Business
Sterling Bank, LASHMA expand healthcare in Lagos with Virtual Booth
One of Africa’s fastest-growing companies and Nigeria’s leading financial institution, Sterling Bank, has joined forces with the Lagos State Government to expand the reach of its health care provision with the launch of the Ilera Eko Virtual Booth, designed to bring healthcare closer to the people and expand the reach of its health insurance scheme; Ilera Eko, across the state.
This announcement was made by Mr. Obinna Ukachukwu, Divisional Head of Business Growth at Sterling Bank, during the inaugural Lagos State Insurance Summit held in Lagos recently.
He said the bank and the Lagos State Health Management Agency; LASHMA plans to leverage technology to bring health these insurance booths to where most of the informal sector work, thus expanding the reach of healthcare services to residents of the state.
He noted that most residents earn daily pay from their trade locations, making it difficult for them to leave and go to the clinic when sick, hence the need for these first-line health services in various informal business clusters around the state. He remarked that LASHMA is very solutionleaning in its approach to healthcare distribution, hence this project became a reality.
He added that the bank will finance the building of all the booths and provide resources to aid their management. Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, delivered a keynote address at the event, urging stakeholders to align with the National Health Insurance Authority Act and ensure compliance with the Lagos State Health Scheme law.
The governor, represented by the Permanent Secretary, of Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye said, “These services include a full range of essential health services, from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. This is one of the major goals of the health and environment pillar of the T.H.E.M.E.S+ agenda, with the ‘plus’ representing the incorporation of an intensified focus on social inclusion, gender equality and youth development in these next four years.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu continued by saying that about 300 of the unveiled booths will be strategically placed, in locations across Lagos State, and virtual access to doctors will be provided using telemedicine for consultations and diagnosis, with prescriptions to be taken to the nearest community pharmacy where the medication will be dispensed.
In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, LASHMA, Dr. Emmanuella Zamba, stated that the Summit will serve as a critical platform for exchanging ideas and fostering innovation towards achieving universal healthcare coverage in the state.
Dr. Zamba expressed how the agency worked tirelessly over the last three years to create structures and operationalise the social health plan as part of strategies geared towards achieving universal healthcare
coverage.
Chairman of LASHMA Governing Board, Dr. Adebayo Adedewe remarked that establishing the Lagos State Health Scheme is a step in the right direction and an ideal model to ensure Lagosians have access to quality and affordable healthcare services.
The partnership between Sterling Bank and the Lagos State Government is a crucial step towards achieving Universal Health Coverage, ensuring essential healthcare services are accessible to all citizens, and improving the overall quality of life.
Renowned for its now famous HEART of Sterling strategy; which focuses primary investments in the Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation sectors of the Nigerian economy, its irreverent brand voice and enviable talent management practices, the bank has maintained and increased momentum in 2023 with her citation as Africa’s Most Valuable Commercial Bank Brand for 2023 by the African Brand Magazine, in a poll conducted by GeoPoll and Kantar; two of the world’s leading brand research firms, a top three employer in Nigeria by LinkedIn in the social network’s annual Top 25 List, and most recently, one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in Africa by the prestigious Financial Times.
The Kogi State Government has assured retirees that pension and gratuity payments are now processed transparently, eliminating the need for personal connections or lobbying before benefits are paid to retirees.
Director-General of the Kogi State Pension Commission, Mariam Abedo, disclosed this in an Exclusive Chat with the Special Adviser on Media, Ismaila Isah who was on a courtesy visit to her office in Lokoja.
She explained that the government has introduced a technology-driven payment system that ensures fairness and efficiency.
“Once a retiree’s documentation is complete, their payment is processed without any influence. We currently process over 200 retirees daily,” she stated.
Abedo further disclosed that the commission has significantly cleared pension arrears as the state has consistently made funds available to meet obligations of retirees.
She emphasized that transparency and accountability have improved the commission’s operations, making the payment process smoother and more reliable.
Abedo also warned retirees against falling victim to individuals who claim they can influence payments of benefits, stressing that all entitlements are processed strictly on merit.
She commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for prioritizing the welfare of pensioners and reassured retirees that payments would continue as funds are available to the commission to pay benefits to retirees in the state.
A leading African payments technology company, Flutterwave and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS have concluded collaborative discussion to digitize tax collection in Nigeria.
The collaboration is a step initiated by the FIRS to simplify tax compliance by offering multiple payment options, real-time reporting, and offline capabilities for those with limited internet access.
Meanwhile, Flutterwave CEO Olugbenga ‘GB’ Agboola stressed the firm’s commitment to ensure the using of technology to enhance efficiency, transparency, and economic growth by digitizing government tax collections.
Agboola said: “At Flutterwave, we are committed to leveraging technology to drive efficiency and economic growth. By making tax payments easier and more transparent, we are helping to digitize government collections and support national development which is in line with our mission,” he said
The partnership enables businesses and individuals to pay taxes, levies, and other statutory fees through Flutterwave’s secure and efficient digital infrastructure.
Driving transparency and accessibility
The integration introduces several enhancements, including Flutterwave’s Senior VP, Olufunmilayo Olaniyi, highlighted the importance of public sector collaboration in advancing digital payments, fostering trust, and driving innovation in Nigeria.
“Working with the public sector is pivotal to shaping the future of digital payments in Nigeria. This underscores our commitment to delivering solutions that serve Nigerians better, foster trust, and drive impactful innovation through strategic collaboration.”
What you should know
The Nigerian government has been implementing several measures to enhance tax compliance and efficiency, including digital reporting and e-invoicing systems. In line with these efforts, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) is set to pilot its “e-Invoice” platform in July 2025 to streamline invoice management and improve real-time visibility into business transactions.
Amid these regulatory shifts, Flutterwave has been strengthening its presence in Nigeria’s financial ecosystem through strategic collaborations. Beyond facilitating tax payments, the company has expanded its role in digital innovation and security. It recently partnered with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Alami to drive digital transformation and empower SMEs in the tech and creative industries.
Also in 2024, Flutterwave deepened its commitment to financial security by partnering with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish a Cybercrime Research Center at the EFCC Academy.
Fidelity Bank Plc has announced 20 new millionaires at the 2nd and 3rd monthly draws of its Get Alert in Millions Season 6 (GAIM 6) promo held at the bank corporate head office in Lagos.
The 20 lucky winners, randomly selected through an electronic draw across Lagos, North, Abuja, South-West, South-South, and South-East zones, will be rewarded with the sum of one million naira each.
Speaking at the draws, the promo Chairperson and Executive Director for Lagos and South-West, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Ken Opara represented by the Regional Bank Head, Ikoyi, Chetachi Okechukwu, noted that the GAIM 6 promo was designed to reward customers’ loyalty, encourage a savings culture, and promote financial inclusion across the country.
According to Opara, “Fidelity Bank is dedicated to the financial well-being of our customers and this commitment inspired the launch of the GAIM Promo, designed to cultivate a strong culture of savings.
“Through this promo, customers have the chance to win substantial cash prizes up to N10 million by saving and transacting with their Fidelity Bank Savings accounts. In addition to the monetary rewards, winners will receive complimentary financial advisory services to secure and grow their wealth for the future.”
The monthly draws was monitored by the representatives of relevant regulatory bodies, including the South-West Zonal Coordinator, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), Mrs. Aboluwade Margaret; and the Principal Legal Officer, Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority, Oyinkan Kusamotu.
Since the campaign launched in November 2024, Fidelity Bank has disbursed N19.75 million to 869 customers across different categories. The GAIM 6 campaign, which will run until August 2025, is set to reward lucky customers with a total of N159 million.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards; the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023; and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
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