirming that the shares were acquired by an existing shareholder and not by Providus Bank Limited. The development was said to signpost stakeholders’ confidence in the future of the merger of Unity Bank with Providus Bank. The newly enlarged Providus Bank will now boast expansive branch network across Nigeria and stronger capital adequacy ratio. A statement yesterday, explained that the Chairman of Unity Bank Plc, Hafiz Mohammed Bashir, made…

Ticket payment now available for Abuja-Kaduna train journey – NRC Ticket payment now available for Abuja-Kaduna train journey – NRC The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) says the online ticketing platform for the Abuja–Kaduna Train Service (AKTS) is now open for payment. The Chief Public Relations Officer, NRC, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, said this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos. Umyimadu said that passengers were therefore encouraged to book their tickets online ahead of resumption on Oct. 1 via https://nrc.tps.ng or visit any of the designated stations to purchase their tickets. According to him, in preparation for the resumption of services,…

Dangote/PENGASSAN : Power supply drops below 4,000MW as dispute continues Power supply drops below 4,000MW as dispute continues Nigeria’s power supply dropped below the 4,000 megawatt threshold on Tuesday morning as the strike by oil and gas workers over a dispute with Dangote Petroleum Refinery entered its second day. The face-off between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the $20 billion Dangote Refinery stems from the reported sack of 800 workers by the company. Checks on grid supply showed that as of 7 a.m., load allocation to electricity distribution companies had dropped to 3,656MW,…

NELFUND closes 2024/2025 loan portal, sets timeline for next application The Nigerian Education Loan Fund said the application portal for the 2024/2025 academic session will officially close on Tuesday. The Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr disclosed this at a news conference in Abuja on Monday. Sawyerr said this was to allow the Fund to conclude processing of pending applications and upkeep payments. He also announced timelines for the 2025/2026 academic cycle, in line with its mandate to expand access to higher education through interest-free student loans. According to him, the loan portal will reopen in the second week of…

Tinubu to inaugurate renovated National Arts Theatre on Independence Day President Bola Tinubu. Photo: State House President Bola Tinubu has been scheduled to unveil the newly renovated National Arts Theatre, Iganmu, Lagos on Independence Day. This was disclosed in a statement from the Central Bank of Nigeria on Monday. The renovation of the National Theatre has been undertaken by the CBN and the Bankers’ Committee as part of their commitment to giving back to the nation, marking a bold investment in Nigeria’s cultural heritage and creative future. According to the statement, Tinubu, who in July 2024 renamed the edifice the…

China Presents K Visa To Attract Tech Talents China has unveiled a fresh visa category to lure foreign science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates. The decision is a strategic move to boost Beijing’s technology workforce as America tightens access to its H-1B programme. K visa, first announced in August, and set to take effect on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, will grant its owners entry, residence and the right to work in China without the need for a sponsoring employer – a clear opposite of the U.S. H-1B system, which requires employer sponsorship and is subject to an annual lottery. After…

FG boosts communication strategy, telling Nigeria’s education story The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa | Photo: State House The Federal Ministry of Education has launched the 2025–2027 Communication Strategy and Framework to enhance policy engagement, transparency, and public trust in Nigeria’s education sector. Speaking at the launch in Abuja on Monday, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, described the strategy as a blueprint for telling Nigeria’s education story “with clarity, credibility, and consistency.” Alausa emphasised that effective communication was a “critical success factor” in achieving the education goals of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “Today, we affirm that…

FG Announces Wednesday as Public Holiday to Mark 65th Independence Anniversary The Federal Government has announced Wednesday, 1st of October as a public holiday to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary. The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who made the declaration on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated all Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora on this historic occasion. Tunji-Ojo, in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, enjoined citizens to continue to uphold the patriotic spirit, unity and resilience that have sustained the nation since independence in 1960. He urged Nigerians…

Stanbic IBTC Holdings Sustainable Finance Summit 2.0 Creates Focus for Leveraging Innovative Climate-smart Financing Stanbic IBTC Holdings Sustainable Finance Summit 2.0, held in partnership with the Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre (LBSSC), concluded with unprecedented success, establishing new benchmarks for sustainable finance discourse and innovation in Nigeria and across Africa to tackle climate challenges. The hybrid summit, themed “Financing Resilience: Digital Innovation and AI for Climate Smart Communities,” attracted over three thousand participants both physically at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, and through YouTube live streaming, representing diverse sectors from across Nigeria and internationally. The summit delivered significant value across…