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General News

Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government Empowers Youths with Digital Skills

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L-r: Hon. Samuel Egube, deputy chief of staff to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos state, and Mr. Lucky Uduikhue, Managing Director, Datapoint Forex and Tech Academy at the unveiling of the Academy in Lagos recently
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Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, recently empowered youths in the area with digital skills at its annual programme tagged: “The Mindset with Vice Chairman, Lucky Uduikhue”.

The event in its 8th edition themed: “Powering the Next Generation of Digital Leadership.” was organized in partnership with Willis Capital, Wmarkets and Willis University. The event attended by over 3,000 youths of the local government witness training in skills such as; FX trading, digital currency investments among others.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, executive governor of Lagos, represented by Hon. Samuel Egube, his deputy chief of staff, said that it is always said that when we build the youths, we build the nation.

“The Governor’s second agenda has heightened the focus on inclusion for our youth’s population. We see this event as a partnership with the government of Lagos state to encourage self-development, entrepreneurship and mindset-development.

“And today, we excited that is why we are here as it aligns with what the governor is doing. We can as well see that our people are eager to learn and participate for growth. This is what we stand for in Lagos. Special thanks to the Vice Chairman and the partner. This is a good sign of what the local governments can do and the impact they can make in their environment.

Also speaking at the event, Hon. Fatai Adekunle Ayoola, executive chairman, Ajeromi Ifelodun Local Government, said his leadership has been instrumental in driving positive change in our community, and we are grateful for this vision and dedication. “Our commitment to youth empowerment is evident in various initiatives, including the just concluded Ajeromi-Ifelodun Youth Empowerment Summit and the Women Summit.

“We are committed to bridging the technology gap in Ajegunle and promoting digital inclusion. We believe that by empowering our youths with digital skills, we can unlock their potential and create a brighter future for our community.

Mr. Lucky Uduikhue, vice chairman of the local government, said that they have empowered over 3000 youths at this year’s event through their partnership with Willis Capital, WMarket and Datapoint Forex and Tech Academy.

“Today’s message is just about value and that we shouldn’t devalue ourselves. Every youth here will be leaving here with value.

This year’s edition was massive with huge turnout of youths which is an indication that people are ready to move from the direction they are to another direction. Because, the world has moved from analogue system to digital system and the message of today is about digital inclusion making sure that people get value from whatever they do for a living.

The massive turnout of youths and adult alike shows that digital is the way forward. We noticed that most of them have the knowledge but don’t know the direction to go.

The training for today showed them the way to go. Looking at blockchain, Artificial intelligence and generally web3 technology shows that the way forward is to embrace digital platform which they have chosen today. Those with little knowledge are ready to expand it; those without knowledge of it have signed on for an opportunity in that direction.

This journey is about relationship. We have built relationship as a local government with our people, that is the reason why we have a strong partner – Willis capital, WMarket and Willis University.

In as addition, we are partnering with Datapoint Forex and Tech Academy which is a base within the community which was officially launched today. We are going to take interested youths to that centre for physical training and mentorship as well as support they need to take off.

DataPoint Forex and Tech Academy also have online tutorials as well for those that cannot attend physically due to the nature of their work or business.

Obinna Aso, Chief Operating Officer, Willis Capital expressed delight at the turnout of youths to participate in the programme.

“We are here today to support this initiative and to change the mindset of the youths here positively. We are the official partner of this event this year and we heard good things about this local government before provide our support. We are going to be training them, provide funding for the talented youths.

“In this event, we are going to be giving a $3000 account to over 20 youths who can work because we are in the business of training talented youths. What we are doing today is a paradigm shift from the normal way youths live their life by encouraging them to embrace digital economy.

“Opening their minds to the new ways of life currently. We don’t want people to keep their minds locked in the old ways of looking for means of livelihood. We want youths to own their destiny and fight for themselves.

“The digital space is open to everyone, there is no barriers to entry, one can come in and changed his/her life. A lot of people have changed their lives. Our CEO in person of Dapo Willis changed his life by embracing the digital economy 13 years ago and today he has been impacting lives across the world. We are encouraging everyone in Ajeromi Ifelodun Local government to do the same”.


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General News

EFCC Says Corrupt Politicians are Using Crypto Wallets to Launder Money

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Ola Olukoyede, chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm that some corrupt Nigerian politicians are now hiding their illicit wealth in cryptocurrencies to evade scrutiny and detection by anti-graft agencies.

EFCC Says Corrupt Politicians are Using Crypto Wallets to Launder Money

Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC

The EFCC boss said the agency had uncovered a growing trend where fraudulent public officials now used cryptocurrency wallets to stash stolen public funds and conduct illicit transactions.

Olukoyede made the revelation at  an event commemorating Africa Anti-Corruption Day.

The event was held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo State.

Other speakers at the event lamented that Nigerians usually fell victim to crypto fraud, including the recent CBEX scam, where Nigerians lost over N1.3tn.

Olukoyede said, “Virtual asset fraud is on the rise. Our findings show that fraudulent politicians are already perfecting schemes and hiding their loot in cryptocurrencies to beat the investigative blackness of anti-corruption agencies.

“Stolen funds and unexplained wealth are being warehoused in wallets and payment for services are being done through this window,” he said.

Olukoyede warned that while the rise of virtual assets had transformed financial transactions globally, it had also created new avenues for money laundering and financial crimes.

He said, “Technology is moving at a supersonic speed around the world.

“The advent of virtual assets is a response to one of the qualities of money as a store of value like it is known in our elementary economies.”

“However, as with every progressive innovation, fraud starts to usually evolve, evolve ways of perverting their genuine purposes,” he said.

He added that the EFCC was not helpless in the face of the sophisticated schemes, noting that proactive training and intelligence sharing had enabled the commission to identify and investigate such cases.


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Airtel Nigeria Drives BFSI and Utility Sector Innovation with Industry-wide Workshop

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L-r: Oladeji Ilesanmi, Head, Enterprise Sales, Airtel Africa; Abhishek Biswal, Chief Business Officer, Digital Services, Airtel India; Dinesh Balsingh, Chief Executive Officer/Managing Director, Airtel Nigeria; Ogo Ofomata, Airtel Business Director, Airtel Nigeria; and Luc Serviant, Enterprise Business Director, Airtel Africa, during the first day of the two-day workshop, themed “Powering Financial Services with Connectivity”, hosted by Airtel Business for the benefit of the Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) sector in Lagos this week.
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Airtel Nigeria, telecommunications and digital solutions provider, has reemphasised its commitment to national development with a two-day workshop for companies in Nigeria’s Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) and utility sectors.

Held from July 8 to 9, 2025 at the Lagos Continental, the exclusive event brought together C-suite executives and industry thought leaders to co-create transformative and tech-driven solutions for these critical industries.

Themed “Banking on Innovation: Powering Financial Services with Connectivity” on 1 and “Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Leap: Smarter Networks, Smarter Business” on Day 2, the sessions were designed to identify critical pain points, unlock business potential, and drive smarter, more connected operations across two of the nation’s most essential sectors.

Delivering the keynote address, Dinesh Balsingh, Managing Director/CEO of Airtel Nigeria, reaffirmed Airtel’s dedication to enabling and driving Nigeria’s digital transformation across the finance and energy sectors.

Speaking on the timeliness of the workshop, Airtel Nigeria’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh said, “From power and water to finance, transportation, and logistics, this is a defining moment for every sector. The real question isn’t whether to adopt digital solutions, but how quickly and intelligently we can do so. At Airtel Nigeria, we’re moving beyond basic connectivity and becoming a true digital partner to the industries we serve.”

He highlighted Airtel’s categories of enterprise solutions that has been created to improve quality of life. These groupings include Internet of Things (IoT) for such services as smart metering, leak detection, energy optimisation, and real-time asset tracking; Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), which enables secure, multi-channel customer engagement via SMS, WhatsApp, Voice, and USSD; as well asl Network as a Service (NaaS), which delivers flexible, secure connectivity with cloud-ready agility.

Mr. Balsingh added that, “Nigeria’s power and energy industries are under growing pressure to modernise. Legacy infrastructure, fragmented systems, and lack of real-time visibility are major obstacles. Airtel is stepping in with the right tools, not just to connect, but to transform. With IoT, CPaaS, and NaaS, we’re laying the groundwork for smarter operations, improved service delivery, and better outcomes for businesses and consumers alike.”

Abhishek Biswal, Chief Business Officer, Digital Services at Airtel India, brought substantial insight to the discourse with a demonstration of Airtel’s IoT Hub and its transformative impact on energy distribution.

Biswal said, “The future of finance and energy is digital, and that future must be secure, scalable, and seamless. When financial players and utility providers partner with telcos like Airtel, we’re not just connecting systems; we’re building a smarter digital ecosystem for everyone.”

Reinforcing the CEO’s position, Ogo Ofomata, Director, Airtel Business, called for collaboration among the participating sector and their stakeholders.

“We don’t take lightly the trust you have put in us. Airtel operates in what we call the enabler industry. Sometimes we don’t even know there’s a problem until we come together like this. This workshop is about understanding your needs and working side by side to design solutions that truly fit,” she said.

In his remarks, Luc Serviant, Group Enterprise Business Director at Airtel Africa, highlighted the company’s role in driving digital transformation through sustained investments in 5G and LEO satellite connectivity, aimed at boosting remote operations and expanding access in underserved regions across the finance and energy sectors.

He said, “At Airtel, we understand that the future of is going digital, and reliable connectivity is the backbone of that future. From 5G to LEO satellite integration, we are investing in intelligent infrastructure that empowers service providers to operate more efficiently, respond in real-time, and deliver uninterrupted services to millions of Nigerians. This isn’t just about innovation; it’s about building the digital foundation that will power the nation’s next chapter.”

This workshop, which continues the series of sectoral engagements within Nigeria’s growing economy, concluded with feedback from stakeholders who called for the inclusion of regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in future editions.

 


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AfCFTA Credit Fund Makes First Investment With $10m Loan

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The Credit Fund of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund has successfully closed its first investment, committing $10 million to Telecel Global Services Ltd, through a senior secured amortising loan.

The transaction marks a significant milestone in the operationalisation of the Fund. The Credit Fund is one of three Funds under the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, established by the AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to provide targeted transitional support to AfCFTA State Parties and private sector entities as they adjust to the requirements and opportunities presented by the AfCFTA Agreement.

Telecel Global Services, a subsidiary of the Mauritius based Telecel Group, provides wholesale voice and SMS services and enterprise connectivity solutions to more than 250 telecoms operators across Africa and globally.

With digital connectivity being at the heart of the trade and economic integration and success of the AfCFTA, this facility will support Telecel’s expansion in Ghana and Liberia, strengthen its infrastructure, and contribute to bridging Africa’s digital divide through enhanced connectivity and digital inclusion.

By investing in digital infrastructure in underserved markets, the Fund is helping reduce trade barriers, foster cross-boarder productivity and accelerate inclusive industrialization. Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, Chairman of the Board of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Corporation, stated: “

The closing of our first deal marks a historic milestone for the Credit Fund and the broader vision of the AfCFTA.

This US$10 million investment in Telecel Global Services is a clear demonstration of how targeted capital can drive meaningful impact—accelerating digital connectivity, enabling intraAfrican trade, and supporting private sector-led development in priority sectors.

It is our commitment to ensure that such investments continue to bridge critical gaps, stimulate economic resilience, and unlock Africa’s vast potential.”

H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, noted: “This transaction demonstrates how the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund is beginning to serve its intended purpose – supporting State Parties and the private sector as we work to make this Agreement commercially meaningful.

By investing in digital infrastructure, we are addressing some of the most critical enablers of trade facilitation, industrialisation, and regional value chain development.”

Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, added: “Today, we make another bold statement of our unwavering intent to ensure that Africans reap the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

We are proud to have commenced the operationalisation of the Credit Fund. With this Fund, we will provide vital support to African corporates, helping them retool and expand their operations necessary to capitalise on the AfCFTA opportunities.

The investment strengthens a critical enabler, the digital economy and regional connectivity, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to transforming the structure of the African economy.”

Marlene Ngoyi, CEO, FEDA, the Fund Manager of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, said: “This investment exemplifies the strategic intent of the Credit Fund – to catalyse growth and resilience in sectors that are vital for Africa’s structural transformation.

We are proud to partner with Telecel, whose operations directly advance intra-African connectivity and digital trade.”

The Credit Fund will continue to prioritise commercially viable investments that enable trade, support diversification, and promote inclusive growth in line with the broader AfCFTA implementation agenda.


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