By Ayomide Otitoju In a move to support Nigeria’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Fidelity Bank Plc has unveiled a new empowerment initiative designed to equip entrepreneurs with digital tools to enhance business efficiency and competitiveness. Through the Fidelity SME Empowerment Program (FSEP), the bank will provide 100 selected entrepreneurs with a complete digital operations…
By Ayomide Otitoju Polaris Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to youth empowerment and grassroots development by supporting the 2025 edition of the Maracana Children’s Fest, benefiting more than 3,000 young people and families in Ajegunle, Lagos. The annual event, organized by the Nathaniel Idowu Foundation and held at the historic Maracana Stadium, brought together students,…
By Ayomide Otitoju Aliko Dangote, President/CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, has warned that Africa is becoming a dumping ground for substandard, often toxic petroleum products, as the continent continues to rely heavily on fuel imports due to insufficient refining capacity. Speaking at the West African Refined Fuel Conference in Abuja, Dangote revealed that his refinery…
By Ayomide Otitoju Ecobank Nigeria has reported strong financial performance for the first half of 2025, reflecting the impact of its ongoing transformation strategy aimed at driving revenue growth, improving asset quality, and enhancing operational efficiency. According to the bank’s financial results, revenue rose by 30% year-on-year to ₦113.7 billion, up from ₦87.6 billion in…
By Ayomide Otitoju Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 3.13% year-on-year in real terms in the first quarter of 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), reflecting an improvement over the 2.27% growth recorded in Q1 2024. The NBS stated in its Q1 2025 GDP report that the expansion was driven mainly…
By Ayomide Otitoju ExxonMobil has announced the appointment of Jagir Baxi as Chairman, Managing Director, and Lead Country Manager of its Nigerian affiliates, including Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited and Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited. He succeeds Shane Harris, who led the company’s Nigerian operations for the past two years. Baxi…
By Ayomide Otitoju The NNPC/Heirs Energies Joint Venture, through the OML 17 Host Communities Development Trust (HCDT), has unveiled the OML 17 University Scholarship Programme (USP), aimed at supporting 300 qualified first-year students from its host communities. According to a statement released on Monday, the initiative is part of the HCDT’s broader mission to promote…
By Ayomide Otitoju Zenith Bank Plc has been honoured as “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, solidifying its reputation as the country’s leading financial institution. The award, presented at a prestigious ceremony held at The Peninsula, London, marks a major milestone for Zenith Bank as it clinches the most coveted country-level…
By Ayomide Otitoju West and Central Africa’s largest airline, Air Peace Limited, has announced that its highly anticipated direct flight services from Abuja to London Heathrow and London Gatwick will commence on October 26, 2025, with tickets priced at ₦1 million. This was disclosed in a statement issued by the airline’s spokesperson, Efe Osifo-Whiskey, who…
