Connect with us

E-Financial

IFC Supports Nigeria’s Business Infrastructure with $9.5m Investment

Published

on

Kindly share this post

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, yesterday announced a $9.5 million investment in Jabi Lake Mall to support demand for modern business infrastructure and retail space in Abuja, Nigeria. The project will help create about 350 construction jobs and 900 long-term, retail-sector jobs. 

The $120 million Jabi Lake Shopping Mall is being built on five hectares of land on the Jabi Lake waterfront at Jabi, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Once complete, it will be Nigeria’s largest shopping mall with over 30,000 square meters of shopping space.

The project’s primary sponsor is the Actis Africa Real Estate Fund 2. Duval Properties is the joint venture partner alongside Actis.

Ms. Amanda Jean Baptiste, Director, Actis Africa Real Estate Fund 2, said, “Investing in the Jabi Lake Mall demonstrates Actis’s commitment to developing world-class retail destinations and adding to the domestic infrastructure in Nigeria, as well as our support for the growing demands of a rapidly changing economy. Our partnership with IFC will help us draw on their expertise in international best practice in the environmental and social aspects of the project that affect property development.”

Solomon Adegbie-Quaynor, IFC Country Manager for Nigeria, said, “Our investment is part of IFC’s strategy to help strengthen business infrastructure, contribute to economic growth, and increase job opportunities in Nigeria. Actis is a strong partner in this regard, that can also transfer best modern retail practices”

Jabi Lake Mall will be the largest retail development of international standard in Abuja and create links to the local economy throughout its construction and operation. It will create new sales channels for Nigerian retailers, including local small and medium enterprises. Its construction will provide business opportunities for local suppliers of food, construction materials and services, and will serve as a catalyst for urban development in the area around the mall.

Construction began on the project in late 2013 and is expected to be completed in 2015. 


Kindly share this post

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek believes that technology makes life more exciting and helps improve the lives of people around Nigeria and indeed the world. So since 2007, we have devoted our energy to independent reportage of technology and how they affect lives.

E-Financial

UBA Set to Establish Subsidiary in Saudi Arabia

Published

on

Kindly share this post

United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Africa’s Global Bank, has set the wheels in motion to expand its operations in the Middle East with plan ongoing to open a subsidiary in Saudi Arabia, its largest economy.

UBA Set to Establish Subsidiary in Saudi Arabia

This move which is expected to happen within the next year will mark the bank’s second subsidiary in the Gulf Region, following the expansion of its business to the United Arab Emirates in 2022.

Muyiwa Akinyemi, group deputy managing director, UBA, who disclosed this during a panel session during the 8th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and in an interview with Arise TV, underscored the bank’s strategic commitment towards fostering Africa’s growth through infrastructure development, youth empowerment, and sustainable partnerships across key global markets.

He said, “Opening a presence in Saudi Arabia represents the next step for us in connecting the Africa-Gulf region. We are excited to bring UBA’s expertise in financial services to Saudi Arabia, where we aim to facilitate knowledge transfer and create strong economic linkages.

“This venture will further enable us to access Saudi expertise in food security, energy transition, and sustainable practices, which are all critical for Africa’s continued development.”

While emphasising the importance of Africa as a strategic investment destination for long-term capital, he said, “Africa’s infrastructure deficit is an opportunity for investors worldwide. Our pitch to the Gulf and Southeast Asia emphasizes that Africa must be part of their investment horizon. Today, food security is paramount as our population expands.

Akinyemi also highlighted the bank’s dedication to nurturing Africa’s youth talent through entrepreneurship.

“Guided by our Group Chairman’s efforts with the Tony Elumelu Foundation, UBA is committed to supporting young entrepreneurs in tech, agriculture, and entertainment, which are all burgeoning sectors in Africa. With such a young and dynamic population, we see enormous potential for innovation and growth.”

He also reiterated the bank’s continuous support for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Africa and beyond as he outlined the bank’s commitment to these businesses, which he referred to as key players in the African economy and vehicles for employment and economic growth.

“SMEs are the backbone of economic development in Africa. They contribute significantly to job creation and value chains, particularly within Nigeria. Over the last year, UBA has committed billions to support SMEs across Africa, and our network of over 20 countries enables us to make a substantial impact.”

During the panel discussions, Akinyemi took time to emphasize UBA’s longstanding experience on the continent as it navigates an ever-evolving investment landscape, adding that “As investors, we focus on infrastructure and sustainable projects that encourage economic prosperity while addressing pressing issues such as talent migration.

“Our goal is to ensure that people can thrive in Africa without needing to relocate. By investing in local talent and fostering growth sectors, we contribute to building the next generation of global innovators right here in Africa,” he noted.

The DMD further articulated UBA’s approach to risk management on the continent, emphasizing that the bank’s 75-year history has uniquely equipped it with insights and strategies to navigate diverse markets.

“With over seven decades of experience, Africa is what we know, and that knowledge allows us to manage risks effectively. We see tremendous opportunities in various sectors across the continent, and our continued investments are driven by a commitment to bring economic empowerment to communities, increase GDP, and improve socioeconomic quality. Our anniversary is a celebration of UBA’s legacy of contributing to Africa’s progress. We look forward to leveraging this milestone to drive even greater impact across sectors and empower future generations,” he said.

United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than forty-five million customers, across 1,000 business offices and customer touch points in 20 African countries. With presence in New York, London, Paris and Dubai, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail, commercial and corporate banking, innovative cross-border payments and remittances, trade finance and ancillary banking services.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Financial

PalmPay Marks 5th Anniversary, Highlights Achievements

Published

on

Kindly share this post

PalmPay, a leading emerging markets-focused fintech, has marked the 5th anniversary of its operations in Nigeria at a celebratory event held in Lagos recently.

PalmPay Marks 5th Anniversary, Highlights Achievements

During the event, Palmpay highlighted key milestones in its journey and updates on its growth and impact in the country.

Speaking at the anniversary, Chika Nwosu, managing director, PalmPay Nigeria, said: “We’ve built a platform that 35 million users trust, and with our growing network of agents and merchants, PalmPay is playing a key role in digitising Nigeria’s economy. Looking ahead, our strategy is clear—continue to lead with secure, reliable solutions while fostering partnerships that empower more people and businesses to reach their financial goals.”

At the core of PalmPay’s approach, is making financial services more accessible in a market where traditional banking options have left many underserved.

The new *861# USSD code allows customers to access PalmPay services without the internet, offering greater accessibility for users who run out of data or are in areas with low network coverage.

The company also emphasised its commitment to security at a time when financial fraud is increasing globally.

PalmPay has implemented security measures such as facial recognition, biometric login, and AI-driven transaction monitoring to ensure secure payments. Every account is verified through NIN or BVN, and customers who lose their phones can now freeze their accounts via the newly launched USSD service.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

E-Financial

SEC to Include Cybersecurity, AI in Curriculum Review – DG

Published

on

Kindly share this post

Dr Emomotimi Agama, director general, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has said that his commission is working to expand the capital market education curriculum for Nigerian universities to include topics on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, financial technology, and others.

SEC to Include Cybersecurity, AI in Curriculum Review - DG

Agama, made this statement during the inauguration of a committee tasked with reviewing the curriculum on securities and investment management.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has already approved the curriculum for Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.

The committee will be chaired by Professor Uche Uwaleke of Capital Market Studies at Nasarawa State University

He said, “Due to new developments in fintech, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and others, there is a need to expand the curriculum to accommodate the new trends. It is an important time and we want to latch in to be able to teach Nigerians, especially the young people, about the capital market. In light of this, the commission has set up a committee to review and enrich the existing curriculum to reflect these advancements.

“It is sad that people do not have a full grasp of capital market issues. We must do everything to share knowledge and educate people. We want to be the best capital market among nations and that can only be possible due to the superiority of our knowledge. You are well placed to do this being in the Ivory Towers and I thank you for accepting to serve as we look forward to a robust discussion.”

Agama disclosed that the terms of reference of the committee included: a review of the NUC curriculum on securities and investment management to include the non-interest capital market, the commodities ecosystem, the derivatives market, sustainable finance; and capital Market regulations; expanding the ‘Introduction to Cryptocurrency’ section of the NUC curriculum to reflect current developments.; and developing a standard capital market studies curriculum to be used by Nigerian universities and other tertiary institutions.

Members of the committee include Prof Augustine Agom of the Ahmadu Bello University; Prof. Seth Akutson of the Kaduna State University; Prof Chuke Nwude of the University of Nigeria Nsukka and Dr Akeem Oyewole of Marble Capital Ltd.

Others are Prof Oladele Akinyomi of the Mountain Top University;  Head of the Market Development Department of SEC, Mrs Ojone Kabir;  Head of Economic Research and Intelligence of SEC, Dr Hassan Suleiman and Mrs Jessica Ogwuche of the Financial Inclusion and Investor Education Department of SEC, who is the secretary of the committee.

In his remarks, Uwaleke, chairman of the committee, appreciated the management of the commission for finding members of the committee fit and trusted to carry out the assignment.

“We know that part of our challenge is because our retail investor base is shallow in relation to our population and one way to change the narrative is through capital market literacy. We as lecturers can attest to the fact that capital market literacy within the academic environment is low and I think tackling that is one low-hanging fruit.

“I am aware that the DG and others have been trying to increase the level of awareness with various programmes like quizzes, essays, investor clinics and others, but for us to make more impact, we need to focus on tertiary institutions and that is why I think what we are doing is very crucial,” he stated.

Uwaleke assured that the members would add value given their track record, saying that the objectives and terms of reference of the committee would be achieved.


Kindly share this post
Continue Reading

Trending