Business
Experts unlock future work template at Stanbic IBTC Bank forum
In a rapidly changing world, more so in the digital space, finding the right models to anchor human capital development will remain a paramount determinant of corporate success. This thinking underscores the Workplace Banking Seminar’ organized by Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, a member of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, in Lagos, recently.
The seminar, with the theme, ‘The Future of Work and the Role of Human Capital’, attracted participants from both the public and private sectors, including Human Resources Managers , Financial Service Institutions, Insurers, Fintechs, Government Agencies, Regulators, Private Equity and Venture Capital firms, amongst other players from diverse fields.
In his opening comments, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Dr. Demola Sogunle, said by settling for a theme that seeks to unravel the future of work, the organization aims to prepare and equip its clientele for future success. Employee experience, just like customer experience, is imperative to drive corporate success. Therefore, workers must be sufficiently motivated, engaged and empowered, he stated.
This objective underlines the numerous stakeholder engagements organized by the Stanbic IBTC Group to provide a platform to connect with clients and avail them with information to make informed decisions. As an institution designed to meet the financial needs of customers at every phase in life, Dr. Sogunle said the group would continuously offer value propositions to move people and businesses forward.
Guest speaker, Mr. Boye Ademola, noted that the whole essence of digital application is to create intrinsic value. Any technology that does not generate value is worthless. Besides, value cannot be created without commensurate talent.
Mr. Ademola, who is Partner & Lead for Digital Transformation Technology at KPMG, stated that the future of work has three crucial dimensions: workforce, workspace and work culture. These three elements are critical to attract the millennials, who would constitute the bulk of the future workforce. Nigeria for instance, has over 90 million of its population under 30 years of age and as the population increases, they would naturally trigger change. Already, the average age of millennial CEOs is in the 30s. In meeting the demands of the future, there is the need for a paradigm shift from today’s work structure. Critical factors to drive this change include focus on value creation, agility, co-creation, co-option of millennials and appropriate operating models.
The session also had a panel discussion that featured Usen Udoh, Group Chief, Human Resources, Dangote Group; Alero Onosode, General Manager, Human Resources, Seplat Petroleum Plc; Abudullahi Jubril Saba, Human Resources Director, IHS Towers; Country Head, Human Capital,Stanbic IBTC, Olufunke Amobi; and Boye Ademola. They highlighted other factors pivotal to the future of work as education, mining ecosystems, life-long learning, breaking of hierarchies and silos, challenging leadership and unrelenting value creation.
Another highlight of the event was the question and answer session which was very interactive and engaging. Major talking points included creating an engaged workforce by fusing learning and talent management, using technology to leapfrog, ensuring inclusion, participation in activities and initiatives as well as using meritocracy as a yardstick for appraisal.
The ‘Workplace Banking Seminar’, now in its fourth edition, comes on the heels of the Bank’s hugely successful financial planning sessions forEnterprises. The seminar hosts HR Heads drawn from various sectors and focuses on topical HR issues with a view to equipping the audience with vital skills and knowledge aimed at impacting Employee/Business efficiency, productivity, profitability, continuity, growth and sustainability.
Head, Personal Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Nkolika Okoli, said the Bank is constantly trying to add value, which goes beyond providing banking services to its customers. By looking at the whole spectrum of financial literacy drawn from the Stanbic IBTC Group expertise, Ms. Okoli stated that Stanbic IBTC Personal Banking business aims to equip Individuals with the knowledge required to attain financial freedom before retirement.
Executive Director, Personal & Business Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank PLC, Mr. Babatunde Macaulay, who gave the vote of thanks, said as a member of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets and earnings, Stanbic IBTC will continue to leverage on the 155-year experience, expertise and strong financial clout of the mother brand to deliver superior sustainable shareholder value by meeting the needs of its clientele. “Our main goal is to continue to render best-in-class service to our customers who cut right across Nigeria’s socio-economic spectrum and play a leading role in supporting individuals, businesses and the Nigerian economy,”
Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, a member of Standard Bank Group, is a full service financial services group with a clear focus on three main business pillars – Corporate and Investment Banking, Personal and Business Banking and Wealth Management. Standard Bank Group is the largest African bank by assets and market capitalization. It is rooted in Africa with strategic representation in 20 countries on the African continent. Standard Bank has been in operation for over 155 years and is focused on building first-class, on-the-ground financial services institutions in chosen countries in Africa; and connecting selected emerging markets to Africa by applying sector expertise, particularly in natural resources, power and infrastructure.
Precision and Heritage: How Fifi Stitches Is Rewriting African Fashion Narratives
A Nigerian-born designer is gradually carving out a cross-continental footprint in contemporary fashion, blending African textile heritage with British technical discipline.
Esther Fiyinfoluwa Adeosun, Founder and Creative Director of Fifi Stitches, is gaining recognition for structured womenswear and bridal couture that reinterprets traditional fabrics through architectural tailoring and precision construction.
Born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Adeosun’s fashion journey began at home, seated beside her mother’s sewing machine. What started as childhood curiosity, sometimes jamming the machine just to understand its mechanics—evolved into a disciplined design practice now operating between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
During an interview with journalists the fifi Stitches once mentioned “I was fascinated by how flat fabric could transform into something structured and meaningful”.
In her Story , early designs made for her family, though imperfectly finished, were worn with pride—an encouragement that laid the foundation for her professional confidence.
Today, Fifi Stitches is recognised for sculpted bodices, controlled tailoring, corsetry construction, and the contemporary reinterpretation of Ankara, Aso Oke, and Adire textiles.
The brand challenges the long-held perception that African fabrics belong solely in ceremonial contexts, instead positioning them within global luxury and modern design spaces.
Adeosun’s training reflects this dual perspective. She studied Fashion Design and Entrepreneurship at the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, and earned a Diploma in Fashion Design through Alison Online.
In the UK, she undertook industry-focused technical training with Fashion-Enter Ltd and gained fashion business exposure through Fashion Capital UK.
Her technical expertise spans pattern drafting, draping, garment technology, structured tailoring, corsetry, and bespoke fittings—skills she describes as central to credibility in fashion. “Precision builds trust,” she says. “A designer must understand construction as deeply as creativity.”
Fifi Stitches has showcased collections at the Suffolk Fashion Show, Liverpool Fashion Show – FB Fashion Ball, Red Carpet Fashion Event in London, and through editorial features in London Runway Magazine.
The brand has also received coverage in The Guardian Nigeria and Vanguard Allure, expanding its visibility across markets.
Beyond couture, Adeosun integrates community impact into her practice.
She has facilitated garment construction workshops, draping sessions, and introductory training programmes for women and emerging creatives, promoting fashion as both artistic expression and vocational empowerment.
Fifi Stcithes Boss operates between Nigeria and the UK, in order to continue to shape her brand identity.
According to her “Nigeria provides cultural richness and expressive textile traditions, while the UK offers structured production systems, sustainability conversations, and institutional frameworks”.
Looking ahead, Adeosun said she plan to establish a fully structured fashion house spanning Africa and the UK, develop scalable production partnerships, launch capsule collections, and expand independent editorial visibility.
Her broader ambition is clear: to position African textile craftsmanship within global contemporary design conversations—through structure, discipline, and technical excellence.
GTCO Launches “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, Opens Call for Applications
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the launch of “Take on Squad” Hackathon 3.0, reaffirming its commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.
Now in its third edition, the Hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion. Under the theme “Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy,” participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.
Applications are now open, and interested teams can find full guidelines and registration details on the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.
Speaking on the initiative, Eduophon Japhet, Managing Director of HabariPay, stated: “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve. Through “Take on Squad” Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future. Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact. This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress.”
The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.
Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.
About HabariPay
HabariPay Ltd is the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO), one of the largest financial services institutions in Africa with direct and indirect investments in a network of operating entities located in 10 countries across Africa and the United Kingdom.
Licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), our goal is to support SMEs, micro merchants, large corporations and other fintechs (Tech Stars) with the tools they need to thrive in an evolving digital economy and expand beyond their current market reach. HabariPay’s solutions include Squad, a full-scale digital payments toolkit to make in-person and online payments simpler, HabariPay Storefront, an e-commerce website to facilitate online purchases, Value-Added Services to help merchants access cost-effective and flexible airtime and data bundles to run their businesses, as well as a switching infrastructure that enables tech-focused businesses to optimise cost and make transactions more efficient.
HabariPay’s contributions to Accelerating Digital Acceptance in Africa have not gone unnoticed–it received Mastercard’s Innovative Mobile Payment Solution Award at TIA 2022 for its innovative payment solution, SquadPOS.
About Squad
Squad is a complete digital payments solution that is reliable, secure, and affordable, making receiving in-person and online payments simpler and convenient.
Thousands of merchants currently leverage Squad’s payment solutions for their daily business operations. Squad’s current products and service offerings include SquadPOS, Squad Payment Links, Squad Virtual Accounts, USSD, and E-Commerce Storefront.
Find out more at www.squadco.com.
Electric 8-Seater Tula Moto Keke Enters Nigerian Market, Targets Higher Operator Earnings
LAGOS — A new electric-powered tricycle with an expanded passenger capacity has been introduced into Nigeria’s urban transport sector, offering operators a potentially more profitable and eco-friendly alternative to conventional petrol-driven “keke.”
The newly launched 8-seater electric tricycle, now available in Lagos with plans for nationwide distribution, features a dual-row seating arrangement capable of accommodating up to eight passengers per trip—significantly higher than the standard three-passenger configuration common across the country.
Promoters of the innovation say the increased capacity is designed to boost daily earnings for operators, particularly amid persistent fluctuations in fuel prices. By running entirely on electric power, the vehicle eliminates dependence on petrol, reducing operating costs and shielding drivers from fuel price volatility.
According to the distributors, the tricycle is equipped with a durable battery system capable of covering extended distances on a single charge, making it suitable for commercial operations across high-traffic routes, residential estates, campuses, and marketplaces.
“The concept is straightforward—enable drivers to earn more while spending less,” a company representative stated. “With higher passenger capacity and zero fuel requirements, operators can maximise each trip without the burden of daily fuel expenses.”
Beyond its cost-saving potential, the electric keke is also said to require less maintenance than traditional models, offering additional long-term savings. Its quieter and smoother operation is expected to enhance passenger comfort and overall commuting experience.
Industry analysts note that the introduction of electric mobility solutions reflects a growing shift toward cleaner and more sustainable transportation alternatives in Nigeria, particularly in densely populated urban centres such as Lagos.
The distributors added that the product is currently available under a limited promotional offer, with delivery options across the country.
For inquiries and purchase: 📞 08153432071
📞 08035889103
Office Address:
📍 Plot 9, Block 113, Beulah Plaza,
Lekki–Epe Expressway,
Lekki Phase 1, Lagos
As transportation costs continue to rise and environmental concerns gain prominence, innovations like the electric 8-seater keke may signal an emerging transition toward more efficient and sustainable mobility solutions nationwide.
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