*FBNQUEST: Nestoil and Neconde are not under any receivership

The purported publication that Nestoil and Neconde are under Receivership is blatantly false and an attempt to prejudice on going pending suit between First Bank Trustees and FBNQuest Merchant against Nestoil and others.

It is pertinent to note that an ex-parte application by plaintiffs for judicial recognition of their purported Receiver manager was refused. Further more all issues requesting Judicial recognition in the substantive suit by the plaintiffs on behalf of the secondary lender Banks led by First Bank are still pending for hearing at the Federal High Court Ikoyi Lagos.

Consequently any publication that Nestoil and Neconde are under Receivership is totally false ,prejucial and contempt of court.

An inchoate Receiver Manager appointment with out recognition by the court as in this case has no powers to seize the defendants assets including freezing of its accounts and that of its Directors.

The plaintiffs and its purported Receiver manager can not blow hot and cold at the same time.Nigeria law forbids self help.

The plaintiffs having gone to court,they should as lawful citizens await final determination of their suits for judicial recognition of the Receiver ship amongst other reliefs.

ZENITH BANK CELEBRATES TECH EXCELLENCE, REWARDS HACKATHON WINNERS WITH ₦140 MILLION AT TECH FAIR 5.0

Zenith Bank Plc has rewarded ten African innovators with a total of ₦140 million in cash prizes following a highly competitive Hackathon and Startup Pitch Competition at the 5th Edition of the Zenith Tech Fair, themed “Future Forward 5.0: Tech for Success – Innovate, Adapt, Accelerate.”
The event held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

This year’s Tech Fair, which attracted thousands of developers, founders, and entrepreneurs from across Africa, featured a dual-competition format comprising a high-stakes Hackathon for product builders and a Startup Pitch Competition for early-stage ventures.

From over 2,000 applicants in the Zecathon, ten finalists emerged and shared the ₦140 million prize pool. Two standout winners—the champions of each category—received ₦30 million each:

Trust Loop — Winner, Hackathon category, for its seamless digital KYC and liveness verification solution.

Cubbes Technologies Limited — Winner, Startup Pitch Competition, for its AI-powered EdTech platform designed to enhance learning and career readiness.

The remaining eight finalists—Venille Ltd, Sowota, FLOW, InvoPay, Zenith Intelliscore, The Very Hacked Men, Konfam, and Zerax—each received ₦10 million in non-dilutive funding. All ten teams will also undergo a six-week mentorship and incubation programme from December 2025 to February 2026.

Leadership Voices: A Future Built on Tech

In her welcome address, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank, praised the visionary leadership of the bank’s Founder and Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, whose foresight birthed the Zenith Tech Fair.

Reflecting on the year’s theme, she noted:

> “The next technological breakthrough will not take a lifetime… and it could come from anyone in this room today. We stand ready to support you to turn your ideas into reality.”

Delivering his goodwill message, Jim Ovia reaffirmed the bank’s long-term commitment to nurturing African tech talent:

> “My vision is to empower the youth through technology—with the hope that one day we will produce the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Jeff Bezos.”

Also speaking, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu emphasized the urgent need for youth-focused tech initiatives:

> “By 2050, half of the world’s youth will be in Africa—and many will be in Lagos. We must give them opportunities and space to fly.”

A Gathering of Global Minds

The 2025 Tech Fair showcased cutting-edge innovations across Generative AI, Agentic AI, and Cloud Computing, with keynote sessions delivered by:

Sitoyo Lopokoiyit, MD, M-PESA Africa

Jonas Kjellberg, Co-creator, Skype

Dr. Shivagami Gugan, Chief Technologist, AWS (Middle East, Turkey & Africa)

Goodwill messages also came from Dr. Vincent Olatunji, National Commissioner of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission, and Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State, represented by the State Head of Service, Mr. Abubakar Sadiq Idris.

The fair featured exclusive masterclasses led by global giants such as McKinsey & Company, Huawei, Check Point, and Microsoft, covering cybersecurity, cloud technologies, and emerging digital disruptions.

Additional highlights included engaging panel sessions moderated by CNN Anchor Zain Asher, with distinguished tech ecosystem leaders including Adaora Nwodo, Aisha Tofa, Dr. Stanley Jacob, Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Gary Fowler, and Bradwin Roper.

A vibrant musical performance by Nigerian artist Spyro added colour to the event.

A Legacy of Excellence

Zenith Bank continues to consolidate its reputation as a powerhouse in African banking, with multiple prestigious awards in 2025 alone—including:

Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital (16th consecutive year) — The Banker

Nigeria’s Best Bank—Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025

Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria—World Finance Banking Awards (2021–2025)

Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria—International Banker Awards (2023 & 2024)

Other recognitions include accolades from BusinessDay BAFI Awards, Global Finance, Ethical Boardroom, ThisDay, New Telegraph, and Nairametrics, solidifying Zenith Bank’s leadership in governance, innovation, retail banking, and sustainability.

Smoothwave Unveils Taxizi: Nigeria’s First All-in-One Tax Calculator App, for Easy, Smart Compliance

In a bold move to simplify Nigeria’s complex tax system, Smoothwave Entertainment Ltd, a Nigerian-based media and technology company, has launched Taxizi, a mobile application designed to make tax calculation and compliance effortless for Individuals, Musicians, Producers, Freelancers, Content creators, youtubers, Lawyers and businesses alike.

The app is available on both the IOS app store, https://apps.apple.com/ee/app/taxizi/id6754260086 , Android Playstore
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.taxizi.app , and web platforms, it empowers users to instantly calculate taxes such as PAYE, VAT, Corporate Income Tax (CIT), and Withholding Tax (WHT) using official data from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

According to Mr. Kevin David Ichekor, the Chief Operating Officer and Creative Director of Smoothwave, the project represents the company’s growing focus on innovative tech solutions that solve real-Nigeria problems.

“Tax reforms and tax compliance are pretty vague and new ideas to the Nigerian populace, our goal with Taxizi is to bring transparency, simplicity, and accessibility to tax compliance,” said Kevin David Ichekor.

“We wanted to create a tool that allows Nigerians—from employees to small business owners—to understand their tax obligations without the confusion or fear that often surrounds the process.”

The app was developed by Smoothwave’s in-house IT team, led by Mr. Michael Olaleye, whose technical expertise helped translate Nigeria’s complex tax structure into an easy-to-use mobile experience.

Making Tax Simple for Every Nigerian
Taxizi’s design is sleek and intuitive. Users can input their income details, allowances, and deductibles, and the app instantly generates a detailed tax breakdown. It also supports functionalities such as Tax Identification Number (TIN) verification and a direct in-app tax payments, features that the company says is “coming soon.”

Beyond its calculator, Taxizi is also a tool for empowerment. In a country where tax literacy remains low and compliance inconsistent, the app helps bridge the gap between taxpayers and government systems, mind you, Taxizi Is not a tool for filing taxes but a real time Tax calculator and possible payment innovation.

“We believe that by making tax easier to understand, we are helping to build a stronger, more accountable economy,” Olaleye noted.

Driving Digital Inclusion in Nigeria’s Tax Ecosystem

Industry observers have hailed the app as a timely innovation that could boost Nigeria’s digital tax adoption drive. With FIRS intensifying efforts to modernize tax collection through the newly introduced TAX reforms, Taxizi offers a locally developed solution that speaks directly to the realities of Nigerian users.

Available at www.taxizi.ng, the app carries the tagline “Calculate. Pay. Build the Economy.” — a fitting summary of its mission.
https://www.youtube.com/@Taxizi

A Glimpse into the Future

While the app currently functions as a tax calculator, Smoothwave’s roadmap includes integrating secure payment options, official API connections with tax authorities, and tools for corporate reporting and a possible TIN and TID generation tool.

As Mr. Kevin David Ichekor puts it, “Taxizi is not just an app—it’s the beginning of a movement to make civic responsibility digital, simple, and smart.”

With its fusion of technology and financial education, Taxizi could well become Nigeria’s most important tax companion in the digital era.

https://www.youtube.com/@Taxizi