Landmark

Nigeria's economic ambitions, whether higher productivity, a more competitive private sector, or stronger household resilience, all eventually run through the same bottleneck: the quality of the country's human capital. For a bank, that fact carries a quiet implication. The customers, entrepreneurs, and employees of the next two decades are sitting in classrooms today, and many of those classrooms are under-resourced. It is in that context that Union Bank of Nigeria has built its corporate social responsibility agenda around one of its major pillars – education. The thinking is not that a bank can fix Nigerian education, but that a bank has both the reach and the long-term interest to contribute meaningfully to it. THE SCOPE OF THE WORK Union Bank's education work runs through Edu360, a platform that gathers the Bank's various school, teacher, and youth interventions under one roof. Three threads run through it. The first is teacher development, anchored by the Bank...

Ogere-Remo, Ogun State — In a move set to strengthen road safety operations along one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, the Ologere of Ogere-Remo, Oba James Obafemi Saliu, has commissioned a newly constructed office complex for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The project, unveiled as part of activities marking the monarch’s third coronation anniversary, is expected to enhance rapid response to accidents and improve traffic management along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a major transit corridor linking Nigeria’s commercial and industrial hubs. Speaking at the ceremony, Oba Saliu underscored the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding lives, noting that Ogere-Remo’s location makes it particularly vulnerable to road traffic incidents. He said the facility would significantly strengthen the FRSC’s operational efficiency and presence in the area. “This intervention is about saving lives and supporting those who work daily to keep our roads safe,” the monarch stated. The Ologere a...

Ogere-Remo, Ogun State — In a move set to strengthen road safety operations along one of Nigeria’s busiest highways, the Ologere of Ogere-Remo, Oba James Obafemi Saliu, has commissioned a newly constructed office complex for the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC). The project, unveiled as part of activities marking the monarch’s third coronation anniversary, is expected to enhance rapid response to accidents and improve traffic management along the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, a major transit corridor linking Nigeria’s commercial and industrial hubs. Speaking at the ceremony, Oba Saliu underscored the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding lives, noting that Ogere-Remo’s location makes it particularly vulnerable to road traffic incidents. He said the facility would significantly strengthen the FRSC’s operational efficiency and presence in the area. “This intervention is about saving lives and supporting those who work daily to keep our roads safe,” the monarch stated. The Ologere a...

The Centre Against Injustice and Domestic Violence (CAIDOV) has condemned the cold-blooded murder of a young man, named Ogidi Mena, by operatives of the Efurun Area Command of Nigeria Police Force, Uvwie, on April 28, 2026 in Effurun, Delta State. In a statement by its Executive Director,  Comrade Gbenga Soloki, CAIDOV, stated that the video evidence showed the deceased seated on the ground, visibly subdued, in front of a marked police vehicle.  Soloki added that Mena was unarmed, posed no threat, and was subsequently killed in what amounts to extrajudicial execution, saying that this is murder, and that it violated Section 33 of the 1999 Constitution and all rules of engagement. "CAIDOV demands mmediate arrest and dismissal of all officers in that police vehicle and at the scene. There should be homicide charges against the trigger-happy officer(s).  "There should be no orderly room trial. We demand Public investigation by the NHRC and Police Service Commission within 7 ...

The lawmaker representing Kosofe Constituency I in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde Okanlawon, popularly known as OKLA, has empowered 110 tertiary undergraduates with N100,000 each and provided 250 small business owners with N100,000 grant each.     Okanlawon disbursed the support through the Hon. Sanni Ganiyu Babatunde Okanlawon Scholarship Scheme at an event held on Wednesday at the in Anthony Village Recreation Centre, Adebayo Mokuolu Street, Anthony Village, Lagos.     Addressing beneficiaries and the guests at the event, the lawmaker said that the initiative was driven by a deliberate commitment to support students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, adding that sustained collaboration would help expand its reach in future editions.   He noted that the programme also prioritises small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), recognising their vital role in economic growth and job creation.     “Through targeted suppo...

The Sustainable Initiative for Nurturing Growth (SING) has urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to take immediate action to secure and restore access to communities bedevilled by the heightened insecurity and attacks across the country.   The call was made through a statement issued by the Executive Director of SING, Mercy Ehi Idris-Etanami, on the rising security threats in the North-West, North Central, and parts of the North-East, which are the most fragile areas.   Mrs Idris-Etanami said the situation was capable of truncating the success of the 2027 general election because “armed groups continue to attack communities, displace families, and shut down schools and markets.”   This, according to her, could scare “citizens from their polling units,” and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to begin early mapping of high-risk areas and put in place necessary safety measures for voter registration and PVC distribution.   Mrs Idris-Etanami als...

The Executive Director of Sustainable Initiative for Nurturing Growth (SING), Mercy Ehi Idris-Etanami, has called on Nigerians to prioritise actions to address and absorb the climate shock that threatens the country’s food security.   This was contained in a statement issued by SING which advocates for “climate adaptation as economic policy, not just environmental policy.”   The statement urged the Federal Government to “fund irrigation, early warning systems, and climate-smart agriculture in the 2026 and 2027 budgets. Mainstream climate risk into every infrastructure project. Adaptation must be planned for now, not after the next disaster.”   The statement also raised a growing concern with the human cost of climate problems such as floods, droughts, and changing rainfall patterns, which are continuously affecting the food security of the nation.   Mrs Idris-Etanami added that “The costs of inaction are clear and measurable. Climate shocks disrupt planting and harve...

Chairman of Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Council (NMEC) and United Nations Malaria Ambassador, Aliko Dangote has called on governments and the private sector to urgently scale up coordinated action to eliminate malaria, describing the moment as critical to ending one of the world’s most devastating diseases. Speaking to mark World Malaria Day 2026, Dangote emphasised that while progress against malaria has been significant, it remains uneven, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, which bears more than 90 percent of the global disease burden. Despite significant advances in prevention and treatment, malaria remains one of the world’s deadliest diseases, with sub‑Saharan Africa accounting for more than 90 percent of the global disease burden. The illness continues to disproportionately affect children under five, pregnant women, displaced populations, and underserved communities, placing sustained pressure on health systems and economies. “Progress against malaria is real, but it...

Photo Caption: L-R: Team Lead, CSR, Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Retail Team Rep., Fidelity Bank Plc, Stanley Ogbuze; Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Adeola Odeku Branch, Ifeyinwa Asomugha; Public Sector Team Rep., Nnaemeka Ike; Head, Women Banking, Fidelity Bank Plc, Harriba Harry-Pepple; a beneficiary, Mrs. Akinsanya Abeke; Executive Chairman, Imota LCDA, Hon. Benson Sunday Ayodele; Executive Chairman, Ikorodu West LCDA, Hon. Sulaimon Kazeem Olanrewaju; and Chairman, Ikorodu Local Government, Prince Adedayo Ladega, during the Fidelity Bank “Give Her Power Initiative” which held in Ikorodu, Lagos recently... Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has extended its flagship women empowerment programme, “Give Her Power”, to Ikorodu, Lagos State, empowering over 30 women with vocational tools to support their businesses and improve household income. The Ikorodu outreach, which marks the third phase of the Initiative’s nationwide rollout, saw the distribution of 12 sewin...

The President of the Amalgamated Union of Motor Mechanics and Technicians of Nigeria, Engr. Dr. Oseni Suleiman, has raised serious concern over the increasing circulation of fake and substandard automobile parts across Nigeria, describing the trend as a major threat to public safety and national development. In a statement made available to newsmen, the union President warned that the unchecked proliferation of counterfeit spare parts is contributing significantly to the rising cases of vehicle breakdowns and road accidents on Nigerian highways. According to him, “The widespread distribution and use of fake auto parts have become a silent killer on our roads. Many unsuspecting Nigerians fall victim to these substandard products, which often fail without warning and put lives at great risk.” Engr. Suleiman noted that the situation is worsened by the activities of unscrupulous dealers who prioritize profit over safety, flooding the market with inferior products that do not meet required ...

True Christian living, beyond winning souls, requires nurturing and sustaining new converts in the faith.  This was the central message delivered by the Generational Prophet and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr Chris Okafor, during a teaching on “Understanding the Act of Discipleship.” According to him, soul winning without proper establishment and follow-up defeats its purpose. “The goal is not just conversion but fruitfulness and continuity in Christ,” he emphasized, noting that believers must also understand the conditions that make prayers effective. The Necessity of Discipleship Dr Okafor outlined why discipleship is essential in the Christian journey: New converts require guidance to withstand temptations that could pull them back into their former ways. They must gradually disconnect from relationships and habits that previously weakened their faith. Support systems should be in place to help them navigate personal and spiritual challenges. Consistent follow-up, root...

Zenith Bank Plc has announced the opening of its Côte d’Ivoire subsidiary, marking a pivotal achievement in the Group’s Pan-African expansion strategy. The official opening ceremony, scheduled for Wednesday, April 29, 2026, is expected to attract senior government officials and regulators from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, continental business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community, highlighting the strategic economic ties and investment opportunities between the two markets. The new subsidiary, licensed in December 2025 by the Ministry of Finance and Budget, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, and regulated by the UMOA Banking Commission, will commence operations from its headquarters at SCI Wall Street, Avenue Noguès, Plateau, Abidjan. The launch represents a strategic move to deepen the Bank’s presence in Francophone West Africa and strengthen financial intermediation within the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU). Positioned as a gateway for cross-border trade and invest...

A powerful wave of political momentum is building around the 2027 Ogun State governorship race as a broad coalition of supporters under the banner of the “Friends of Yayi Support Initiative” has pooled a staggering ₦691,700,000 to back the ambition of Solomon Adeola, widely known as Yayi, in what is already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched contests in the state’s history. The fund, contributed by more than 250 individuals cutting across business, politics and grassroots networks, signals not just financial strength but a deepening political alignment behind the All Progressives Congress standard-bearer, whose candidacy is increasingly being framed as a historic opportunity to shift the balance of power within Ogun State. Among notable figures linked to the support base are businessman Ibrahim Dende Egungbohun, Director General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade and Senator Lekan Mustapha, alongside a long list of influential allies whose contributions col...

The leader of the Centre for the Advocacy of Human Rights and Social Justice (CAHRSC), Olufemi Akindele, has come out strongly against what he described as a desperate and malicious smear campaign targeting Dapo Abiodun, warning that no amount of blackmail will derail the governor’s senatorial ambition. In a statement issued in Abeokuta on Monday, Akindele accused a serving Ogun senator of orchestrating a sustained campaign of lies, disinformation, and character assassination against the governor, urging the public to see through what he called a “tired script of deceit.” He specifically condemned the circulation of a document titled “31 Questions for Governor Dapo Abiodun,” describing it as a crude, libelous fabrication allegedly sponsored by the senator and disguised under the cloak of unnamed youths from Ogun East. Akindele did not mince words: “For seven years, this individual has flooded the public space with toxic falsehoods, hiding behind faceless propagandists and hired pens. H...

L - R: Mr. Kenneth Irabor, Head, Risk Management, Dangote Cement; Dr. Pontsho B. Mokoena, Group Chief Risk Officer, Dangote; Mr. Kevin Ugwuoke, President, Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI) and Executive Director, Risk Management, Fidelity Bank Nigeria Plc; and Mr. Victor Olannye, Ph.D, FCRM, Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, CRMI; during a courtesy visit on the institute’s president in Lagos recently.

Tunde Ayeni, former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, has been arrested by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an alleged multi-billion naira fraud. Ayeni was reportedly picked up in Abuja on Thursday and is currently in EFCC custody as investigations continue. The anti-graft agency is probing the alleged diversion and misappropriation of funds estimated at N36.5 billion and $30 million, said to have been obtained from Polaris Bank Plc through companies linked to him. According to sources, the funds, secured as loans for specific projects—were allegedly diverted into other accounts and used for purposes outside their original intent. The loans, which were meant to finance projects such as marine security, electricity distribution contracts, and estate development, were reportedly channelled into the acquisition of telecom assets linked to NITEL/MTEL through a NATCOM account. Investigators are also examining about 12 companies associated with Ayeni, which were alle...

In line with its commitment to accelerating the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has rolled out a series of high impact masterclasses designed to equip business owners with practical skills, improve operational efficiency and expand market access throughout the month of April 2026. The first in the series, titled “Pricing That Works: How to Charge Right and Earn More,” held on Friday, April 10, 2026, at the Fidelity SME Hub in Gbagada, Lagos. The session focused on helping entrepreneurs set profitable, sustainable prices without losing customers, an essential factor for long-term business success. About a hundred SMEs from different sectors attended the masterclass which saw participants receive guidance on key areas many small businesses struggle with including costing, value-based pricing, pricing psychology and customer perception. Following the success of the pricing masterclass and testimonials from par...

Providus Bank Plc has commissioned a new branch in Ado-Ekiti, marking another step in its steady expansion across key growth markets in Nigeria. Having met the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) recapitalisation requirement since January 2025, Providus Bank is now focused on expanding its footprint to support local enterprise, deepen financial inclusion, and bring banking services closer to individuals and businesses. Speaking at the commissioning, the Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer, Deoye Ojuroye, noted that the expansion is part of a broader plan to strengthen the Bank’s presence nationwide over the next 12 months. “Our approach is deliberate—we are growing in the right places, supporting real economic activity, and building a bank that is both resilient and responsive to the needs of our customers.” He added that Providus Bank remains on a strong footing, with a disciplined approach to capital and risk management underpinning its growth. “We are well capitalised within our ...

In a bold move to strengthen environmental protection across Nigeria, Sterling Bank, in collaboration with Sterling One Foundation, Lagos Waste Management Authority, Sunbeth, community volunteers, and partner organizations, are set to launch The Great Nigeria Cleanup, a nationwide environmental movement taking place on April 25, 2026. Spanning all six geopolitical zones, and aligned with the United Nations Decade of Action, this initiative will mobilize citizens across Lagos, Abuja, Ogun, Osun, Cross River, Delta, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Abia, Enugu, Imo, Sokoto, Kano, Benue, Plateau, Kogi, and Katsina, reinforcing the urgency of sustained, community-led efforts to combat plastic and waste pollution and restore the health of Nigeria’s environment. Speaking on the initiative, Temitayo Adegoke, Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Bank stated: “At Sterling, we believe that real impact happens when institutions and individuals come together with a shared purpose. The Great Nigeria Cleanup is our ...