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FirstBank Offers Support To SMEs In Education Sector Through The Pandemic
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has offered to give financial support to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Education Sector to cushion the effects of the COVID -19 pandemic. Mr. Bankole Adediran, Head, Transaction Banking Products, FirstBank, made this known at the Bank’s SMEConnect webinar with theme: “Managing Your School through the Pandemic: Engagement and Retention Strategies”.
Adediran said that the Bank was ready to partner with SMEs in the education sector through the period of the novel coronavirus pandemic to sustain their businesses.
“FirstBank, as an institution, is very passionate about education, and will continue to support the sector,” he said.
He said that the Bank would continue to reinforce its leading role at enabling the growth of the educational sector in the country.
Adediran said that the Bank had an array of financial products that could be accessed by SMEs in the educational sector in the period of COVID -19.
He said SMEs in the sector could key into FirstEdu Loan targeted at private nursery, primary and secondary schools to assist the schools in achieving their desired growth in medium and long terms.
According to him, the product provides funding advancement of up to N20 million for schools with a minimum of 100 students with school fees collection domiciled at FirstBank.
Adediran said that, with the product, school owners/proprietors could stay ahead to make learning easy and conducive for students.
He said the Bank had launched various interventions and initiatives to support the sector to navigate through challenges occasioned by COVID -19.
He noted that FirstBank recently launched an e-learning initiative aimed at reaching out to one million students across the country to ensure they would be academically engaged while at home.
Adediran also said that the Bank supported 10 universities and three secondary schools across the country with major infrastructure projects.
He added that the Bank donated 20,000 e-learning devices to the Lagos State Government to promote online learning for students in the public schools.
Adediran urged schools must learn from the COVID -19 pandemic by embracing automation to plug leakages in the sector.
Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, Commissioner for Education, Lagos State, who was a panelist at the webinar, commended the Bank for donating 20,000 devices with six months data, to the state for e-learning.
Adefisayo said the state reached out to many companies for support at the wake of the pandemic and that FirstBank came to its aid.
She disclosed that all the schools were not prepared for the situation, noting that most children in public schools did not have device and data for online learning.
“This pandemic has been a terrible thing, and one lesson from it is that we have not invested enough in solutions we can deplore at a time like this,” Adefisayo said.
She said that the pandemic had forced Nigerians to be more creative and innovative, adding that schooling would no longer be the same again.
Adefisayo called on teachers to change their teaching and learning strategies, saying that COVID -19 had changed learning.
Also, Dr. Yomi Otubela, President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), said the association had responded greatly by interfacing between government and its agencies since the beginning of the pandemic.
Otubela said the Central Bank of Nigeria was working out modalities for palliatives for schools and teachers who had not been receiving salaries since the pandemic started.
He noted that there had been an increase in rape, kidnapping and robbery as a result of COVID -19.
Mr. Wale Abioye, Team Lead, Customer Practice in Management Consulting (KPMG), said the pandemic had impacted negatively on many sectors of the economy, especially education.
Abioye highlighted some of the negative impacts of the pandemic to include financial/economic, structural, social and policy challenges.
He said many SMEs in the educational sector could be out of business due to the pandemic, thereby increasing unemployment rate.
Mr. Babatunde Vaughan, Education Lead, Modern Classroom, Microsoft Nigeria, said the company had introduced a lot of products to make online learning easy and interesting.
“COVID -19 is a very unique period for everyone, change has come and we will continue to experience change.
“We must be more proactive than reactive,” Vaughan urged.
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ZenithBankPlcreaffirmeditscommitmenttoadvancingtrade,investmentandeconomiccooperationbetweenCanadaandAfricaastheHeadlineConferenceSponsorofthe6thCanada-AfricaBusinessConference, held on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.OrganisedbytheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,theconferencebroughttogetherahigh-levelCanadian business delegation representing 31 companies, alongside senior government officials, businessleaders, investors, policymakers, diplomats and development partners. The gathering set out to strengthencommercial relations between Canada and Africa and to position Nigeria as a strategic gateway for Canadianbusinesses seeking opportunities across the continent.The Canadian delegation comprised companies and institutions operating across financial services, security,mining andcritical minerals,legal andprofessional services, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, educationand clean energy. Among those present were GardaWorld, Dentons, Baywood Group, Element, Trilliant andother leading Canadian enterprises exploring commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships in Nigeria.The Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunranti, who delivered the keynote address on behalfof the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described the conference as a timelyplatform for deepening commercial partnerships between Canada and Africa amid shifting global economicrealities. He underscored Africa’s readiness to lead the next phase of global economic growth, stressing thatthecontinent now possessestheinstitutions,policy frameworks andpartnershipsrequiredtoturn its immensepotential into shared prosperity.“The question is not whether Africa is rich in potential. It is whether we can turn that potential into prosperityour people can feel. For the first time, the answer is yes, because of the machinery we are now building,” hesaid.RepresentingtheGovernorofLagosState,HisExcellencyMr.BabajideSanwo-Olu,thePermanentSecretary, Ministryof Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade andInvestment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo,reaffirmedthe State Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investment and internationalpartnerships, and highlighted Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s commercial hub and gateway to African markets.“Canada bringstothe tableconsiderable expertise,capital, innovation,and astrong traditionof institutionbuilding.Africa,andindeedLagos,offerscale.Weoffertalent,creativity,marketopportunitiesandanincreasingly sophisticated business environment. Together, these strengths create a compelling foundationfor transformative partnership,” he said.Speaking at the event, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, notedthattheconferencereflectsthegrowingmomentuminbilateralcommercialcollaborationbetweenbothcountries. He said: “The relationship between Canada and Nigeria is not new. It is rooted in diplomacy, trade,education,culture,migration,andshareddemocraticvalues.Buttoday,Ibelieveweareenteringanewchapter: one that is more ambitious, more practical, and more human.”
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TheChairoftheBoardoftheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,PaulaCaldwellSt-Onge,highlightedNigeria’sgrowing economic significance,saying: “Nigeria’s growth isnot theoretical.It is alreadybeing built byNigerian entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, innovators and companies whose ambition reachesacross Africa and around the world.”She also acknowledged Zenith Bank’s role in advancing the conference’s objectives, stating: “Zenith Bank isnot only oneof Africa’s leadingfinancial institutions, it isthe capital behindwhat you seehere today, and itrepresents the skill, ambition, discipline, innovation and excellence that this conference seeks to showcase.”Theconferencefeaturedhigh-levelpaneldiscussionsonCanada-Africacommercialrelations,investmentopportunitiesacrossprioritysectors,andtheimplementationoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade Area(AfCFTA). The sessions brought together policymakers, business executives and industry experts to identifypracticalpathwaysforstrengtheningcommercialpartnershipsandacceleratingsustainableeconomicdevelopment.The conference is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for Canadian investment,while opening new opportunities for technology transfer, private sector collaboration, job creation and long-termeconomicgrowth.ItalsoreinforcesNigeria’spositionasastrategichubforbusinessesseekingtoaccess opportunities across Africa under the AfCFTA, supporting the country’s ambition to expand its role inregional and global trade.
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HabariPay Launches Maiden “HabariPay Impact Report 2025”, Showcasing Its Journey, Business Evolution, and Contributions to Digital Payments
HabariPay Limited, the fintech subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”), has unveiled its maiden HabariPay Impact Report 2025, providing stakeholders with a comprehensive account of the company’s evolution, innovation journey, business performance, and impact on the digital payments landscape.The report captures HabariPay’s transformation from a newly established fintech venture into one of Nigeria’s leading payment infrastructure providers, highlighting the milestones, strategic decisions, and investments that have shaped its growth. It showcases the company’s contributions to enabling digital commerce, supporting businesses, strengthening payment infrastructure, and expanding financial access through technology-driven solutions.The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 also highlights the company’s strong financial and operational performance, the growth of the Squad platform, and the development of infrastructure that powers payment acceptance, switching, transfers, merchant services, and value-added solutions. The publication further explores the role of innovation, talent development, and ecosystem partnerships in driving the company’s success.Speaking on the launch of the report, the Managing Director of HabariPay, Eduofon Japhet, said: “As a technology-driven company, we believe that impact extends beyond financial performance. It is reflected in the businesses we enable, the merchants we support, the infrastructure we build, and the opportunities we create for the next generation of innovators. The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 captures this journey and demonstrates our commitment to creating sustainable value for customers, partners, and the broader economy.”She further added: “The HabariPay Impact Report 2025 represents more than a reflection on our achievements; it is a testament to the deliberate investments we have made in building sustainable payment infrastructure, empowering businesses, fostering innovation, and creating long-term value for our stakeholders. As we look ahead, we remain committed to expanding our capabilities, deepening our impact, and shaping the future of digital payments through technology-driven solutions that are secure, scalable, and inclusive.”The report also showcases HabariPay’s investments in innovation through initiatives such as the Take on Squad Hackathon and the Squad Hackademy, both of which are helping to develop future technology talent and accelerate the creation of practical solutions to real-world challenges.Looking ahead, the publication outlines HabariPay’s vision for the future, including continued investment in payment infrastructure, merchant solutions, digital innovation, and intelligent technologies that will shape the future of financial services.
To access the HabariPay Impact Report 2025, please click the below: https://squadco.com/impact-report/About HabariPayHabariPay 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.
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ZENITHBANKPARTNERSLAWMA,LASWATOCOMMEMORATEWORLDENVIRONMENT DAY 2026 WITH TWO-PHASE LAGOS CLEAN-UP
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