Preparations are in top gear for the 2025 edition of the Consumers Value Awards (CVA), as more than 50 brands gear up to wear the Badge of Honour on November 26, 2025. Speaking with the media, Akonte Ekine, Chief Executive Officer of BrandXchange and Convener of the Consumers Value Awards, confirmed that official notification letters have been delivered to all winning brands across both private and public sectors. “Just as we invested significant effort in public awareness during the voting process, we have also ensured that every winner is formally informed. The response so far has been fantastic, and preparations…
Author: Elvis Eromosele
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will conduct a Treasury Bills (T-Bills) auction on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, to roll over a total of N650 billion in maturing short-term government debt. This auction is a standard refinancing effort, not fresh borrowing, aimed at managing government liquidity. Offer Breakdown The N650 billion will be offered across three tenors: {N100 billion for the 91-day bill. N100 billion for the 182-day bill. N450 billion for the 364-day bill. Market and Investment Focus The sale will use a Dutch auction (competitive bidding) format. The CBN’s decision to simply roll over the N650 billion suggests a cautious approach to liquidity, aiming…
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has completed the deportation of 192 foreign nationals convicted for cybercrime, internet fraud, and money laundering in Lagos. The mass deportation, carried out with the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), concludes a major operation that began with arrests in December 2024. Key Details Total Repatriated: 192 foreign nationals. Nationalities: Convicts were from China, the Philippines, Tunisia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Timor-Leste. Final Batch: The last group of 51 convicts (50 Chinese and one Tunisian) was deported on October 16, 2025. The process began on August 15, 2025. The Crime: All were convicted by the…
The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are collaborating to create a new regulatory framework to resolve the problem of failed airtime and data recharges on electronic platforms like bank apps and USSD. The Problem and Solution The Issue: Many consumers complain they are debited for failed transactions (like buying airtime) and often don’t receive an immediate refund or resolution, sometimes remaining in “pending” status for weeks. The Scale: An estimated one per cent to 3.6 per cent of electronic recharge transactions fail. While this percentage seems small, it represents a huge number of affected…
OpenAI has chosen the University of Lagos (UNILAG) as the location for its first-ever Artificial Intelligence (AI) academy in Africa. The announcement, made during UNILAG’s 2025 International Week, solidifies the institution’s growing reputation as a continental hub for technology and equitable research. A Move to Democratise AI Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa lead at OpenAI, announced the launch of the OpenAI Academy, citing UNILAG’s strong profile in AI and its commitment to fairness in research. Goal: The academy aims to nurture African talent and ensure that AI innovation is democratised across communities, rather than being concentrated in a few hands. Equitable Partnerships:…
The drop in Nigeria’s food inflation to 16.87 per cent and headline inflation to 18.02 per cent in September 2025 marks a significant and welcome relief for consumers. This cooling trend, driven primarily by falling prices for staples like maize and grains, suggests a successful harvest season is temporarily easing price pressure. However, a closer analysis shows this relief may be fleeting, highlighting both positive economic indicators and persistent structural challenges. 1. Harvest Effect: Short-Term Relief, Not Structural Fix The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data confirms that the drop is heavily linked to a rapid decline in the prices…
Tony Elumelu, Chairman of UBA Group, has called for the urgent mobilisation of Africa’s estimated $4 trillion in domestic capital to fund infrastructure and development, stressing that the continent must solve its challenges without further burdening government budgets. Speaking at the IMF/World Bank Meetings on Wednesday, Elumelu argued that unlocking this local capital through smart public-private partnerships is the key to closing Africa’s massive energy poverty and digital infrastructure gaps. The Case for Local Investment Elumelu highlighted that relying on domestic savings is a fiscally responsible way to address Africa’s pressing needs, such as: Energy Poverty: Over 50 per cent…
The drop in Nigeria’s food inflation to and headline inflation to in September 2025 marks a significant and welcome relief for consumers. This cooling trend, driven primarily by falling prices for staples like maize and grains, suggests a successful harvest season is temporarily easing price pressure. However, a closer analysis shows this relief may be fleeting, highlighting both positive economic indicators and persistent structural challenges. 1. Harvest Effect: Short-Term Relief, Not Structural Fix The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data confirms that the drop is heavily linked to a rapid decline in the prices of key commodities (maize, grains, garri,…
The 10th edition of the Nigeria Digital PR Summit opened in Lagos on Wednesday with a clarion call for brands, creators and institutions to move beyond visibility and drive measurable action with purpose-driven storytelling. The two-day summit, themed “Digital PR in Action: Owning Your Narratives, Telling Your Story”, convened communication leaders, agency chiefs, corporate communicators and creators at the Conference Centre, Naval Dockyard, Victoria Island. “Welcome to the 10th edition,” Segun McMedal, Co-Convener and President, Upticomm Marketing Company told a packed hall, describing the gathering as a decade-long effort to sharpen Nigeria’s digital communications practice. McMedal said the milestone edition…
Verve, Africa’s leading payment card scheme, has partnered with Google Play to celebrate its upcoming lifestyle event, Vervelife 8.0. The partnership offers Verve cardholders two main benefits: Grand Prize: Participants stand a chance to win a luxurious, all-expense-paid one-night staycation at Eko Hotel & Suites and gain exclusive access to the high-energy Vervelife 8.0 event on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Lagos. Instant Discounts: Customers who register and use their Verve card for transactions on Google Play will receive instant discounts of up to 10 per cent on apps, games, and other entertainment subscriptions. The initiative aims to promote the fusion…