Author: Ifetayo Adeniyi

Manny Ita  – United Bank for Africa (UBA) has reiterated its commitment to strengthening collaboration between traditional banks and fintech companies across Africa following its inaugural fintech conference focused on the future of partnerships in the sector. The event, themed around navigating regulatory milestones and shaping bank–fintech collaboration, brought together over 20 major players in the ecosystem. Participants included PalmPay, OPay, PayAza, Mastercard, Visa, the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System, and representatives from the Central Bank of Nigeria. Discussions centered on regulatory frameworks, innovation, cybersecurity, and the evolving payments landscape across the continent. Opening the conference, UBA’s Executive Director for Digital…

Manny Ita  – Iran has carried out the execution of a 21-year-old karate athlete, as the United Nations raises alarm over a sharp increase in executions and arrests linked to ongoing unrest and conflict in the country. The victim, Sassan Azadvar Joonqani, was executed early Thursday at Dastgerd Prison in Isfahan, according to reports from Iranian authorities. He had been arrested in January during nationwide protests and later convicted of “moharebeh,” an offence under Iranian law meaning “enmity against God,” as well as alleged cooperation with hostile elements. Authorities claimed Azadvar took part in violent acts during the protests, including…

Manny Ita  – Nigeria’s journalism platform, Premium Times is set to host its combined third and fourth annual staff awards this weekend, celebrating exceptional contributions by its reporters, editors, and other team members over the past two years. The ceremony, which covers the 2024 and 2025 editorial cycles, aims to recognise dedication, hard work, and excellence among staff who have helped sustain the organisation’s reputation as a frontrunner in investigative and public interest journalism in Nigeria. Activities will begin on Friday with an internal gathering at the organisation’s headquarters in Abuja, restricted to staff members. The highlight of the event…

Elegbede Abiodun Couple Lateef Adedimeji, Mo Bimpe Welcome Triplet Into The Family After Waiting For Five Years Of Union. Nollywood actor Lateef Adedimeji and his wife, Bimpe Oyebade, have welcomed a set of triplets, marking a joyful milestone five years after their marriage. The actor shared the exciting news on his Instagram page, explaining that his recent silence on social media was intentional. According to him, he had been focused on nurturing and safeguarding his family while preparing for a life-changing blessing. Lateef expressed overwhelming gratitude, revealing that life has given him more than he ever hoped for. He announced…

File: Banky W  Elegbede Abiodun Singer Banky W has said his wife, actress Adesua Etomi-Wellington, does not cook regularly at home, adding that he handles the kitchen himself and does not see it as a problem. Speaking on the Teju Baby Face Show published on Thursday, he addressed the subject after the host referenced a viral video of him preparing sausages, eggs and bacon that had generated significant reaction online. Banky W said the arrangement worked for them and that anyone uncomfortable with it was entitled to their opinion. “There are some men, my wife must cook for me. My…

Elegbede Abiodun Access Holdings Plc has reported audited results for the financial year ended December 31, 2025, which marks a significant turning point in its corporate journey as it shifts from a growth model defined by scale to one increasingly anchored on value creation, efficiency, and earnings quality. The Group delivered a resilient performance during the year, navigating a transitional operating environment while demonstrating the strength of its franchise and the robustness of the governance structures it has built over time. Profit before tax crossed the ₦1 trillion mark for the first time, rising to ₦1.01 trillion, a 16.2 per…

Elegbede Abiodun … Nigeria’s industrial drive can only be achieved through bold and coordinated actions at both federal and subnational levels. In a bid to position Lagos State as a 2lst-century industrial hub of Africa, leverage its human capital and market scale, and confront binding constraints, Lagos State government, through its Ministry of Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, yesterday, launched the Lagos State Industrial Policy (LSIP) 2025-2030. The state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented at the formal launch of the LSIP in Lagos by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, said the strategic blueprint is policy-led,…

Elegbede Abiodun Geregu Power Plc, a major player in Nigeria’s electricity value chain, has reported a significant strengthening of its capital base, with total equity rising to N60.73bn for the first quarter ended 31 March 2026. According to the unaudited interim financial statement submitted to the Nigerian Exchange on Thursday, the company’s equity grew from N58.63bn recorded at the end of December 2025. This growth was primarily driven by an increase in retained earnings, which climbed to N59.45bn during the period. “The interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 16 April 2026,” stated the company in…

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris  Elegbede Abiodun • Oyedele said the three rail projects were valued at approximately $2.99 billion. Minister of Finance and Coordinating of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, yesterday, announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the award of contracts for three major rail projects aimed at boosting infrastructure, productivity and economic growth across key urban centres. This was as the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, and his Works counterpart, David Umahi, outlined a sweeping set of decisions by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), including the creation of a Presidential…

Olayinka Ijabiyi Elegbede Abiodun FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and financial inclusion service provider, has confirmed the appointment of Olayinka Ijabiyi as the substantive Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications. The appointment takes immediate effect and reinforces strong corporate governance at a pivotal point in the Bank’s growth and transformation journey. Olayinka Thomas Ijabiyi is a seasoned marketing and corporate communications professional with over 25 years of experience driving brand transformation, strategic visibility, and stakeholder engagement across financial services, telecommunications, media, and international development sectors. Ijabiyi joined FirstBank in 2011 and has served in acting capacity as the Group…