New Sentinel

Category: Brands

  • NCC, IHS Towers Lead Others To NITRA-ALTON CNII & Telecom Sustainability Conference 2025 … Digital Realty, 9mobile Take Front Row Seats

    NCC, IHS Towers Lead Others To NITRA-ALTON CNII & Telecom Sustainability Conference 2025 … Digital Realty, 9mobile Take Front Row Seats

    Telecom industry regulator, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and other industry
    operators, including IHS Towers, Digital Realty and 9mobile Nigeria, have joined the line of partners that
    will chart the way forward as stakeholders gather for the Maiden Edition of the CNII & Telecom
    Sustainability Conference 2025 being organized as a collaboration between media body, the Nigeria
    Information Technology Association (NITRA) and Industry advocacy group, the Association of Licenced
    Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON).
    Scheduled for August 7, 2025 in Lagos, the event, which is expected to host the Minister of
    Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, will also bring stakeholders from
    Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Peace Corps Nigeria, to discuss the security of
    infrastructure, stakeholders’ roles, and the practical implementation of the Critical National Information
    Infrastructure (CNII) Presidential Order.
    Headlining the event, with its theme as “Telecoms Industry Sustainability and the CNII Act – Way
    Forward”, IHS Towers will throw light on the state of infrastructure in the country, while the Panel
    Session will discuss the “Role expectations of stakeholders in the implementation of the CNII Act”
    Keynote speeches will come from the NCC EVC, Dr. Aminu Maida and the President of the Association of
    Telecommunication Companies of Nigeria (ATCON).
    The Nigerian Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) Order,
    2024, aims to safeguard critical infrastructure like telecommunications networks, financial systems, and
    power grids by designating them as CNII and outlining measures for their protection. This order, signed
    in June 2024, is an extension of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 and seeks to reduce disruptions to these
    vital systems.
    Some of the questions stakeholders will give answers to at the Panel Discussion include:
     How do we ensure that this Order is implemented to the letter?
     What are the roles of each stakeholder in the industry – Federal, States, Operators, Consumers,
    and other actors?
     Are telecom companies keying into the CNII provisions, and how?
     Are there areas worth looking into once more, or is the Order perfect as it is?
     What is the role of regulators in ensuring public compliance to the Bill?
     How do we ensure security?
     What is the place of collaboration?
     Publicity: how much of the CNII provisions are the public aware of?
     How can we sustain the growth and development of telecommunications in Nigeria?

    According to the General Secretary of NITRA, Mr. Chidiebere Nwankwo, this industry collaborative event
    will afford stakeholders in the public and private sectors the opportunity to sit back together and review
    how well the CNII Order has thus far been implemented, and to re-strategise, if need be, on the way
    forward.
    “This event is key because it will bring Stakeholders to the CNII plan to a roundtable to re-evaluate the
    decision, make amends and continue the journey. This has to be a periodic gathering to make the goals
    of this order achievable,” he said.
    ALTON is the official private sector industry body for all providers of telecommunications and subsidiary
    services in Nigeria.
    The Chairman of ALTON, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and the Chairman of NITRA, Mr. Chike Onwuegbuchi
    will be on hand to welcome industry stakeholders.

  • Smile Communications Launches “#AllTimeSmileTime” Campaign to Celebrate Internet Access Anytime, Anywhere

    Smile Communications Launches “#AllTimeSmileTime” Campaign to Celebrate Internet Access Anytime, Anywhere

    Smile Communications, Nigeria’s leading 4G LTE broadband provider, has unveiled an exciting new campaign tagged #AllTimeSmileTime, encouraging customers to share the moments and places they
    enjoy seamless internet connectivity with Smile.
    With Smile’s robust and expanding coverage across Nigeria, the brand is reinforcing its
    promise that quality internet access isn’t restricted to the office or home alone. Whether
    you're at a seminar, in church, relaxing at the park, hanging out with friends, or even
    studying at the library — anytime can be Smile time.
    As part of the month-long campaign, Smile is asking customers a simple yet powerful
    question: “When is your Smile Time?” The aim is to celebrate real user experiences,
    elicit testimonials, and gather feedback that will help further improve and expand
    Smile’s offerings.
    Speaking on the campaign, ‘Goke Olaleye (Head of Marketing Operations) at Smile
    Communications, said: “#AllTimeSmileTime is more than just a hashtag. It’s a statement that wherever life
    takes you, Smile is right there with you. We’re excited to see how and where our
    customers are enjoying their Smile experience, and we invite everyone to share their
    Smile Time moments throughout the month of July.”
    Customers are encouraged to join the conversation online by posting their photos, short
    videos, or testimonials using the hashtag #AllTimeSmileTime across social media
    platforms.
    The interactive campaign is part of Smile’s commitment to delivering high-quality
    internet access and building a more connected digital lifestyle for Nigerians — wherever
    they may be.

  • AAAN President outlines major steps to achieve additional growth in Nigeria’s Advertising Sector, By Daniel Obi

    AAAN President outlines major steps to achieve additional growth in Nigeria’s Advertising Sector, By Daniel Obi

    A leader in the Advertising Industry who is also the President, Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria, AAAN, Mr. Lanre Adisa, has identified key steps necessary to be taken to achieve further growth of Nigeria’s ₦605.2 billion advertising industry.
    Among the key steps, he outlined, are the inauguration of a council for the industry, government engagement of professionals in the industry for execution of jobs and adoption of technology and embracing rapid changes by the industry operators.
    The Nigerian advertising  industry is valued at N605.2 billion in 2023 which represents total expenditure on marketing communications in Nigeria and the industry is expected to grow to almost N900 billion in 2028, contributing about 1.08 percent to GDP under right conditions.
    Lanre who addressed advertisers and other stakeholders at AAAN yearly meeting in Ibadan last weekend on  “Charting Bold Paths Forward”, a theme which he described as  not just a title but a rallying call, a challenge, and a declaration,  said the industry can  only move forward when the government gives the operators  the attention they deserve, “starting with the inauguration of an ARCON Council”.
    He regretted that the industry has operated for  over ten years without a Council. ‘We have transitioned from APCON to ARCON, one administration to another. Yet, we don’t have a Council’, he lamented.
    Lanre who is the Founder/Chief Creative Officer of  Noah’s Ark, an award winning agency also said “the industry  can only move forward when government engages professional bodies like ours on matters of marketing communications and brand building.
    “In the spirit of the current administration’s Nigeria First policy, we are urging the Federal Government to make it a policy that only ARCON-certified agencies should bid for all government/MDAs marketing communication services. Not only will this help present government activities in a more professional manner, it will also help these agencies thrive better and be of greater value to the government through their statutory obligations”, he said.
    While encouraging operators in the industry to play their part in ensuring that they engender a healthy and vibrant ecosystem that will ensure the industry moves forward, Lanre challenged them to embrace the rapid changes confronting the industry.
    He said technology is not the enemy. Fear is. “We must be bold—bold enough to embrace new technologies, to re-skill, to experiment and to own our seat at the table in a rapidly shifting advertising ecosystem. We must move from being followers of global trends to becoming shapers of global narratives, drawing from the richness of our culture, creativity and commerce”.
    In his view at the meeting during a firechat, Olalekan Fadolapo, Director General of the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), argued for professional self-regulation as a sustainable pathway to reforming the  advertising ecosystem.
    Fadolapo who was commended by Lanre Adisa  for championing reforms,pointed out that some regulatory challenges would not exist if practitioners committed to ethical advertising and internal control.
    At meeting graced by players such as Udeme Ufot, Group CEO of SO & U; Tunji Olugbodi, Group CEO  of Verdant Zeal; Steve Babaeko of X3M Ideas; Kelechi Nwosu CEO of TBWA/Concepts,  eight agencies were inducted.
    The newly inducted agencies are: Grandeur Limited, Octoplus Marketing Limited, Hephzibah Experiential Limited, Adept Creation Enterprise Limited, Take-Out Media, Flow Universal Solutions Limited, Blue Sky Media Promotion, and Whyfinite Martech Limited.
  • Nestlé Nigeria Collaborates with the Government to Drive Nationwide Water Quality Campaign

    Nestlé Nigeria Collaborates with the Government to Drive Nationwide Water Quality Campaign

    As part of ongoing efforts to ensure safer water for all Nigerians, Nestlé Nigeria is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation to launch a National Water Quality Advocacy Campaign aimed at raising awareness, educating communities, and mobilizing multi-stakeholder action around water safety and sustainable water practices.

     

    The collaboration, announced in Abuja during a courtesy visit by Nestlé and members of the Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (OPS-WASH), reinforces the government’s commitment to advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda through improved access to clean water and sanitation.

     

    At the meeting, the Honourable Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, welcomed the partnership, noting its importance in tackling persistent public health threats such as cholera and diarrhea while also addressing challenges related to flooding and climate resilience.

     

    He assured the Ministry’s full support for Nestlé’s campaign and pledged timely collaboration to deliver impactful results. “The Ministry is committed to working with Nestlé Nigeria to improve water quality across the country. This partnership is in line with our mission to ensure safe water access and support the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians.”

     

     

    Speaking on the company’s role, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, and Sustainability Lead at Nestlé Nigeria, said:

     

    “Water is essential to life, yet millions of Nigerians remain at risk due to unsafe water sources. Our campaign is not just about raising awareness, it’s about shifting behaviors and building partnerships that deliver lasting impact. We’re working across communities, industries, and institutions to help close the knowledge gap, improve water safety, and support national health outcomes.”

     

    She emphasized that the campaign rests on three pillars: building awareness and knowledge, engaging stakeholders at all levels, and driving long-term, sustainable action.

     

    Providing additional perspective, Dr. Nicholas Igwe, National Coordinator of OPS-WASH, shared details of the initiative’s community reach:

     

    “We are taking a long-term, impact-led approach. In Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, 16 communities will benefit from water quality interventions, while 8 communities in Agbara, Ogun State, are also included. In addition, two agricultural communities will receive water harvesting systems to support irrigation and food production.”

    The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Ministry and OPS-WASH, reaffirming cross-sector commitment to accelerating access to clean, safe water for all Nigerians.

    • Picture above shows L-R: Toju Egbebi, Corporate Affairs Manager, Nestle Nigeria, Victoria Uwadoka, Corporate Communications, Public Affairs and Sustainability Lead, Nestle Nigeria, Honourable Engr. Prof. Joseph Terlumun Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation in Nigeria, Dr. Nicholas Igwe, Global Head & Nigeria National Coordinator, Organized Private Sector in Water, Sanitation & Hygiene and Engr. Nnenna Igwegbe, APWEN National Vice President and OPS-WASH Head of Zonal Coordinator during a visit to the Minister to discuss partnership on a National Water Quality Advocacy campaign in Abuja recently.

     

  • The Repression of Widowhood: CBA Foundation Shines at the Pitcher Awards 2025 with Two Awards

    The Repression of Widowhood: CBA Foundation Shines at the Pitcher Awards 2025 with Two Awards

    Worried by the plight of widowhood in our society, CBA Foundation has decided to take the lead role in the campaign against the Repression of Widowhood, stressing that the initiative wasn’t about awards, but about
    dignity.

    The Organization further said that their effort was about restoring voices that have been silenced, adding “it is about standing for widows in society, often forgotten, and left behind.”
    In Nigeria, over 15 million women are widows, with a huge proportion classified as
    underprivileged / disadvantaged widows. Many face abuse, exclusion, neglected or accused of
    killing their husbands. Some are thrown out of their homes, whereas most are left to survive
    alone with children to care for and no one to care for them.
    That’s where we stepped in.
    What started as a podcast to educate widows on their legal rights became a national movement.
    From online awareness to real-life action, we mobilized a Walkathon that inspired everyday
    Nigerians to walk in solidarity. We weren’t just raising voices—we were raising support to echo
    the pain of disadvantaged widows.
    But awareness was never enough. We listened to the cries behind the silence. And we acted.
    With the help of five FMCG brands, we delivered:
    ● Food relief and healthcare to 412 widows across Lagos, Ogun, and Anambra
    ● Seed funding and financial empowerment for over 20 women to start their own
    businesses
    ● Free healthcare for 202 widows
    ● 169 children back in school
    ● Seven impactful podcast episodes reaching over 51,000 listeners
    ● A sustainable skill-building initiative, Art Piece of Hope, teaching widows tie & dye
    fabric making for long-term income
    These are not just numbers, they are stories of resilience
    This campaign gave them more than resources gave them back hope, dignity, and a future.
    And then came the win.
    At the Pitcher Awards 2025, The Repression of Widowhood was honored with:
    � Silver for Societal Impact in Effectiveness Category – This category celebrates the
    measurable impact of creative work. Entries in the Societal Impact subcategory demonstrate
    how the campaign drove tangible results, was instrumental to cultural change, social change,
    environmental change or was integral to achieving a brand’s purpose.
    � Bronze for Non-Profit Organizations in Pitcher for Good Category – This subcategory
    recognizes communication or initiative that addresses social or environmental issues created by non-profit organizations or a partnership between a for-profit organization and non-profit
    organization.
    A proud moment for the CBA Foundation, digitXplus, and for every widow whose life was
    touched.
    “This recognition is for every woman who thought her story had ended. It’s a reminder that we
    see you, we hear you, and we will keep fighting for you,” says Chinwe Bode Akinwande, Founder – CBA Foundation.
    Damilola Popoola, Head of Strategy – digitXplus has this to say: “It’s not every day you get to be in the forefront of a vision that truly changes lives. We’re proud of this win, but even prouder of the impact.”
    This wasn’t just a campaign, it was a commitment to justice. to humanity. to lasting change.
    And we’re not stopping here. We’re walking for hope—until every widow stands tall again, she added.

  • MultiChoice Africa x African Storytelling: How Local Content Shapes Local Culture

    MultiChoice Africa x African Storytelling: How Local Content Shapes Local Culture

    As Africa marks Africa Month in May, attention turns to telling our story from our perspective, rooted in African culture. But how does culture evolve?

    Many things we now call “cultural” started as new ideas, songs, customs, and stories that resonated with people and became timeless expressions of identity.

    From Content to Culture

    A recent example of how local content shapes culture is Afrobeat musician Davido’s recent acknowledgement of veteran highlife singer Bright Chimezie as the inspiration behind his song “With You,” featuring Omah Lay. He credited Chimezie’s track “Because of English” as the creative source. Davido not only honours the past but also bridges generations, showing how contemporary music continues to evolve from deep cultural roots.

    Or consider Tinsel, which redefined Nigerian television with over 4,000 episodes since 2008, introducing high production standards that inspired an entire generation of Nollywood creators. Similarly, The Johnsons has become a household name for its humorous, relatable portrayal of everyday Nigerian family life.

    Dance group Westsyde Lifestyle rose from Lagos streets to global stages, performing in viral music videos for stars like Davido and Burna Boy, helping spotlight Nigerian dance culture worldwide.

    Across fashion and music, Nigerian talent like Burna Boy, Ayra Starr, Tems, Lisa Folawiyo, and Kenneth Ize are shaping global trends, proving that local creativity resonates far beyond our borders.

    This creative wave isn’t accidental; it’s a reflection of a continent leaning into its own identity.

    Local Pride, Lasting Impact

    From Lagos to Lusaka, Nairobi to Kigali, audiences are embracing content that mirrors their world. And as demand grows, so does investment in quality, storytelling, and industry infrastructure.

    At the heart of this movement is MultiChoice, whose platforms, including Africa Magic, Showmax, and the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF), continue to nurture the next generation of African storytellers, elevate production standards, and ensure African stories are told with authenticity and pride.

    That commitment was powerfully reaffirmed at the recently concluded Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA), where Africa’s leading creatives were celebrated not just for entertainment but for their role in shaping Africa’s cultural narrative. The night was a reflection of how far African storytelling has come and how far it can go.

    The recent AMVCA win for Everything Light Touches, produced by MTF alumni Olamide Oshodi-Glover and Morenikeji Uka, stands as a powerful testament to the rising influence of African cinema and the impact of the MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF). Their achievement not only celebrates storytelling rooted in cultural heritage but also underscores how MTF continues to shape a new generation of filmmakers making waves on the continent and beyond.

    That same legacy of nurturing talent was on full display at the recent MTF graduation ceremony in Lagos, where a new class of West African filmmakers showcased original short films. Among them was Winner Achimugu, whose exceptional work earned her the Best Student award, and with it, a coveted place at the New York Film Academy. Her journey alongside past winners reflects the very heart of MTF’s mission: empowering young storytellers to bring African narratives to global screens.

    From my Flatesmates and their comedic chaos to the gripping suspense of Ajoche and the layered family drama in Battleground, African content is doing more than entertaining. They are preserving culture, connecting generations, and inspiring a deep sense of pride. Sparking conversations and connecting generations.

    A Future Written by Us

    Television has become a driver of culture. It preserves our history, projects our dreams, and shows us to the world as we truly are.

    As Africa Month unfolds, one thing is clear: African stories, told by Africans, are not just capturing attention; they’re commanding respect. Nigeria’s growing cultural confidence is empowering the next generation of storytellers, and the world is watching.

  • Experts @ ABoICT 2025 Warn of Digital Disaster Risks in Nigeria Without AI Governance

    Experts @ ABoICT 2025 Warn of Digital Disaster Risks in Nigeria Without AI Governance

    As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the global digital landscape, two prominent technology leaders have issued urgent warnings and strategic calls for Nigeria and Africa to adopt a unified, governance-driven approach to AI development, emphasizing that trust, regulation, and cybersecurity are more important than ever.

    At the 2025 Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit & Leadership Award (ABoICT 2025), held over the weekend in Lagos, Professor Adewale Peter Obadare, Chief Visionary Officer of Digital Encode, and Amrich Singhal, Chief Operating Officer of Spectranet, independently but powerfully echoed the same sentiment: AI without governance is a ticking time bomb.

    Delivering his keynote on “AI Governance, Standardization and Cybersecurity in the AI Era,” Prof. Obadare warned against the rising trend of “AI washing”—where companies label basic software or services as “AI” to capitalize on hype, often without the underlying technological integrity or oversight.

    “People are calling everything AI today, from photography apps to basic automation, but no one is talking about AI governance,” he said.

    Drawing comparisons to the early days of the internet, Obadare cautioned that failing to integrate security and governance into AI architecture could lead to far-reaching consequences. “We are repeating the same mistake we made with TCP/IP, which was not built with cybersecurity in mind. We cannot afford to make that error again.”

    He emphasized that governance should not be seen as a hindrance but as an enabler of safe innovation. “Governance is not a brake to stop movement; it is a brake to make movement safe,” he said.

    Citing international standards like ISO/IEC 42001 and ISO/IEC 38507, Obadare called for responsible innovation grounded in clear ethical guidelines, stressing the importance of securing the core components of AI: data, models, and infrastructure.

    Echoing similar concerns, Amrich Singhal, chief operating officer, Spectranet in his presentation themed “Responsible AI and Nigeria: Balancing Innovation, Regulation, and Cybersecurity,” stressed that “the countries that will benefit most from AI are not necessarily those with the most powerful models, but those with the most trusted systems.”

    Singhal painted AI as a double-edged sword, capable of boosting national productivity while also enabling new forms of cyber manipulation—from deepfakes to identity theft and disinformation. “AI can clone voices, create fake personas, and even undermine democracy. It’s no longer a question of readiness, it’s a question of urgency,” he declared.

    He acknowledged Nigeria’s potential due to its youthful, tech-savvy population and its expanding use of AI across sectors like healthcare, agriculture, education, and oil exploration.

    However, he criticized existing regulatory structures such as the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) and NITDA’s 2023 draft AI framework as being “underdeveloped, underfunded, and poorly enforced.”

    Both experts called for a multi-stakeholder approach to AI governance. Prof. Obadare warned of real-world failures, such as Microsoft’s racist chatbot Tay, Amazon’s gender-biased recruitment AI, and Uber’s fatal autonomous vehicle incident, not as tech failures, but as governance failures.

    He also cited cybersecurity breaches, including the 2023 hacking of OpenAI’s ChatGPT and the leak of DeepSeek’s API keys and user data on launch day, to stress that “the danger is not just in the algorithms, but in how we design and deploy them.”

    Singhal proposed a three-tiered strategy to build Nigeria’s AI resilience: government must champion AI education, create safe innovation sandboxes, and enforce data laws; private companies must adopt ethical and secure design practices; and civil society must raise awareness of digital rights and AI risks—especially for vulnerable populations.

    In a firm conclusion, Prof. Obadare urged that “governance must be embedded by design,” warning that irresponsible innovation has already proven costly and called on both developers and policymakers to act before Nigeria’s AI future becomes a liability rather than a strength.

    Meanwhile, Singhal closed with a stark challenge: “AI is already here. The question is not whether to use it, but how. Nigeria must choose whether AI will be a great equalizer or its greatest vulnerability.”

    As the nation moves deeper into the AI era, the message is clear: building trust, enforcing cybersecurity, and embedding responsible governance must be at the core of Nigeria’s AI journey, before it’s too late.

    Picture shows L-r: Dr. Krishnan Ranganath, Regional Executive, West Africa, Africa Data Centres, Adewale Obadare, chief visionary officer, Digital Encode, Amrish Singhal, chief operations officer, Spectranet, Engr. Ike Nnamani, Managing Director, Digital Realty Nigeria and Rudman Muhammed, Managing Director, Internet Exchange Point of Nigeria, at the 16th Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership awards held in Lagos recently.
  • Fidelity Bank Clarifies Position on Court Judgement Inherited From Defunct FSB International Bank

    Fidelity Bank Clarifies Position on Court Judgement Inherited From Defunct FSB International Bank

    Our attention has been drawn to the publication on the Peoples Gazette Titled “EXCLUSIVE: Fidelity faces bankruptcy as Supreme Court orders banking giant to pay N225 billion damages to Nigerian firm”.
    By way of a background, we confirm that the issues leading up to the judgment arose from a legacy transaction between the defunct FSB International Bank and Sagecom Concepts Limited. FSB granted a credit facility to G. Cappa Plc in 2002 for the sum of USD3 million. The facility was secured with mortgage on a property located in Ikoyi. G. Cappa defaulted on the repayment of the loan and in a bid to prevent FSB from selling the mortgaged property to repay the loan, G. Cappa commenced an action against FSB at the Federal High Court, Lagos seeking inter-alia to restrain the Bank from selling the property. The Federal High Court in its judgment ruled that the Bank as legal mortgagor rightfully sold the leased interest in the property to Sagecom in 2011.
    The Court however declined to order vacant possession of the property and directed the issue of vacant possession to the Lagos State High Court. In the meantime, G. Cappa remained in possession of the property and kept collecting rents therefrom.
    Sagecom then instituted an action against the Bank and G. Cappa at the Lagos State High Court in 2011 seeking damages against the Bank for breach of contract and for possession of the property. Sagecom’s claim against the Bank was essentially for liquidated damages calculated as rentals on the several component apartments in the property plus interest on same over different time frames. In 2018, the Lagos High Court awarded judgment in favour of Sagecom against G. Cappa and the Bank which judgment was challenged at the Supreme Court. The Bank is convinced that by remaining in possession of the property and continuing to collect rents therefrom, G. Cappa orchestrated all the losses suffered by Sagecom.
    However, having exhausted the appeal process, the Bank is willing to settle the obligation. Unfortunately, there are significant ambiguities in the judgment resulting in difficulties in calculating the actual financial liability to the G.Cappa and the Bank which is about N14billion from our computation based on the exchange rate as of 2005 when the incident and cause of action arose. Meanwhile the Supreme Court in the case of Anibaba v Dana Airlines Limited delivered in January 2025 has clarified that foreign currency judgment debt must be converted to Naira at the exchange rate obtainable at the date of judgment of the trial Court which in this case was 30 January 2018. Even if the 2018 exchange rate supported by the Supreme Court is applied, the judgment debt will just be under N30.7 billion payable by G.Cappa Plc (who delayed delivery of possession of the apartments from 2005 till June 2018 when possession was eventually delivered) with contribution from the Bank.
    Consequently, the Bank has applied to the Court for a clarification and inquiry into the proper interpretation of the judgment and the computation of the actual quantum properly and lawfully payable by G.Cappa and the Bank. The Court has accordingly ordered Sagecom to maintain status quo pending the determination of pending motions and restrained Sagecom and all persons from publishing any material in the media as the matter is still pending in court. The implication of this order is that the instant publication by People Gazette and any other media platform or persons, contain false information and is wrongful, unlawful and constitute a contempt of court.
    It is unfortunate that the above clear position and injunctive order made by the Court since 7th May 2025 was not adhered to. Rather, this obviously sponsored publication by People Gazette has been orchestrated and syndicated in the media with the aim of embarrassing the bank.
    Fidelity Bank remains a very strong and profitable financial institution and amongst the most capitalized Bank in Nigeria today with international operations. The Bank is under no bankruptcy and has always been in a position to discharge its proper and lawful obligations and wishes to assure its depositors, customers, investors and the general public that the bank is in a strong financial position as shown in its Q1 2025 financial results which is available to the public.
    Meanwhile, the Bank is taking all necessary steps to apprehend and prosecute any persons or platform directly or indirectly responsible for this wicked, malicious and sponsored publication aimed at embarrassing the Bank and causing panic to its stakeholders.
  • Dangote Named Most Admired African Brand, Bags Two More Awards in Addis Ababa

    Dangote Named Most Admired African Brand, Bags Two More Awards in Addis Ababa

    It was another historic milestone for pan-African investor Aliko Dangote and the Dangote Industries Limited over the weekend, as they garnered three prestigious accolades at the 15th annual Brand Africa 100 awards, held at the iconic Africa Hall in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—the birthplace of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU).
    Dangote Industries Limited was named Most Admired African Brand, following an independent, consumer-led survey conducted across more than 30 African countries. The company was also inducted into the Brand Africa Hall of Fame, becoming the first African firm to receive this distinction. The induction recognises Dangote’s transformative impact on African consumers and its influential role in shaping a positive narrative for the continent.
    President/Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his leadership in driving impactful industrialisation, establishing a world-class African brand, and reshaping the continent’s economic future through a benchmark, homegrown enterprise.
    Joining Dangote Industries in the inaugural Hall of Fame were MTN, M-Pesa, Ethiopian Airlines, and South Africa, for consistently ranking among Africa’s most admired brands over the past 5 to 15 years and for building sustainable, globally respected brands.
    Reacting to the awards, Group Chief Branding & Communications Officer, Dangote Industries Limited, Anthony Chiejina, said the honours reflect the unwavering commitment, excellence, and innovation that define the group’s journey. He added that they are a testament to the dedication of the company’s outstanding team, partners, and stakeholders, who continue to believe in the mission to drive sustainable development and economic growth across the continent.
    “We also extend our heartfelt appreciation for the Lifetime Achievement Award presented to our Founder and President, Aliko Dangote for building a purposeful world-class industrial brand that has exceptionally transformed African lives and the African narrative. This accolade celebrates not only his visionary leadership but also his tireless efforts in transforming industries, creating opportunities, and championing African enterprise on the global stage. His legacy is an inspiration to generations of entrepreneurs and leaders across Africa,” he said.
    Noting that the recognition would further inspire the company to push boundaries, empower communities, and deliver meaningful value across Africa and beyond, Chiejina reaffirmed Dangote Industries’ commitment to excellence, integrity, and transformative growth.
    In his keynote address, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa, Mr Claver Gatete, praised Aliko Dangote, the Hall of Fame inductees, and the Brand Africa laureates for advancing the African agenda. He highlighted the alignment between Brand Africa and the ECA’s mission to promote inclusive industrialisation, regional integration, and private sector-led growth. He also called for increased investment in youth-led innovation, regional value chains, and the establishment of a Pan-African Creative Innovation Fund to identify, finance, and globalise Africa’s most promising brands.
    “I wish to particularly acknowledge MTN, Dangote Group, mPesa and Ethiopian Airlines for consistently maintaining their distinguished positions among the “Most Admired African Brands” category and continuing to set benchmarks in brand leadership, innovation and continental impact,” he said.
    According to the organisers, the 2025 rankings reveal a stark contrast between rising African optimism and declining brand loyalty. While 68% of Africans expressed belief in the continent—up from 64% in 2024—only 11% of the Top 100 Most Admired Brands are African, marking a historic low and down from 14% in 2024. The report indicates the urgent need for homegrown brands to translate belief into consumer loyalty, and for Africans to more actively support Made-in-Africa products and enterprises.
    “It is disappointing to see the sharp drop in African brands, which mirrors the ranking of non-African nations as the most influential in Africa,” says Thebe Ikalafeng, Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa. “It’s a wake-up call for Africa—and a barometer of the continent’s lagging industrialisation agenda. It’s not enough for Africans to say they believe in the continent—they must buy made-in-Africa. For that to happen, African brands must invest in R&D, continue to innovate, deliver quality, and use authenticity as a differentiator.”
  • WHEN LEGACY MEETS PREPAREDNESS – OLUSEGUN ALEBIOSU AS CEO, FIRSTBANK GROUP

    WHEN LEGACY MEETS PREPAREDNESS – OLUSEGUN ALEBIOSU AS CEO, FIRSTBANK GROUP

    By Aniekan Ezekiel

     

    What happens when legacy meets preparedness? What results from such a combination? Let us not be in a hurry to put forward any answers yet. Instead, let us consider first the opposite situation: When legacy meets unpreparedness.

    The world abounds in examples of this distressing situation. A dynasty that has built wealth from generation to generation, with its illustrious heirs providing generational leadership, finds itself in a strange phase where an ill-prepared heir takes over the reins and in that same generation, not the next, wipes out the entire family fortune built over several generations.

     

    We see the same thing with nations. History is replete with examples of great nations built by great leaders, which slid into oblivion when they were hit by arguably the greatest misfortune that ever befalls humanity – bad leadership. It is the reason American author and leadership expert John Maxwell asserts, “Everything rises and falls with leadership.”

     

    As with nations, so with organisations. We see organisations that have thrived for decades and over several generations, get a new leader who is not prepared for such leadership, and the leader pushes the organisation to the brink of collapse.

     

    Contrast this picture with the situation at Nigeria’s most enduring corporate organisation with the most amazing legacies of firsts, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, which witnessed a leadership transition about a year ago. Faced with a number of quality options in and outside the then management team, the decision-makers at the bank and its parent company FBNHoldings, now First HoldCo Plc, had to be clear-minded about who could become the new Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group.

     

    Equally important as the need for continuity was the non-negotiable requirement for capacity to manage the ship of the 130-years-plus institution to sustain its enviable legacies and consolidate the gains made in recent years. The search was for someone with a steady head and hands (talk of risk control and mitigation), in addition to an excellent track record of sterling performance and achievements.

     

    Fortunately, fate was on their side. They did not have to look outside. Right there before them was someone who understood all kinds of risks and how to control and mitigate them. He had been with FirstBank since 2016 when he joined as Group Executive / Chief Risk Officer. Then in January 2022 he was elevated to Executive Director / Chief Risk Officer and Executive Compliance Officer.

    This man has given nearly three decades of his working life to the banking and financial services industry. He has under his belt a rich tapestry of cross-functional experience in credit risk management, financial planning and control, credit and marketing, and trade. His cross-functional exposure also includes corporate and commercial banking, agriculture financing, oil and gas, transportation, including aviation and shipping, and project financing

    Meet Olusegun Alebiosu, the man history had prepared and the one decision-makers chose among the quality options. He was appointed substantive Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank Group in June 2024, having acted in that capacity since April 2024 when the former CEO left.

    Determined to build on the bank’s legacies while navigating the ever-changing landscape of the financial services industry, Alebiosu has shown unwavering commitment to lead the bank through a transformative period that places emphasis on strategic consolidation, technological advancement and market expansion.

    Alebiosu’s approach to sustaining the legacies of firsts at FirstBank, which has been at the vanguard of accelerating Nigeria’s digital payments as the first bank to issue over 13 million cards to customers, draws from his vast professional experience which began with Oceanic Bank Plc, now Ecobank Plc, in 1991. Between then and joining FirstBank in 2016, he had worked at Coronation Merchant Bank as Chief Risk Officer, at African Development Bank Group as Chief Credit Risk Officer and at United Bank for Africa as Group Head, Credit Policy and Deputy Chief Credit Risk Officer.

     

    Under one year of his appointment as substantive CEO of FirstBank, Alebiosu’s strategic consolidation efforts have demonstrated that he is a worthy successor, not an ill-prepared or unprepared one, proving the decision-makers right. Understanding the critical role of its human capital in sustaining the bank’s legacies, Alebiosu has invested himself and the bank’s resources in promoting staff welfare.

     

    A comprehensive review of the bank’s compensation structure was undertaken to position it within the 75th percentile of the industry, making the bank more retentive of, and attractive to, the best talents. The highest number of staff promotions across various grades in the last five years has happened under Alebiosu’s watch, with 1,654 employees being elevated in one single promotion cycle.

     

    Under his leadership, over 2,186 new hires have been recruited across key functions and subsidiaries, with a large number of them deployed to the sales function to ensure that retail customers are adequately served. Staff are now more engaged based on the high employee engagement score of 86% achieved in the April 2025 WorkBuzz survey, indicating remarkable progress in the bank’s multi-pronged efforts to promote a positive and inclusive workplace culture.

     

    This drive to reinforce a culture of inclusion and recognition has been accentuated by the launch of a group-wide culture transformation initiative with the goal of embedding the core values of integrity, excellence and innovation. It has also been strengthened by a renewed focus on inclusion, collaboration and high performance. Also contributing was the staging of a FirstBank Employee Appreciation Day 2025 featuring, among others, a personalised appreciation video message from the CEO to all employees across the group throughout Africa and beyond. The inclusion message is further boosted by the launch of the inaugural edition of the bank’s pioneering initiative, Mandarin Language School, to bolster the bank’s expansion in the Asian market.

     

    Expansion is a critical plank in FirstBank’s new strategic planning horizon, under Alebiosu’s leadership. Taking off this 2025, the plan seeks to reinforce the bank’s market dominance across all operational regions and it includes deliberate expansion into new markets within and outside Africa.

     

    Beyond geographical and horizontal expansion, Alebiosu’s plan has also targeted a skyward expansion. Or how else does one describe the groundbreaking ceremony in March 2025 for the bank’s new green-certified, 44-storey iconic head office building in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos State?

     

    Alebiosu is also prioritising the acceleration of process automation in recognition of the importance of digital transformation. It is a massive push for technological advancement that includes adopting robotics technology and artificial intelligence at scale, to give the bank an unassailable competitive advantage among its peers in the industry.

    The bank has deployed digital tools to enhance seamless account opening and optimised backend systems and customer service delivery. Two additional Digital Experience Centres (DXCs) have been launched – one at Lekki Admiralty Way, Lagos State and the other at its UNN branch, Nsukka, Enugu State. Also, the bank’s agent network has expanded to over 280,000, a 50,000 increase from the 230,000 agents it had in 2023.

    As expected, shareholders, among other stakeholders, have been observing the strides the bank has been making under Alebiosu’s leadership, with a keen eye on the numbers. Fortunately, again, the bank’s results for the financial year ended December 2024 speak volumes, with after-tax profit of its parent company rising to the highest point it has reached in the last 12 years, according to the company’s latest financial statement.

    In recognition of his achievements within such a short period and his exemplary leadership, Alebiosu was honoured at the World Business Outlook Awards as “Banking CEO of the Year – Nigeria 2025”. He has also been honoured with the “Special African Banking Leadership Award” by African Leadership Magazine. This was in 2024.

    The story of Alebiosu’s leadership at FirstBank has clearly been one of preparedness meeting legacy. Working with the board and management team, he has consistently sustained the bank’s legacies and also consolidated its recent gains in ways that will ensure the gains keep compounding. FirstBank, more than ever before, is poised for greater intra- and intercontinental growth and impact in the years ahead.