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Fidelity Restates Support To Small Business As Enugu First Lady, ABCON Commend Bank Fidelity Restates Support To Small Business As Enugu First Lady, ABCON Commend Bank 

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Fidelity Bank to boost Schools’ Profitability with Value-adding Products

Fidelity Bank Plc, top Nigerian lender has reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the productivity and prosperity of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country by providing capacity building and advisory services, innovative funding options and other forms of relevant support that would significantly improve their overall contributions to national development. 

 

 

Fidelity CEO, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe gave the assurance at the Fidelity SME National Capacity Building Webinar organized by the bank for entrepreneurs in Enugu State, in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry of Trade and Commerce and the Enugu SME Centre; Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN); Nigeria Association of Small & Medium Enterprises (NASME) and Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA).

 

 

The webinar which will take place across the country on a state-by-state basis, is part of concerted efforts to assist entrepreneurs across all sectors of the Nigerian economy develop requisite capacity to unlock their full potentials and take their businesses to the next level of growth.

Mrs. Onyeali-Ikpe who during her remarks on Wednesday provided insights into the bank’s unique approach to managing MSMEs, pointed out that SMEs which are businesses with less than N100m annual turnover contribute about 48% of national GDP, account for 96% of businesses and 84% of employment in Nigeria. She noted that despite the significant contribution of SMEs to the Nigerian economy, challenges still persist that hinder the growth and development of the sector. Chief among these are funding, lack of infrastructure, poor management, low entrepreneurial skills, improper planning, poor digital skills, etc. The Fidelity CEO however noted that the webinar seeks to proffer appropriate solutions to these challenges in a very practicable manner.

“We have a dedicated SME Desk with innovative products and services to assist your business. Fidelity Bank, in partnership with various private and public institutions provides funding, business advisory services for all our customers. This webinar is an excellent opportunity to network, share information and deepen the SME sector in Enugu State”, she explained.

Themed “Funding and Financial Management”, the Enugu Edition had in attendance special guests including Mrs. Monica Ugwuanyi, First Lady, Enugu State, Sir Robert O. Anwatu, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Roban Stores, and Mr. Chiedozie Atuegwu, Director, Michelle Laboratories Limited, amongst others.

In her remarks, Mrs. Ugwuanyi applauded the bank for its unrelenting support for MSMEs in Enugu State, stating that the Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi-led administration remained at the forefront of SME development in Nigeria as exemplified by its continuous investments in infrastructure deployment and provision of labor policy frameworks to further encourage investments.

Speaking in the same vein, President, Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) (ABCON) Dr. Aminu Gwadabe commended the bank for its sustained efforts at promoting MSMEs nationwide. Gwadabe noted that the bank had been very supportive to its 5,000 licensed members nationwide. “The Bureau De Change (BDC) does about N1.4trillion per annum. Fidelity Bank controls 60 percent of these transactions in the country”, he explained.

Whilst shedding light on the dynamics of the Bureau De Change sector, Dr, Gwadabe revealed that exchange rate stability was determined by the country’s SME structure. Given the immense potentials inherent in the nation’s MSME space, he said that the fledgling sector, if properly positioned, could assist the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) achieve its mandate on exchange rate stability.

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CNG CAMPUS: 20 Federal Tertiary Institutions to Get CNG Conversion Centres and Refuelling Stations

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CNG CAMPUS: 20 Federal Tertiary Institutions to Get CNG Conversion Centres and Refuelling Stations
…6 to be Fully Operational by May 2025

 

In alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to affordable, clean, and sustainable energy, the Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF), in collaboration with Femadec Energy, is set to establish Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres and refuelling stations across 20 federal tertiary institutions nationwide.

 

The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Morufu Olatunji Alausa, recently convened a meeting with Vice-Chancellors and executives from Femadec Energy, MDGIF, and the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (PCNGI) to finalise project details and ensure timely implementation.

Dr. Alausa emphasized the project’s significance: “This initiative not only aims to reduce transportation costs for our students and lecturers but also represents a pivotal step towards integrating clean energy solutions within our educational institutions.”

Echoing this sentiment, a representative from Femadec Energy stated: “Our collaboration with MDGIF and the federal institutions underscores our dedication to promoting sustainable energy. By introducing CNG infrastructure, we aim to provide cost-effective and environmentally friendly transportation options, fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability among the academic community.”

This project is designed to alleviate the high transportation costs faced by students and lecturers. It aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to leverage Nigeria’s abundant natural gas resources for cleaner, cheaper, and more sustainable transportation.

Six institutions are slated to have fully operational CNG facilities by May 29, 2025, demonstrating immediate impacts and paving the way for broader adoption nationwide.

#RenewedHope #CNGRevolution #CleanEnergy #SustainableTransportation #AffordableEnergy #GreenCampus

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Cyberpedia Internet Governance, Presidential Office of Digital Engagement & Strategy partner to Pioneer AI-Driven Civic Dialogue Initiative

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Cyberpedia Internet Governance, Presidential Office of Digital Engagement & Strategy partner to Pioneer AI-Driven Civic Dialogue Initiative

 

Abuja, Nigeria – The Presidential Office of Digital Engagement and Strategy (PODES), under the leadership of Senior Special Assistant to the President, Otega Ogra, has entered into a partnership with Cyberpedia Internet Governance—an African Artificial Intelligence, Data & Cybersecurity corporation—to reimagine civic communication in Nigeria.

This groundbreaking collaboration, announced ahead of Cyberpedia President Abiodun Sowemimo’s keynote at the global Cloudfest conference in Frankfurt, Germany, aims to strengthen the government’s digital resilience by equipping citizens with innovative tools to identify and counter misinformation in real-time.

Addressing the challenges posed by disinformation, misinformation, and fractured digital attention, the partnership is built upon two core pillars, including Mapping Public Sentiment by Utilizing Artificial Intelligence to capture real-time insights across Nigeria’s diverse linguistic and cultural landscape, where over 400 languages create complexities in centralised messaging, and Grassroots Empowerment with would include Collaborating with local influencers, content creators, community leaders, and cultural ambassadors to co-develop relatable, engaging content that promotes clarity and national values, combats misinformation and fosters constructive dialogue among citizens.

“This initiative is not about controlling the narrative—it’s about equipping Nigerians with the tools to lead their own informed conversations,” noted Otega Ogra. “In an age of digital disruption, trust is the ultimate currency. Our goal is to build transparency by empowering Nigerians directly, meeting them on platforms where they already engage, debate, and form opinions.”

Cyberpedia Internet Governance’s President, Abiodun Sowemimo, described the collaboration as an innovative model for governance in a disrupted digital era. “This initiative goes beyond Nigeria,” Sowemimo emphasised. “It is about demonstrating how democracies can harness technology ethically, ensuring greater citizen participation without compromising democratic principles.”

Still in its early stages, the partnership will prioritise digital literacy initiatives designed to equip citizens with tools to identify and counter disinformation proactively. Planned initiatives include interactive mobile applications and gamified educational experiences to help citizens recognise manipulated content, fake news, and deepfake technology.

This groundbreaking initiative comes at a critical time as democracies worldwide grapple with misinformation amplified by emerging technologies. Nigeria, home to a vibrant digital landscape and one of the continent’s youngest populations is uniquely positioned to pioneer scalable solutions and set new standards for digital engagement and public trust globally.

PODES and Cyberpedia will unveil additional details of the partnership’s initiatives in the coming months. Sowemimo will formally introduce the initiative later this week at Cloudfest in Frankfurt, Germany, home to the largest gathering of internet infrastructure industry with over 9,000 leaders in the tech ecosystem globally, highlighting Nigeria’s commitment to innovation-driven civic engagement on the global stage.

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ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

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ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

 

 

ASR Africa emerges the Corporate Social Responsibility Champion of the Year at the Independent Awards 2024 in Lagos recently. Dr Ubon Udoh, the MD/CEO of ASR Africa, represented the Chairman, Abdul Samad Rabiu (CFR, CON) at the event to receive the award on his behalf.

 

ASR AFRICA EMERGES WINNER OF THE CSR CHAMPION OF THE YEAR AWARD AT THE 2024 INDEPENDENT AWARDS

 

 

Dr. Ubon Udoh thanked the organisers of the Award for recognizing the immense contributions of Abdul Samad Rabiu in creating sustainable homegrown solutions in Nigeria and Africa at large, in the area of health, education, mentorship and social development. He noted that the award, no doubt, will serve as an impetus for ASR Africa to continue to do more.

 

ASR Africa is an initiative of one of Africa’s biggest philanthropists and serial entrepreneurs, Abdul Samad Rabiu, Founder & Executive Chairman, BUA Group. At the heart of our mission lies a deep-rooted commitment to fostering substantial progress across the African continent through focused investments in education, health, and social development sectors.

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