Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Anticipation builds as Wema Bank clocks 80 in 8 days All roads lead to Lagos on May 2nd 2025, when Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, leading innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, will be marking its 80th anniversary in grand style, in Lagos, the city where it all started. Founded on May 2nd 1945 as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited, Wema Bank was established by the Late Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe and two others—his wife, Regina Adekoya Okupe and a family friend, Reverend Alade. In an era where the banking industry was designed to cater only…

Joshua departs Nigeria for next fight, appreciates Nigerians gestures Two-time heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has expressed gratitude to Nigeria for the “energy, generosity and kindness” shown to him during his stay in the country as he departs to prepare for his next fight. The British-Nigerian fighter, who has been spending time in his ancestral homeland to complete his rehabilitation from an injury, shared his appreciation through a heartfelt message posted on his Instagram account. “Nigeria, thank you for your energy, generosity & kindness,” Joshua wrote in what many fans interpreted as a farewell message ahead of his…

ECOWAS to shift offices from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso. ECOWAS headquarters ECOWAS to shift offices from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso. The Economic Community of West African States has begun moves to relocate its institutions and agencies from Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso following the recent withdrawal of the three Sahelian nations from the regional bloc. At an Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers held in Accra, Ghana, on Wednesday, the ministers deliberated on logistical strategies for the relocation and the suspension of ongoing regional programmes in the three countries, now governed by military juntas. The session was convened…

UTME begins today with over 2 million candidates UTME begins today with over 2 million candidates No fewer than 2,030,627 candidates who completed the registration process for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination are set to sit for the exams beginning today (Thursday) across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. This figure was obtained from data provided by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, which also confirmed that the registration window for this year’s UTME opened on February 3 and closed on March 8, 2025, giving candidates a full month to complete the process. It…

2025 World Relays: Nigeria participates in four events in Guangzhou Tobi Amusan [Credit: X | World Athletics] 2025 World Relays: Nigeria participates in four events in Guangzhou Nigeria has confirmed participation in four events at the 2025 World Athletics Relays scheduled to take place in Guangzhou, China, from May 10 to 11. The Athletics Federation of Nigeria announced on Instagram that the country’s contingent will compete in the men’s 4×100 metres, women’s 4×100 metres, 4×400 metres mixed relay and the newly introduced 4×100 metres mixed relay, making up four of the six events on the programme. The men’s 4×100 metres…

Verve expands contactless card reach in Nigeria Managing Director of Verve International, Vincent Ogbunude. A major indigenous payment brand, Verve, has expanded the reach of its contactless card solution to boost transaction speed and convenience across Nigeria. The company, in a statement made available on Wednesday, said the move would improve in-person payments for cardholders, especially in high-traffic locations such as supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants and fuel stations. The Verve Contactless Card uses tap-and-go technology to reduce transaction time at payment terminals. “At the core of this solution is the tap-and-go functionality, which significantly reduces transaction time at payment terminals. “By…

Reason behind ban imposition on Okada, tricycles in Niger Gov. Mohammed Umaru-Bago Reason behind ban imposition on Okada, tricycles in Niger Gov. Mohammed Umaru-Bago of Niger has clarified the ban on the movement of motorcycles and tricycles, saying it was aimed at addressing the growing insecurity in the state capital and not to punish law-abiding citizens. The governor stated this during the inauguration of Overload Airways flight operation at the Bola Tinubu International Airport in Minna on Wednesday. Bago emphasised that the safety of lives and property remained the top priority of his administration. He highlighted that young boys between…

World Bank charges Nigeria, others to take advantage of AfCFTA to expand economic activities, create jobs * …growth is still not strong enough to reduce poverty in Sub-Saharan Africa. The World Bank has called on Nigeria and other countries in the Sub Saharan region to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, AfCFTA, to boost regional trade, expand economic activities and create jobs for the people. The World Bank made this call in its April 2025 Africa Pulse report released on the sidelines of the ongoing Spring Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank. While noting that economic growth…

CBN to boost processes that’ll enhance confidence in Nigeria’s reforms – Cardoso assures CBN  CBN to boost processes that’ll enhance confidence in Nigeria’s reforms – Cardoso Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso yesterday assured the global investment community that the apex bank will strengthen its processes so as to sustain gains from recent reforms and confidence in the economy. Speaking at meeting at a meeting of a the Nigerian government delegation led by the Minister of Finance and the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun and international investors on the sidelines of the ongoing Spring…

Ifeanyi Okowa dumps PDP for APC Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa Okowa dumps PDP for APC. Former Delta State Governor and 2023 PDP vice presidential candidate, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, has officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), alongside his successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, and the entire structure of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Delta state. The mass defection was announced on Wednesday following an enlarged stakeholders’ meeting held at the Government House in Asaba. The development marks a significant political shift in Delta State. Confirming the move, Senator James Manager declared, “All PDP members in the state, including the governor, former…