Business
Jesam Michael Of Afriq Arbitrage System Bags NASRE’S CEO of The Year
Jesam Michael Of Afriq Arbitrage System Bags NASRE’S CEO of The Year
Jesam Michael, the Chief Executive Officer of Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS), has been awarded the ‘Fintech CEO of the Year’ by the Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors, NASRE, while his company, AAS, picked the ‘Most Secure and Reliable Fintech Company of the Year 2023.’
Additionally, Jesam Michael was honoured as the patron of the association.
The awards presentation and decoration were held on Thursday, 25th of January, 2024, at the Lagos headquarters of the company with top members of the AAS community, traditional rulers, and veteran media practitioners in attendance.
The awards and decoration, according to the association’s president, President, Femi Oyewale , was in acknowledgment of Jesam Michael’s giant strides in financial technology, his efforts to support the Nigerian government in alleviating poverty, his innovations that are geared towards national development, among many others.
The association explained that Jesam Michael was selected after a meticulous study of his works, which put him in the position of an enigma that deserves to be honoured. Micheal was applauded by the association for reducing unemployment and driving federal government policies on financial inclusion.
‘’There are people who are innovating and making giant strides in a manner that makes Nigeria worthy of competing with other nations in the world, Jesam Micheal is unarguably one of them. We are here to honour a man who deserves to be honoured. He is defeating unemployment, and this is not about giving him honour alone, What we are doing today is to encourage him to continue what he is doing.’’
‘’Jesam Micheal is driving federal government policies on financial inclusion and all he needs is our encouragement so that in years to come, Nigeria will have individuals in this country that will be recognized worldwide playing their roles in different sectors.’’
‘’As an association, we fight what is bad and promote what is good. AAS has to be sustained, and we will always be behind you as you continue to put Nigeria on the map for good.’’
In his acceptance speech, Jesam Micheal appreciated the association for honouring him with their presence and awards. He expressed joy while underscoring the weight of the awards and decoration, making it known that they are the reasons he accepted to be part of the Nigerian association of online social and resourceful editors.
’’My happiness and joy goes to these awards, I am happy and glad this is coming at the right time. We never lobbied for it. We never ran for it, I have about 32 awards on the line, but I selected this due to the calibre of people that belong to this association.’’
‘’From the depth of my heart, I am happy for this award because it’s not just coming from a group of members that came up to talk but the caliber of people in the association are mind blowing. ‘’
He stated that his decision to build technology was borne out of the need to support the government instead of joining the crowd to fault them.
‘’You don’t fight the government, but you use tech to help the government. Most of them don’t know what to do, so if you know what to do to help them, build tech. You don’t call them names or fight them, build tech.’’
Speaking on how he has been able to scale through all these years, Jesam Micheal explained that his focus has kept him going and that despite the challenges; he remained resilient. He shared with well-wishers how he has been able to build AAS into a system that runs in milliseconds for the first time in history.
‘’I have seen gladiators who fought tooth and nail to bring me down, but I keep telling them my hands are clean, and there’s nothing that can be done to bring me down. When they say what I am doing won’t see the light of the day, I tell them to go to bed because when they wake, I will be far gone.’’
‘’I also want to say that whatsoever you are doing, you need to close your ear not to hear, eyes not to see, and mouth not to talk but before this, your mind is focused towards what you want to do.’’
‘’When I shared my dream, they said it wouldn’t work, but before they knew it, AAS was already built into a system that runs in milliseconds for the first time. Everything, including transactions and payments, is done in milliseconds. We had challenges, even internal challenges, and they thought we had crashed, but it worked.’’
Continuing, Jesam Micheal shared the several innovative techniques of Afriq Arbitrage System (AAS) and other revolutionary plans of the company, which are all geared towards national development.
‘’For the first time in the history of the world, a system called Token has been built and is currently going through testing. We went in and changed disadvantages to advantages. We have built one of the biggest e-commerce platforms whereby anywhere you are in the world, you can order any gadget in the Apple family and get it delivered to you. Very soon, you will be using our platform to recharge electricity here, You will soon be using our platform to recharge cards and many more. We have also come up with a digital solar powered estate whereby you can monitor your property wherever you are because it is 100% digital.’’
ABOUT Nigerian Association Of Social And Resourceful Editors (NASRE)
The Nigerian Association of Social and Resourceful Editors is a dynamic assembly of media professionals encompassing a diverse range of industries. Headquartered in Lagos, this burgeoning association comprises media entrepreneurs who are actively engaged in print, broadcast, and digital platforms. The association serves as a vibrant hub where professionals from various sectors converge, fostering collaboration and synergy among individuals dedicated to the evolution and advancement of media in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar
In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.
The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.
With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.
Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19
It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.
Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.
GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.
In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.
For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.
Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”
Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.
With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.
About HabariPay
HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:
GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com
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