MREIF is Better: FirstBank’s Mortgage Loan Is the Game-Changer for Home Ownership in Nigeria

Anyone who has tried to get a loan to buy a house in Nigeria knows the drill: endless forms, property valuation, and eventual down payment of a minimum 25% or more on the property. Sometimes, interest rates could go as high as 30% per annum, while the typical loan limit is N50 million. Now, FirstBank is making homeownership more attractive. FirstBank, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), has introduced the MREIF Home Loan. MREIF loan is a game-changer, offering a single-digit interest rate of 9.75% per annum,…

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How Titan Trust Bank Allegedly Used Union Bank Assets to Secure $300 Million Acquisition Deal

What was sold to Nigerians in May 2022 as a clean and powerful takeover is now looking like something far more troubling. When Titan Trust Bank announced it had acquired Union Bank of Nigeria, a 100+ year-old institution, the story was simple: a young bank buying a legacy giant. But fresh documents are now pointing to a shocking twist that raises serious questions about how the deal was actually done. According to findings, Titan Trust Bank allegedly secured a $300 million loan from African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to fund the…

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Tinubu Reshuffles Cabinet: Wale Edun, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa Exit as Taiwo Oyedele Emerges Finance Minister

Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a minor cabinet reshuffle, resulting in the exit of two key ministers from the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and the appointment of new replacements aimed at strengthening economic governance. In an official statement issued by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume confirmed that the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, have been directed to step down. Edun is to hand over…

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Banking the Economy That Actually Exists

There is a version of the Nigerian economy that the banking sector has always served well. It is the economy of salaried professionals, corporate treasurers, documented collateral, and monthly pay cycles. It is the economy that fits neatly into conventional credit models, standard account structures, and the risk frameworks that Nigerian banking inherited from its colonial and post independence institutional architecture. That economy is real, and serving it matters. There is another version. It is the economy of the cooperative chairwoman in Ogun whose members pool contributions weekly. The textile…

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Gunmen Abduct Kwara Monarch, Wife in Midnight Palace Raid, Security Fears Escalate

Suspected bandits have abducted a traditional ruler, his wife and another resident during a daring midnight attack on Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The monarch, identified as Oba Salman Aweda, is reportedly among traditional rulers recently elevated by the state government. According to residents, the heavily armed assailants stormed the palace at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, firing sporadically to create panic before whisking away the monarch, his wife and a third victim to an undisclosed location. A source in the community said, “The incident…

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FirstBank Partners Ekiti State Government on Launch of Innovation Enterprise Support Fund

FirstBank, West Africa’s premier financial institution and the leading financial inclusion service provider, is proud to announce its partnership with the Ekiti State Government in launching the Innovation Enterprise Support Fund, a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower startups, scale tech-enabled businesses, and accelerate innovation-driven economic growth across the state. The programme provides funding, mentorship, and market access to high-potential enterprises, with a focus on strengthening Ekiti’s innovation ecosystem, creating jobs, and supporting youth, women, and underserved communities. Notably, at least 40 percent of the fund has been reserved for female-led…

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IMF Warns of Tough Economic Times Ahead for Nigerians Amid Rising Inflation and Fiscal Pressures

The International Monetary Fund has issued a stark warning about Nigeria’s economic outlook, cautioning that citizens may face more difficult times as the country grapples with persistent inflation, currency instability, and fiscal challenges. In its latest assessment of Nigeria’s economy, the IMF noted that while recent reforms by the Federal Government of Nigeria—including fuel subsidy removal and foreign exchange liberalisation—are steps in the right direction, they are likely to intensify short-term hardship for millions of Nigerians. The global financial institution highlighted rising food prices, high transportation costs, and weakened purchasing…

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UK-Based Nigerian Businessman Launches GAAFURA Foundation, Empowers Widows, Youths in Lagos

A United Kingdom-based Nigerian businessman, Ahmed Karim Oshodi, has launched the GAAFURA Foundation to support less privileged members of society, with a focus on widows, orphans and young people in Lagos. Oshodi, who recently visited Nigeria, marked the foundation’s debut with the distribution of food items and clothing to widows and orphans in Surulere, Lagos, as part of efforts to alleviate hardship among vulnerable groups. In addition to the humanitarian outreach, the philanthropist extended support to grassroots sports development by donating sports kits and jerseys to aspiring footballers within his…

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Fidelity Bank Extends “Give Her Power” Initiative to Ogun State, Empowers 100 Women with Vocational Tools

In a bold demonstration of its commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable development, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has extended its recently launched “Give Her Power” initiative to Ogun State, empowering 100 women with vocational tools designed to strengthen their economic independence and boost household income. The outreach is part of the Bank’s nationwide rollout of the initiative, which was unveiled earlier in March during the signing of strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with partner organisations to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day. The event, which held at the…

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Polaris Bank celebrates 58 New Hires from its flagship PGIT, PTIP as CEO charge them to Keep Learning, Keep Evolving

Polaris Bank has graduated 58 exceptional new hires from its flagship Polaris Graduate Intensive Training (PGIT) and Polaris Tech Ignite Programme (PTIP), reinforcing its commitment to building world-class talent in Nigeria. The ceremony, attended by senior leadership and invited guests, celebrated a highly selective cohort drawn from over 10,000 applicants – placing them among the top 0.58% who successfully made the cut. The milestone underscores the bank’s rigorous standards in identifying and grooming future leaders. Addressing the graduates, Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Kayode Lawal, delivered a compelling charge centered on continuous…

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