The Nation Newspaper

Category: Business

  • Public-private facility unlocks $3b infrastructure capital

    Public-private facility unlocks $3b infrastructure capital

    The Public-Private Infrastructure Advisory Facility (PPIAF) has catalysed nearly $3 billion in private investment midway through its current five-year strategy, marking a sharp acceleration in its efforts to bridge the infrastructure gap in developing economies.

    According to the facility’s 2025 Annual Report, this surge validates its strategic pivot toward “upstream” interventions—focusing on policy and regulatory frameworks rather than solely on individual transaction support.

    The report, released at the midpoint of the FY2023–2027 “Renew Strategy,” underscored the high leverage ratio of the facility’s model.

    In the 2025 financial year alone, PPIAF approved 49 activities totaling $13.3 million in grant funding. According to it, the injections have laid the groundwork for an expected $400 million in private investment and directly leveraged $25 million during the year.

     Since the strategy’s inception, the facility has mobilised a total of $3 billion, with an additional $3 billion currently in the pipeline.

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    The report highlighted that Sub-Saharan Africa remains the cornerstone of PPIAF’s global portfolio, absorbing more than one-third of all approved activities and over $159 million in cumulative grant funding.

    The impact of the focus, it noted is most visible in West Africa, where long-term support for the ECOWAS power market has transformed energy access.

     The report estimated that the institutional and commercial improvements are now benefiting 2.8 million people while driving double-digit reductions in power costs in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

    Meanwhile, in Africa, the facility’s role in the Mission 300 initiative—aimed at connecting 300 million people to electricity—is delivering early results in strengthening utilities in markets such as Mauritania and Ethiopia.

    PPIAF’s leadership acknowledged that the global infrastructure financing gap remains vast, with estimates pointing to a shortfall of up to $15 trillion by 2040.

  • Forum tackles equitable access to resources

    Forum tackles equitable access to resources

    As part of its ongoing efforts to promote environmental, economic, and educational resource equity, particularly in coastal communities and among young people, Rite on the Beach, a sustainability-focused initiative, has hosted its symposium, “Access to Resources.”

    The symposium brought together stakeholders to discuss the pressing issue of plastic waste and its potential to be transformed into economic opportunities, supporting livelihoods, education, and community development while protecting marine ecosystems.

    Speakers emphasized the importance of partnerships, data, innovation, and inclusive policies in ensuring that communities have access to the tools, knowledge, and infrastructure needed to participate meaningfully in the circular economy.

    “We are committed to adding value to communities through data and education,” said Founder of Rite on the Beach, Akintunde Disu, noting, “Our work involves identifying overlooked resources in Lagos, such as plastic bottles on the beach, and converting them into opportunities for economic growth and environmental sustainability.”

    Disu said to date, “we have removed 30 tons of plastic bottles over three years, recycled them, and collaborated with universities, including the University of Lagos, to develop innovative solutions to this problem.”

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    The symposium highlighted the critical role that access to resources plays in empowering communities to take ownership of their environmental and economic development.

    By leveraging partnerships and innovative approaches, Rite on the Beach aims to scale its impact, promoting a more sustainable future for all Nigerians.

    Rite on the Beach invites all stakeholders to join its mission to promote sustainability, equity, and economic growth in Nigeria.

    Through data-driven approaches, education, and partnerships, Rite on the Beach aims to empower communities to take ownership of their environmental and economic development.

  • BPSR ranks NCC among top 3 MDAs

    BPSR ranks NCC among top 3 MDAs

    The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has named the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) among the top three Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government with the Best Ranking in Website Performance for 2025.

    This is coming barely three weeks after the telecom regulator was recognized as one of the top five best-performing Federal Government agencies for 2025 by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) – a testament to the Commission’s consistency in investment in technology for ensuring efficient service delivery.

    In the BPSR 2024/2025 scorecard ranking of agencies’ websites, the NCC came second in the ranking, trailing behind Galaxy Backbone Limited, which came first while the Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC) clinched the third position, from a pool of 235 MDAs, whose website were evaluated.

    BPSR deployed 14 evaluation criteria in include MDA’s website compliance with .gov.ng domain name, appearance and aesthetics (look and feel) of the website, content, relevance to MDAs mandate/government policy and the website’ structure. Others include website’s responsiveness (device compatibility), security, load time, usability/ease of navigation, availability/uptime, functionality, interactivity, accessibility and capacity building.

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    The recognition was announced at the official release of Federal Government 2024/2025 Scorecard Ranking for MDAs’ Website held at the Federal Ministry of Finance Auditorium in Abuja on Monday (December 22, 2025) while the award presentation took place at BPSR’s Office on Tuesday (December 23, 2025).

    The award, which is an important index metric of the National e-Government Masterplan for determining the Nigeria e-Government Status, was received by the Commission in recognition of its commitment to maintaining a world-class website that enhances service delivery to the citizens.

    Receiving the award on behalf of the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Abraham Oshadami, appreciated the BPSR for the recognition, describing the award as “another encouragement for the Commission to be a better public service institution leveraging digital platforms such as our web presence to enhance public service delivery to our various stakeholders, thereby implementing the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy direction.”

    While presenting the award to the NCC, alongside other two agencies, BPSR’s Director-General, Mr. Dasuki Arabi, commended the top three for their proactive decisions in maintaining world-class websites, which are compliant with the Federal Government’s policy direction in effective and efficient service delivery to the citizens.

    According to the DG, the 2024/2025 MDA’s websites’ ranking represents a collective effort of federal public institutions in Nigeria to be transparent, accountable and open in governance, as well as a confirmation to align with global best practices in service delivery to the citizens.

    Developed about six years ago, Arabi said as a result of the annual ranking, more public institutions have indicated readiness to embrace reforms, and align with the policy direction of the current administration’s Renewed Hope agenda on improve governance for effective service delivery, as introduced by His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “The ideals of harnessing and deploying technological tools for service delivery has become imperative following the COVID pandemic, and distortions of the socio-economic system of nations, culminating in the evolution of competitiveness, cost effectiveness, and agile governance.

    “As engine room of governance, it behoves on us in the public service to perform our statutory duties and we must put in place technological innovations and standardized websites to operate services as well as deliver service needs to citizens,” he said.

    The Scorecard exercise, he said, is part of the BPSR reform broader function of conducting research on reform implementation efforts and presenting ‘best practice’ models to the entire Public Service, and to among others, improve access to government information, facilitate seamless financial transaction, eliminate corruption and cyber theft, as well as facilitate access to government services.

    Speaking on the rigorous nature of the exercise that produced the top three winners, the DG said “in the past few weeks members of the Scorecard Jury drawn from inter-Ministerial Agencies, had worked tirelessly to mill websites of selected MDAs through a rigorous process of enduring criteria for the ranking and the outcome had also passed through a quality assurance mechanism to validate the outcome.”

  • NADDC backs made-in-Nigeria motorsport cars

    NADDC backs made-in-Nigeria motorsport cars

    The Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Joseph Osanipin, has thrown his weight behind locally manufactured motorsport cars showcased at the just-concluded Lagos AutoFest 2025, describing the initiative as a boost to Nigeria’s automotive industry and job creation drive.

    The three race cars – WP1, WP2 and WP3 – displayed at the event carried NADDC stickers and thrilled spectators with high-speed performances.

     Designed and assembled in Nigeria, the vehicles drew wide attention for their Formula One-style racing display.

    Lagos AutoFest 2025, a flagship automotive and entertainment event organised by Work and Play Promotions in collaboration with the BMW Club of Nigeria, transformed the Marina waterfront on Lagos Island into a motorsport arena.

    The festival brought together over 100 car and bike enthusiasts and attracted thousands of spectators.

    The event featured drag racing along Marina Road, Kakawa Street, Broad Street and Apongbon, looping back to Inner Marina, marking the seventh road edition of AutoFest.

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    Speaking on the sidelines, producer and promoter of Work and Play Motorsport, Mr. Adeoye Ojuoko, said the initiative was designed to promote Made-in-Nigeria vehicles and grow a sustainable motorsport culture.

    “We have been producing motorsport cars since 2017. These cars are manufactured in Nigeria, with only the engines imported. Our goal is to showcase Nigerian engineering capacity, test what we build, and create employment through motorsport,” Ojuoko said.

    He noted that local production significantly cuts costs and retains value within the Nigerian economy.

    “If we import a Formula-style race car, it costs millions. Producing this locally costs about ₦20 million. That money stays in Nigeria, supports our factories and creates jobs,” he said.

    Ojuoko urged NADDC to formally certify the vehicles and support efforts to scale production nationwide.

    “We need NADDC to certify and promote these cars so they can be replicated across the country. To grow the automotive industry, we must build locally, test locally and race locally,” he added.

    He also called for the establishment of an automotive and motorsport hub to enable more Nigerians to design, build and test race cars.

    According to him, support from government institutions has been critical to the project’s growth.

    “The backing we’ve received from the Lagos State Government and NADDC has been a game-changer. It’s not just symbolic; it is driving real growth. Today, we are fabricating race cars locally, something that seemed impossible a few years ago,” Ojuoko said.

    AutoFest 2025 combined motorsport with culture and entertainment, featuring Made-in-Nigeria race cars, supercar and superbike displays, cultural showcases celebrating Lagos and Nigerian heritage, and live music performances.

  • PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

    PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

    AWOSOJI: Good Day, my name is Awosoji. I will like to know why PTAD did not include N32000 inside our monthly payment of April and May which is our right as federal government pensioners.

    PTAD: Dear Awosoji, please be informed that N32,000 will be added to every pensioner under DBS as soon as the fund for that purpose is made available except for some agencies like PHCN, PEOPLES BANK, NICON INSURANCE, NIGERIAN REINSURANCE, NITEL, PTI AND ASSURANCE BANK.  Thank you.

    OLIYE: Good day, my name is Oliye. I am a CSPD pensioner under PTAD. I retired from Federal Ministry of Education. I have not yet received my 20percent arrears and 32per cent pension arrears.

    PTAD: Dear OLIYE, please be inform that N32,000.00 will be added to each pensioner under DBS as soon as the fund for that purpose is made available except for some agencies like PHCN, Peoples Bank, NICON Insurance, Nigerian Reinsurance, NITEL, PTI And Assurance Bank. Thank you.

    IRIOGBE: Dear Omobola, It is alleged that 30per cent of pensioners under PTAD (DBS) have been paid the N32,000 each which the government approved as minimum wage effective July 29, 2024. If this is true, I would like to know the yardsticks used in paying them while others are left out? Does it mean others yet to be paid are now regarded as second class citizens? The arrears as at today, has gone to nine months. I have no doubt that the 2025 budget signed into law by the president will cover the payments of the new minimum wage or the arrears. The government should therefore, release enough funds to PTAD to pay us early.

    PTAD: Dear IRIOGBE, thank you we appreciate your appeal to the FG. Thank you.

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    DSP ATAKAH: Hello, I am Rtd DSP Yohanna. I retired in 2006. In July 2015, I was paid my gratuity and placed on monthly pension without the nine years pension arrears. I noticed my step was reduced. i was confirmed ASP in 1997 and promoted DSP in 2003 (step 7). PTAD staff asks me to provide my promotion letters including statement of account which I produced to them. They checked and told me that they made a mistake. They gave me a form and I filled it in March 2000. I was paid N3 million out of the nine years pension arrears. I shall be grateful if PTAD treat my complaint. Thank you.

    PTAD: Dear Mr. ATAKAH, please send your verification slip to our email complaints@ptad.gov.ng to enable us to deal as we discussed on the phone. Thank you.

    SHEKONI: Good day, my name is Shekoni. The outcome of verification exercise by PTAD in 2023 erroneously reduced my service years from 35 to 27 and consequently, it affected my monthly pension calculation till date. Kindly help me.

    ETUKUDO: Dear Omobola, my name is Etukudo. I retired in December 2006. My Federal Share of pension has not been paid. I have not received my gratuity of N202,706.26 up till now. I will be grateful if PTAD treats my complaints. Thank you.

    AJAYI: Dear Omobola, I am Ajayi. I retired from PHCN Osun State. I just want to know how far with the N32000 PTAD promised us.

  • What you should know as a DBS pensioner

    What you should know as a DBS pensioner

    What should I do since I have missed the general verification exercise and I have never received pension?

    You can walk into any of the Directorate’s offices in Abuja or Lagos with all the relevant documents for your verification. The verification is scheduled as follows:

    Customs, Immigration and Prisons, as well as Parastatal pensioners are treated every Tuesday.

    Civil Service Pensioners are treated every Wednesday

    Police pensioners and Parastatal pensioners are treated every Thursday

    However, in light of the COVID 19 pandemic, verification is strictly by invitation. Pensioners must send their documents to verification@ptad.gov.ng for review before they are invited for verification.

    I am not in Nigeria at the moment and I missed the verification exercise that was previously conducted. My monthly pension has been stopped. What do I do?

    You can go to the nearest Nigerian Embassy or High Commission to you, obtain an “I am alive” Certificate, attach your resident permit and data page of your international passport.  Also attach all relevant career progression documents and forward to the Directorate through a third party or email to info@ptad.gov.ng or complaints@ptad.gov.ng. Consequent upon a successful validation, your monthly pension will be restored pending when you make effort to come into the country for verification.

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    Customs, Immigration and Prisons, as well as Parastatal pensioners are treated every Tuesday.

    Civil Service Pensioners are treated every Wednesday.

    Police pensioners and Parastatal pensioners are treated every Thursday.

    However, in light of the COVID 19 pandemic, verification is strictly by invitation. Pensioners must send their documents to verification@ptad.gov.ng for review before they are invited for verification.

    Do I have to submit all my documents when I have a complaint even after I have been verified?

    Once a pensioner is verified, the submission of documents are no longer a requirement for forwarding of complaints. It is only the verification slip and statement of account (six months) before the period of complaint that will be required.

    Customs, Immigration and Prisons, as well as Parastatal pensioners are treated every Tuesday.

    Civil Service Pensioners are treated every Wednesday.

    Police pensioners and Parastatal pensioners are treated every Thursday

    However, in light of the COVID 19 pandemic, verification is strictly by invitation.

    Pensioners must send their documents to verification@ptad.gov.ng for review before they are invited for verification

    I worked in one of the Defunct Parastatals. When is your office coming to verify us?

    Verification for all the Pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme has been concluded by PTAD. Any Pensioner that has not been verified will have to follow the guidance specified in Question 13 towards being verified and subsequently enrolled for Mobile Verification.

    I am not living close to any of your Zonal offices. I am frail and do not have the means to travel. How do I get verified? Is there any other medium that I can use to send in my complaints?

    The pensioner can still be verified. He/she should send in the required documents with a full sized photograph, complete contact details, career documents and a medical report ascertaining conditions which are against travels to confirm inability to travel to any of our Zonal offices that is close to him/her through a third party, with a request for Mobile Verification. Once the documents are reviewed and found acceptable, a team of mobile verification officers will be sent to verify him/her.

  • ‘Digital economy revenue to top $18.30b by 2026’

    ‘Digital economy revenue to top $18.30b by 2026’

    Nigeria’s digital economy revenue will reach $18.30 billion by 2026, as against $5.09 billion in 2019 and $9.97 billion in 2021, the Managing Director/CEO, Arthur Stevens Asset Management Limited, Mr. Olatunde Amolegbe.

    Delivering a keynote paper at the Business Journal Annual Lecture 2025 in Lagos, Amolegbe said Nigeria’s digital economy is undergoing rapid transformation, positioning the country as one of Africa’s leading technology-driven markets. Global trends show the digital economy accounted for $11.5 trillion (15.5% of global GDP) in 2016, with projections to reach 25per cent by 2026.

    Aligned with this momentum, he noted that the Digital Economy for Africa (DE4A) initiative, anchored on inclusivity, homegrown innovation, collaboration and transformational scale, supports Africa’s vision of achieving full digital enablement by 2030.”

    Amolegbe added that Nigeria leads Africa in start-up investment and hosts five unicorns: Interswitch, Flutterwave, OPay, Andela and Moniepoint, reflecting robust private-sector innovation, while Internet penetration reached 107 million users in early 2025, driven by mobile-first access, which now accounts for over 90per cent of connectivity nationwide.

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    He said key sectors such as telecommunications already contribute significantly, with 9.20per cent added to real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Q2 2025 while Fintech and digital payments are expanding rapidly, powered by the NIP network, forward-leaning regulations and increased consumer adoption across banking channels.

    Speaking on the theme: AI & Digital Economy: Projecting the Future of Economic Growth in Nigeria, Amolegbe insisted that disruptive technologies, social media, streaming platforms, blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are reshaping Nigeria’s socio-economic landscape.

    He said: “Nigeria has demonstrated early adoption, including the launch of its central bank digital currency, the eNaira in 2021. Major economic opportunities exist in agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and energy; sectors still lagging in technological innovation.

    “AI can improve yields, strengthen healthcare delivery, expand digital learning, support smarter infrastructure planning and accelerate Nigeria’s transition to smarter and cleaner energy systems. Nigeria’s path to AI-driven digital growth is supported by strong demographics, emerging policy interventions such as NITDA’s AI Strategy and expanding connectivity through eight submarine cables totaling over 40 Tbps in capacity.”

    He warned however, that to fully unlock the economic value in AI and digital economy, Nigeria must strengthen governance, talent pipelines, digital infrastructure and regional collaboration.

  • ATU pushes for harmonised spectrum management policies, others

    ATU pushes for harmonised spectrum management policies, others

    The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) said it is working to harmonize spectrum management policies, regional standards, and open data practices, adding that true progress relies on large-scale support.

    Its Secretary General, John Omo, who spoke virtually during the announcement of successful completion of Qualcomm Technologies Incorporated’s third annual Make in Africa (QMIA) Startup Mentorship Program, marked by the virtual Make in Africa Finale 2025, said innovation is critical to Africa’s future.

    He said: “Innovation is the driving force behind Africa’s future, and this year’s startups are a brilliant demonstration of that. ATU is proud to partner with Qualcomm for the Make in Africa 2025 program.

     “We are working to harmonize spectrum management policies, regional standards, and open data practices, but we know that true progress relies on large-scale support. That’s why we call on governments, universities, investors, and industry to support these initiatives – and any endeavor that places African ingenuity at the forefront.”

    Also speaking on the occasion, Qualcomm Technologies Incorporated Vice President International Government Affairs, Elizabeth Migwalla, said the development of innovative tech-driven solutions is pivotal to transforming the continent’s social and economic transformation and expressed satisfaction with this year’s cohorts’ ingenuity

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    “This year’s cohort has demonstrated incredible ingenuity, transforming complex challenges into scalable, tech-driven solutions that will drive social and economic impact across the continent,” she said, adding that the initiative underscores Qualcomm’s long-term commitment to fostering Africa’s vibrant innovation ecosystem through the broader Qualcomm Africa Innovation Platform.

    The 2025 Qualcomm Make in Africa program supported 10 innovative startups from Nigeria, Kenya, Tunisia, Benin and Senegal, each addressing local challenges by developing tech-enabled solutions across critical sectors such as healthcare, sustainable agriculture, climate resilience and mobility.

    This year, the program attracted more than 400 applications from 19 countries, showcasing remarkable talent across the continent.

    Farmer Lifeline, of Kenya, was announced as the 2025 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund winner, recognizing its impactful use of wireless technology.

    Applications for Qualcomm Make in Africa 2026 are now open. Applicants can visit the Qualcomm website to apply.

    As a flagship initiative of Qualcomm, the equity-free program shines a spotlight on the creativity and drive of African founders leveraging advanced technologies such as AI, 4G/5G, robotics, connectivity and IoT to address pressing real-world challenges.

    Now in its third year, the program remains steadfast in its mission to accelerate early-stage technology startups by providing tailored mentorship, targeted business coaching, expert engineering consultation and comprehensive intellectual property protection guidance – exemplified by resources such as Qualcomm’s L2Pro Africa training. This holistic support empowers founders to transform their visionary ideas into sustainable, market-ready solutions.

    The 2025 cohort includes the following groundbreaking startups Aframend (Nigeria): Uses AI to explore African medicinal plants for new drug discovery and aims to turn local remedies into safe, affordable treatments for diseases; AmalXR (Tunisia): Offers AI-powered virtual rehabilitation sessions on everyday devices, enabling easy patient and clinician progress tracking; Archeos (Benin): Automates fish farming with solar-powered sensors and feeders, providing real-time data on water quality and feeding levels for improved fish health and ClimatrixAI (Nigeria): Installs connected weather and flood stations with an AI platform to forecast street-by-street risk, enhancing early warnings and disaster response for local communities.

    Others are Ecobees (Tunisia): Builds smart hive monitors and a digital platform for real-time insights into beehive-health, to protect bees and crops that depend on them; Edulytics (Senegal): Applies AI on handheld ultrasound devices for early detection of liver disease, aiming to make this special screening widely accessible; Farmer Lifeline (Kenya): Deploys small, solar-powered devices that scan fields for pests and diseases and send alerts straight to farmers’ phones to protect crops; Pollen Patrollers (Kenya): A women-led agritech startup using connected hive technology and AI to keep bee colonies healthy; Solar Freeze (Kenya): Provides solar-powered cold rooms with remote monitoring enabling farmers to keep fruits and vegetables fresh and increase earnings; and Pixii Motors (Tunisia): Designs electric scooters with smart batteries that can be swapped in and out at local stations, aiming to revolutionize urban mobility.

    Kenyan innovator, Farmer Lifeline, was announced as the winner of the 2025 Wireless Reach Social Impact Fund. The fund, sponsored by Qualcomm Wireless Reach Initiative, champions the innovative use of wireless connectivity to address pressing communities. As the winner, Farmer Lifeline will receive dedicated funding and tailored technical support to scale its groundbreaking solution.

    “Farmer Lifeline stood out with its innovative small solar-powered devices that scan fields to detect pests and diseases. This technology enables local farmers to effectively protect their crops, significantly increase yields, and improve food security. Their visionary approach and dedication to agricultural resilience have positioned them as leaders in their field. They are driving meaningful change for smallholder farmers and inspiring others across the continent. This fund will empower them to scale their impact further, enabling broader reach and deeper influence across Africa and the world,” Vice President, Wireless Reach, Qualcomm Incorporated, Erica Ciaraldi, said.

    In recognition of the groundbreaking innovations demonstrated by all finalists, each will receive stipends designed to accelerate their growth, support strategic development and safeguard their intellectual property. This comprehensive support underscores Qualcomm’s commitment to fostering innovation and ensuring these visionary projects can thrive sustainably.

    Looking ahead: Launch of Qualcomm Make in Africa Startup Mentorship Program 2026 Building on the significant success of previous years, Qualcomm is excited to launch the fourth year of the program in 2026.

  • Leadway launches first ever lifestyle fair to empower and spotlight young entrepreneurs

    Leadway launches first ever lifestyle fair to empower and spotlight young entrepreneurs

    Leadway, one of Nigeria’s top non-banking financial services and wellbeing providers, has announced Media Dash 3.0, a lifestyle fair.

    Leadway in a statement said this edition features the first-ever Leadway Lifestyle Fair, a physical engagement platform designed to give young Nigerian SMEs a more robust platform to showcase their brands, connect with target markets, and gain visibility that will help them scale their businesses.

    The two-day event will take place from Saturday, 27th December to Sunday, 28th December at L’eola Hotel, Maryland, Lagos, featuring brand showcases, vendor exhibitions, SME spotlights and partnerships, live music, youth engagements, and a kiddies’ corner for family activities. This creates a vibrant and engaging experience for all attendees.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Leadway Pensure PFA, Olusakin Labeodan who spoke on behalf of Group, stated that Media Dash is one of Leadway’s frontline support initiatives, spotlighting young Nigerian entrepreneurs by freely ceding its flagship advertising assets and media slots to help businesses build awareness and scale.

    Past editions have empowered youth-owned enterprises by promoting their brands nationwide on digital and offline channels at no cost, helping entrepreneurs increase their reach and engagement across audiences.

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    He said: “Building on this, Media Dash 3.0 evolves beyond visibility and media slot campaigns to deliver an immersive lifestyle and community brand experience. This edition introduces the Leadway Lifestyle Fair, designed to drive even greater impact and strengthen the brand’s strategic positioning as an SME-empowering partner.

    “Media Dash initiative aligns with our well-programmed support for Nigerian SMEs. With the newly introduced Lifestyle Fair, this offer small businesses a wider platform to physically connect with new customers and boost their visibility, all at no cost. Our entire business ecosystem is built around providing support and succour to businesses and individuals, and this affirms that commitment.”

    “At the Lifestyle Fair, participating SMEs get free exhibition space to showcase and sell products to a larger, engaged audience. Entrepreneurs interested in exhibiting can apply through Leadway Holdings’ Instagram page by Monday, 15th December 2025”, he noted.

  • AIICO reimagines future of protection with new identity

    AIICO reimagines future of protection with new identity

    AIICO Insurance Plc has officially unveiled its refreshed brand identity, marking a significant milestone in its evolution as one of Nigeria’s most trusted and established insurance institutions, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of AIICO Insurance Plc., Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun has said.

    Fajemirokun who spoke during the unveiling in Lagos said the brand refresh signals renewed energy, youthfulness and innovation, while reinforcing the company’s longstanding commitment to trust, reliability and exceptional customer experience.

    He said it also brings to life a revitalised visual and experiential identity designed to reflect modernity, optimism and relevance in a rapidly evolving marketplace, noting that the refreshed brand is a representation of AIICO’s forward-thinking vision, one that connects with today’s dynamic consumers without losing touch with the values that have sustained it for over six decades.

    He said: “The brand refresh as both a strategic and cultural shift for the organisation which serves a diverse customer base spanning multiple generations, from long-standing policyholders who have built their trust over years, to younger, digitally-savvy customers seeking flexible, accessible, and future-focused financial protection.

     The new identity embraces this broad spectrum, positioning AIICO as a brand that evolves with its customers while remaining rooted in its legacy of dependability and service excellence.

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     “Today’s unveiling represents more than a new look; it represents a renewed mindset. We have refreshed our identity to reflect the vibrancy, resilience and forward momentum of our brand. While our appearance has evolved, our promise remains unchanged: to protect, to serve, and to continually place the customer at the centre of everything we do.

    This refresh reinforces our commitment to delivering innovative, reliable solutions for this generation and the next.”

    Also commenting on the unveiling, the Chief Digital and Information Officer (CDIO), Mr. Olusanjo Shodimu, emphasised the brand’s alignment with AIICO’s digital transformation and innovation agenda.

    “The refreshed brand is a true reflection of where AIICO is headed. It mirrors our focus on digital enablement, smarter processes and more connected experiences for our customers and partners. We are building an organisation that is agile, tech-driven and deeply responsive to changing customer expectations. This new identity is a visual and strategic signal that AIICO is ready for the future.

    “The rebrand extends across AIICO’s digital platforms, office environments, customer touchpoints and communication materials, ensuring a consistent, modern and engaging experience for stakeholders at every point of contact. With this unveiling, AIICO Insurance Plc strengthens its position as a brand that combines legacy with innovation, tradition with transformation, and trust with renewed vitality – ready, more than ever, to serve its customers, partners and communities with excellence”, he added.