Business Archives

FirstBank Integrates PAPSS into LIT App to Enable Instant Cross-Border Payments Across Africa

Oct 24, 2025 topnews

FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is thrilled to announce the successful integration of the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) into its flagship digital banking platform, the LIT app, enabling customers to make instant, secure, and local currency-based cross-border payments across Africa. PAPSS, developed by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union and the AfCFTA Secretariat, enables instant, low-cost payments in local currencies between African countries. Speaking on the integration, the Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products…

LASAA hosts legislative delegation, vows continued commitment to visual order, safety

Oct 22, 2025 topnews

The Lagos State Signage and Advertisement Agency (LASAA) recently welcomed a high-powered delegation from the house committee on environment of the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by its Chairman, Honourable Shabi Rasheed Adekola. The visit served as a statutory oversight function, providing a critical platform for detailed engagement on the agency’s performance and regulatory adherence. The LASAA management team, headed by the Managing Director/CEO, Prince Fatiu Akiolu, engaged the Committee in extensive discussions that spanned the agency’s activities, its performance metrics and compliance with regulatory responsibilities. The meeting fostered…

Sterling Bank Leads Africa’s Green Revolution with Agriculture Summit Africa 2025

Oct 21, 2025 topnews

Africa’s agricultural rebirth gathers momentum as Agriculture Summit Africa (ASA) 2025, the continent’s foremost platform for advancing sustainable and inclusive agricultural transformation, returns under the bold theme ‘Survival of the Greenest: Reclaiming Africa’s Food Destiny’. Scheduled for November 6–7, 2025, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, ASA 2025 is set to spotlight financing pathways to drive sustainable growth in the agricultural sector. Now in its eighth year and convened by Sterling Bank, the summit will bring together policymakers, agribusiness leaders, investors, and innovators from across Africa and beyond to explore innovative…

IMF Excludes Nigeria from Africa’s Fastest-Growing Economies

Oct 17, 2025Oct 17, 2025 topnews

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has left Nigeria out of its list of Africa’s fastest-growing economies, naming Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Uganda as the continent’s top performers. IMF’s African Department Director, Abebe Selassie, announced this during the presentation of the Fund’s latest Regional Economic Outlook for Sub-Saharan Africa on Thursday. He attributed the strong performance of the five countries to fiscal reforms, improved governance, and rising investment in infrastructure and manufacturing. According to the IMF, growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to stabilise at 4.1 per cent in…

CBN Governor, Banks summoned Over Unauthorised Customer Deductions

Oct 16, 2025 topnews

The House of Representatives has summoned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and top commercial banks to explain the growing incidents of arbitrary and unexplained deductions from customers’ accounts nationwide. The decision followed a motion of urgent national importance raised by Hon. Tolani Shagaya (APC, Kwara) during Tuesday’s plenary session. Shagaya expressed worry over what he described as “persistent, arbitrary, and unexplained charges” imposed by banks despite the CBN’s existing guidelines on service fees. He lamented that, rather than offering transparent and fair banking services, many financial institutions continue to…

Fidelity Bags awards for Best Export and Trade Support and Innovation

Oct 14, 2025 topnews

Fidelity Bank’s market leadership has been affirmed once again as the tier-one lender bagged double honours at the BusinessDay Bank and Other Financial Institutions’(BAFI) Awards 2025. At the awards ceremony, which was held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos on Saturday, 11 October 2025, Fidelity Bank was presented with the awards for the “Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance” and “Most Innovative Bank of the Year”. Dedicating the Export and Trade Finance Award to its customers, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka…

Waves of Innovation: How First Bank turned Lagos into Africa’s Electric Playground

Oct 13, 2025Oct 13, 2025 topnews

By Kazeem Ugbodaga The Lagos Lagoon glistened in shades of blue and gold as electric powerboats sliced through the water, cheered on by an ecstatic crowd that lined Victoria Island’s waterfront from Saturday, 3 October to Sunday, 5 October. For two unforgettable days, Lagos became Africa’s capital of clean energy, glamour, and innovation, all powered by First Bank of Nigeria, the sponsor of the continent’s first-ever E1 Lagos Grand Prix. From the rhythmic sounds of Afrobeats echoing across the Marina to the sight of sleek, futuristic boats gliding silently on…

Boutique Owner Arrested at Kano Airport After Excreting 127 Wraps of Cocaine

Oct 13, 2025 topnews

A boutique owner, identified as Godwin Emeka, has been arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, after he allegedly excreted 127 wraps of cocaine. According to NDLEA sources, Emeka was intercepted during the outward clearance of passengers on a flight to Doha, Qatar, when his behavior raised suspicion. He was subsequently taken in for observation, during which he reportedly excreted the cocaine pellets over a period of several hours. Investigators said the suspect, who claimed to own…

Vegetarian meal: Qatar Airways Faces Lawsuit Over Passenger’s Death

Oct 10, 2025Oct 10, 2025 topnews

Qatar Airways is facing a wrongful death lawsuit after an 85-year-old passenger, Dr. Asoka Jayaweera, reportedly died following a choking incident on board one of its flights. According to court filings in California, the retired cardiologist and lifelong vegetarian had pre-ordered a vegetarian meal for his long-haul flight from Los Angeles to Colombo, Sri Lanka, with a stopover in Doha. However, the lawsuit claims the airline failed to provide the requested meal and instead offered him a standard dish containing meat, instructing him to “eat around” it. While attempting to…

Former UK Envoy, Dr. Christopher Kolade, Dies at 93

Oct 10, 2025 topnews

Renowned broadcaster, diplomat, and corporate leader, Dr. Christopher Kolade, has died at the age of 93. Kolade, who served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, passed away on Tuesday, October 8, 2025, after a distinguished career spanning broadcasting, business, academia, and public service. Born on December 28, 1932, in Erin-Oke, Osun State, Kolade began his career in broadcasting and rose to become Director-General of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). He later joined Cadbury Nigeria Plc, where he served as Chief Executive and subsequently Chairman of the Board. A…