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FG Ignores Concerns, Takes $1.95Bn World Bank Loans

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Federal government has secured a substantial $1.95 billion loan from the World Bank within the initial four months of President Bola Tinubu’s tenure.

FG Ignores Concerns, Takes $1.95Bn World Bank Loans

Bola Tinubu

This is coming amidst rising public concern over the nation’s increasing debt profile.

These funds are earmarked for pivotal sectors including education ($700 million), power ($750 million), and women empowerment ($500 million).

The announcement of this borrowing has been met with skepticism by a populace weary of the nation’s long-standing issues such as infrastructure decay and escalating unemployment. While some citizens acknowledge the government’s constrained resources amidst a burgeoning population, there’s a prevailing sentiment that previous loans have not been utilized effectively or transparently.

BusinessDay reported that Emeka Nwani, a Nigerian in his 30s expressed his perplexity over the government’s use of borrowed funds, pointing to the persistent issues with electricity supply as an example.

Similarly, Femi Adelana, a business analyst, voiced concern over the apparent discrepancy between the budget allocations, loans, and the number of children out of school, as reported by a 2022 UNESCO study.

Experts consulted by BusinessDay agree that borrowing isn’t inherently detrimental, provided the funds are allocated to infrastructure projects that significantly improve citizens’ lives and drive economic returns. However, they pointed out that this ideal scenario hasn’t been Nigeria’s reality so far.

Official data reveals that as of June 2023, the federal government had an outstanding external debt of $38.8 billion.

The newly acquired loans include $750 million for power projects, aimed at addressing Nigeria’s significant electricity access deficit.

The World Bank highlighted that approximately 90 million Nigerians (45% of the population) lack access to the grid, contributing to the global electricity access deficit significantly.

Furthermore, the World Bank has approved a $500 million loan for women empowerment, scaling up a program initiated in 2018 with initial financing of $100 million.

This move is designed to support the Nigerian government’s efforts in improving the livelihoods of women across the country.

In a significant push towards education, a $700 million loan was approved to enhance educational and empowerment opportunities for adolescent girls in Nigeria, a demographic significantly affected by the high number of out-of-school children and the insecurity surrounding educational institutions in recent years.

Despite these seemingly positive initiatives, the public remains cautious, with many expressing concern over the transparency and effectiveness of the funds utilization.

As Nigeria navigates through these challenging economic times, the spotlight will inevitably remain on the government’s management of these loans and the tangible improvements they bring to the lives of ordinary citizens.

The administration now bears the responsibility to not only utilize these funds judiciously but also to communicate clearly and transparently with its constituents about how these loans are transforming the educational, power, and social sectors for the better.

Credit: BusinessDay


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E-Financial

MoneyMaster PSB Celebrates Customers at Owode Onirin Market

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In commemoration of the 2024 Customer Service Week, an annual celebration by businesses to appreciate customers’ loyalty and patronage, the MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank team on Friday visited the leaders of Owode Onirin iron and steel market in Lagos.

The team used the opportunity to educate traders and visitors on financial literacy and savings. Various banking channels and services were also introduced to them, while new account holders and transaction were rewarded with airtime and gifts.

Julius Arhebun, Head of Agency Business, MoneyMaster PSB, who spoke on Customer Service Week said: “As a customer-centric financial services brand, MoneyMaster is committed to delivering exceptional services, impactful lifestyle products and financial advisory services that help our customers to achieve their financial goals”.

He added that “As a digital bank, service is a competitive pivot for us and we pride ourselves as a beacon of excellence in customer experience. The bank will continue to introduce initiatives to reward and celebrate the millions of account holders who continue to trust us with their heard earned money”.

Alhaji Gafaru Waheed, Owode Onirin Market leader, praised MoneyMaster’s performance and support: “I’m delighted to associate with MoneyMaster. They’ve been supportive, and I enjoy our banking relationship.”

A leading digital financial services provider, MoneyMaster PSB is committed to deepening financial inclusion, bridging gaps between banked, underbanked and unbanked populations and transforming lives through innovative products and services.

 


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PalmPay MD Urges Fintech Leaders to Boost Investor Confidence for Increased Investment Across Africa

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PalmPay, an African-focused fintech company, has underscored the need for founders within the fintech ecosystem to boost investors’ confidence to drive more investment across the continent, saying that working closely with investors is vital to creating value.

Speaking at the recently concluded 2024 Nigeria Fintech Week in Lagos, Nigeria, held on October 8th and 10th, 2024, Managing Director, PalmPay Nigeria, Chika Nwosu stated that “The fintech ecosystem is not saturated but founders need to be mindful of building investor’s confidence amid currency devaluation and rising interest rates.

“We have seen that most of the currencies of sub-Saharan Africa have plummeted against the US dollar, including the Egyptian pound, Naira, Rand, Cedi, Congolese franc, and Kenyan shilling. This devaluation is impacting the value of investments, which in turn, lowers investor confidence and makes it difficult for fintech startups to secure funding.

Nwosu, who participated in a high-profile panel discussion themed “Safeguarding the Funding Pipeline for Fintech in Africa”, stated that founders can mitigate these challenges by diversifying their revenue streams and expanding into multiple geographical regions.

He noted that relying solely on one market can expose companies to regional economic volatility.

“By entering diverse markets, fintechs can spread their risk and minimize the impact of instability in any single region,” he said.

He gave the example of Palmpay being operational not only in Nigeria but also in Tanzania, Ghana, and other markets.

The 2024 Nigeria Fintech Week held under the overarching theme “Positioning Africa’s Fintech Ecosystem to Accelerate Growth,”  with a key focus on seeking more investors who see the long-term value of investing in Africa. The conference brought together industry leaders, policymakers, investors, and innovators to chart the future of Africa’s financial technology landscape.

According to the President of FintechNGR, Ade Bajomo, “Investments in the fintech sector in Africa declined significantly, dropping 77% to US$186 million from US$826 million in H1 2023. The number of deals decreased 30% year-on-year and average deal size fell to US$4 million in H1 2024 from US$10.5 million in H1 2023. However, we still have many growth opportunities in the continent.”

The panel session also weighed in on the need for founders to continuously engage with policy makers and regulators to stay informed.


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9 Payment Service Bank Celebrates 2024 Customer Service Week with Impressive Activities

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9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Nigeria’s leading digital payment service bank dedicated to advancing financial inclusion, celebrated the 2024 Customer Service Week, themed: “Above and Beyond.”

The celebration featured recognition of top performing Service Location Partners, an informative webinar for staff and partners, alongside cultural activities that underscored the bank’s dedication to exceptional customer service.

The week-long celebration, which took place from October 7th to 11th, united organizations worldwide to recognize the essential role of customers and partners in driving business success.

At the closing ceremony held at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Branka Mracajac highlighted the significance of this year’s theme, which aligns with 9PSB’s mission to provide outstanding banking services.

“We are proud to join organizations around the world in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our customers and Service Location Partners for their steadfast support and loyalty,” Mracajac stated.

“Our commitment to going ‘above and beyond’ is reflected in our innovative and tailored banking solutions. Our customer experience team is dedicated to ensuring that every interaction is positive and fulfilling.

Mracajac further remarked, “Today, we honour our customers and recognize our exceptional partners whose contributions have been integral to our success. Your efforts are invaluable, and we remain committed to delivering quality and outstanding service as we collectively strive to bridge the financial inclusion gap through our mission to Bank9ja.’”


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