Business
Union Bank partners with Women’s World Banking and TGI Group to implement ‘Digital Supplier Credit’ Solution

In line with its commitment to enabling success for its customers, Union Bank has partnered with its parent company, TGI Group and Women’s World Banking, to introduce the ‘Digital Supplier Credit’ solution under its women’s banking proposition, αlpher.

The ‘Digital Supplier Credit’ solution is designed to address the financial needs of women-led small businesses in urban centres in Nigeria centres and provide access to credit for stock sustenance, replenishment, and progressive growth, along established supply lines from Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) companies.

Leveraging behavioural science and the Women’s Centred Design methodology and backed by the London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG) Foundation, this initiative aims to co-create a sustainable and scalable solution that will significantly enhance access to financial services for women entrepreneurs.
Women’s World Banking is a renowned global organisation specialising in designing and investing in financial solutions, institutions, and policy environments within emerging markets.
Their focus on creating economic stability and prosperity for women, their families, and communities aligns perfectly with the objectives of the ‘Digital Supplier Credit’ solution. With an extensive network spanning 34 countries, serving more than 160 million women clients through 69 financial services providers, Women’s World Banking has consistently driven impact through scalable, market-driven solutions, gender lens private equity funds, and leadership and diversity programs.
Speaking about the partnership, Vivian Imoh-Ita, Head of Retail Banking and Digital at Union Bank, said: “We are delighted to partner with Women’s World Banking and our parent company TGI Group to launch the ‘Digital Supplier Credit’ solution.
“Our commitment to empowering women-led businesses remains unwavering, and we believe this initiative will have a transformative impact on the entrepreneurial landscape in urban centres.
Through this collaboration, we aim to foster financial inclusion and catalyse sustainable growth for women entrepreneurs.”
Also commenting on the partnership, Ade Ashaye, Regional Head of Africa, Women’s World Banking, expressed:
We are thrilled to partner with Union Bank and the TGI Group. Globally, 38% of all MSMEs are women-owned yet, according to the SME Finance Forum, there remains a $1.7 trillion gender credit gap.
Using our sophisticated market and consumer research we will develop a solution that will not only help tens of thousands of Nigeria’s women entrepreneurs overcome barriers to accessing the vital credit they need to sustain and grow their businesses, but also stand as a model for Banks and FMCGs across Africa and the world.
This is an exciting time in the development of effective, women-centered, digital financial solutions.
The Digital Supplier Credit solution reflects Union Bank’s dedication to supporting its customers and creating an inclusive business environment.
With its focus set on the future, Union Bank continues to lead the way in shaping a better, more sustainable future for generations to come.

Business
NYSC members win millions in Fidelity GAIM 6 Promo

Fidelity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to financial inclusion, youth empowerment, and promoting a healthy savings culture by rewarding nine National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members with N500,000 business grants each.

The grants were awarded under the Get Alert in Millions Season Six (GAIM 6) promo, an initiative designed to reward loyal customers with cash prizes totalling N159 million.

The promo, which runs from November 2024 to August 2025, targets various categories of customers, including NYSC members, students, and general customers.
Mr. Osita Ede, Divisional Head of Product Development at Fidelity Bank Plc, stated that this season of the GAIM promo aims to enhance the opportunities for loyal customers to win.
“When we launched the GAIM 6 promotion in November 2024, we unequivocally stated that this campaign season is intended to promote inclusivity. Consequently, we have increased the total prize money to N159 million and added additional draws, beyond the weekly and monthly draws featured in previous seasons.
“Now, we have specific draws catering to various segments of our customer base including women, students, youth corps members, and traders. It is important to note that these categories of customers also stand the chance to win millions of naira in the monthly and grand draws which we will be hosting till 20 August 2025,” explained Ede.
Nine NYSC customers were selected through a random electronic draw in the first quarter of the GAIM 6 campaign across the country. They are: Oluwatosin Emmanuel Olowolayemo and Ekpeno Aniekan George, both Youth Corps members in Akwa Ibom State; Derryk Chidubem Okafor, Enugu State; Aliyu Idris Adamu, Kaduna State; Bomane-Aziba Koromo, FCT_Abuja; Asabe Grace Adamu, Bornu State; David Agbai Agwu, Osun State; Abdullahi Opeyemi Olajuwon, Lagos State and Eghosa George Orhue, Ekiti State.
Expressing his gratitude and excitement, one of the recipients of the entrepreneurship grant, Chidubem Okafor, appreciated Fidelity Bank for the grant, noting that the funds will enable him to achieve his entrepreneurial dreams.
His words, “At first, I thought it was a scam when they introduced the initiative at our orientation camp, but today, I am truly honored to receive this support from Fidelity Bank. This grant will go a long way in helping me achieve my entrepreneurial dreams, and I promise to make the most of it,”
Similarly, David Agwu, who also emerged a winner in the draw, expressed his surprise at the unexpected win, saying, “When I received the call, I thought it was a prank. I never applied for anything, so it was hard to believe. But when they sent me proof, I realized it was real. I am truly grateful for this opportunity. My plan is to invest the money in vocational training and digital skills development, particularly in fashion and painting in order to establish a sustainable business”.
Beyond the N500,000 entrepreneurship grant, the winners will also enjoy free business advisory and training sessions at the newly launched Fidelity SME Hub, located at 22, Lanre Awolokun Street, Gbagada Phase 2, Lagos.
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 251 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.

Business
NNPCL dismisses reports of termination of Naira Crude deal with Dangote

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed reports that it has terminated Naira Crude deal with Dangote unilaterally.

In a statement on Monday, the NNPCL explained that the Cude Sales Agreement with Dangote Refinery was still subsistence, clarifying that the existing contract, which allowed crude oil sales in Naira, was structured as a six-month agreement, contingent on availability, and is set to expire at the end of March 2025.

NNPCL said discussions with Dangote for fresh contractual agreement will soon take place.
The statement which was signed by the Director of Corporate Communications of the NNPCL, Mr Segun Soneye disclosed that the NNPCL has supplied Crude Oil to Dangote since October 2024, with 48 million barrels.
He said the supplies was under the Naira contract which in total, the company has provided more than 84 million barrels to the refinery since it commenced operations in 2023.
NNPCL reaffirmed its commitment to supporting local refining, ensuring a steady crude oil supply based on mutually agreed terms.

Business
Edo State IRS denies revenue drop claims

The Edo State Internal Revenue Service has refuted claims of its February, 2025 revenue drop by one, Mr Ifaluyi Isibor saying, it’s a misrepresentation of facts.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Head of Corporate Communications of Edo IRS, Courage Eboigbe, lamented the deliberate distortion of facts by those who supposed to know, but decided to mislead the populace for whatever reasons they think they wanted to achieve.

The statement obtained by CAPITAL POST in Abuja reads: “It is disheartening and disingenuous that supposedly educated Edo State citizens would spew out such nonsense for political expediency. Such actions not only mislead the public, but they also undermine the efforts of those working tirelessly to ensure sustainable economic development in our State.
“His claims are far from the truth. The only truth is that the Revenue Service has attained and is sustaining an average of N10 billion to date.
In view of the above, we hereby state that the IGR Report for February is very impressive and stands at over N9.5b, a figure never attained by Isibor’s paymasters.
“That the EIRS firmly dismisses the claim of revenue drop of Edo’s IGR falling from ₦4.7 billion in January to ₦3.4 billion in February, labelling Isibor’s narrative as dubious, deliberately misleading, and dishonest. Our record confirms a stable upward trajectory, which starkly contrasts the narrative put forth by the mischievous Isibor.
“That the EIRS denounces the misinformation, criticizes Isibor for allegedly spreading unverified figures, and insists that the IGR remains on an upward trajectory.
“That the EIRS rejects the notion of separate IGR sources, emphasizing that all government revenue is consolidated into a single figure irrespective of revenue stream.
“That the Revenue Service reiterates its commitment to tackling illegal revenue collection by unauthorized individuals while urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities by non-state actors.
“Overall, this statement aims to restore public confidence, reject alleged misinformation, and reaffirm the agency’s professionalism in revenue collection.”

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