News
Konga Kares Spreads Love, Identifies with the Needy, Less-Privilege
Konga, Nigeria’s foremost composite e-commerce giant embarked on a visit to orphanage homes in Lagos and Abuja to spread love to the needy and less-privileged, as part of its 7th Anniversary celebration,
The event, which saw Management and staff turn out in their numbers at both locations, was held on Saturday, July 6th, 2019.
The visit was anchored under the auspices of Konga Kares – a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative through which the company has identified with and empowered critical segments of the population in need of a helping hand.
With the theme, Sharing the Konga Love to Help Alleviate Poverty, a visit was made simultaneously to theHeritage Orphanage Homes in Lagos as well as the Abuja Children’s Home, Karu and the Christ Foundation Orphanage Home and Widow Outreach, Abuja.
In their numbers, Executive Management and staff of Konga stormed the orphanage homes with household items, consumables, educational materials and other items to support their physical, mental and emotional needs.
Leading the Lagos team was Co-CEO, Konga Group Prince Nnamdi Ekeh who did not fail to engage and interact with the children of the Heritage Orphanage.
Ekeh expressed excitement and satisfaction about the visitation, describing his interaction with the children as an overwhelming experience.
“Giving material support is fantastic butproviding opportunities and other forms of empowerment is critical.
“You cannot overemphasize the generational benefits of creating a life-changing platform which focuses on abandoned and vulnerable children who are future leaders.
“We hope to embark on this kind of visitations on a regular basis and also partner with other institutions that are need of encouragement and empowerment such as skill acquisition which will have great impact in transforming their lives”, Ekeh said.
In Abuja, hundreds of lives were touched at both orphanages as the Konga team put smiles on the faces of children at the centres.
Led by Business Manager (North), Yvonne Enwerem games, Konga made it an enriching experience for the children with several fun activities including musical chairs, card games and board games such as Chess, Checkers, Scrabble and Ludo.
Furthermore, a quiz competition was organized for children within the ages of 7 and 17. Winners of the quiz were rewarded with mouth-watering prizes including Kiddies Tablets and writing materials, among others.
Essentially, the visitation did a lot to lift the moods of the children across all the beneficiary homes and imbue them with hope in a brighter future – a point that was not lost on the recipients.
Mrs. Patricia Agho is Director of the Christ Foundation Orphanage Home, Kuje, said “We are so grateful to the management of Konga for this gesture.
“The happiness and joy on the faces of the children is proof of how delighted we all are. May God bless Konga and continue to elevate the business,” said an obviously elated Mrs. Agho.
Also speaking, Mrs. Attah who oversees the Abuja Children’s Home expressed deep gratitude to Konga, even as she disclosed that the memories of the visit will remain indelible in the minds of the children.
“I am indeed overwhelmed by this show of love from Konga and so are the kids. In fact, I have never seen them this happy. Our appreciation knows no bounds and our prayer is that Konga reaps bountifully from this gesture,” she said.
Through Konga Kares, the company hopes to reach millions of needy, disadvantaged, physically-challenged and voiceless members of the society nationwide and give back in line with its mission of spreading love and alleviating poverty.
News
NGX Group Chairman Seeks Regional Collaboration to Unlock West Africa’s Trade, Investment Potential
Umaru Kwairanga, chairman, Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), has called for stronger regional cooperation to harness the untapped potential of West Africa’s trade and commodity markets.
Speaking at the inaugural West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) 2025 held under the theme “Unlocking Trade and Investment Opportunities in the Region”, Kwairanga highlighted the critical role of capital markets and commodity exchanges in transforming the region’s abundant natural resources into organised, transparent capital that fuels industrialisation and inclusive economic growth.
The summit brought together key stakeholders from across West Africa to deliberate on strategies for accelerating regional integration, strengthening capital markets, and unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade.
In his remarks during a high-level panel on “Commodities as Capital: Regional Commodities Exchange & Reserves”, Kwairanga noted that despite West Africa’s wealth of raw materials, the region continues to face a paradox of resource abundance coexisting with capital scarcity.
“As a nation and region, we are abundantly rich in raw materials, but often poor in capital outcomes. This paradox is not due to a lack of resources, but due to the way these resources have historically been excluded from structured financial ecosystems.
Commodities, whether agricultural, mineral, or energy, must be seen not just as tradeable goods, but as investable assets capable of powering industrialisation, job creation, and macroeconomic stability,” he said.
Kwairanga emphasised NGX Group’s commitment to building resilient market infrastructure that supports price discovery, clearing, settlement, and investor protection, systems that can underpin thriving regional commodity markets.
He highlighted NGX Group’s role in mobilising capital for commodity value chains through IPOs, bonds, and structured funds, citing the success of NGX-listed companies like Presco and Okomu Oil as models for attracting long-term investment.
On the question of regional versus national commodity exchanges, Dr. Kwairanga advocated for a dual approach that combines the strengths of national platforms with the scale and integration benefits of regional frameworks.
“National exchanges address local needs and build depth, but for West Africa to unlock the full potential of commodity trade, we must connect these markets under a regional structure.
“Regulatory harmonisation will be key, and this is where NGX Group’s experience in governance, coupled with platforms like the African Exchanges Linkage Project and the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, can help align standards and enable seamless cross-border transactions,” he stated.
Addressing liquidity challenges, Kwairanga outlined the need for harmonised rules, trustworthy infrastructure, product innovation, and incentives to drive participation. He called for public-private partnerships and regional integration to deepen market liquidity and ensure efficient price discovery.
Beyond the panel discussions, Kwairanga commended the vision of President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, for spearheading the summit. “There is power in unity and prestige in size. The great economic powerhouses of the 21st century, such as the United States and China, have risen to prominence partly because of the scale of their markets.
A united West Africa can achieve the same if we work together on initiatives like this,” he said, expressing optimism that the summit would produce actionable frameworks to reduce trade barriers, encourage regional investment, and fast-track economic growth across ECOWAS.
NGX Group, he added, remains committed to supporting cross-border investments, citing its participation in the African Exchanges Linkage Project and the increasing regional footprint of NGX-listed companies such as Dangote Cement, First Bank, Zenith Bank, Access Bank, and Ecobank.
Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has awarded a total of N13 million in grants to three standout tech startups at the 2025 Techpreneur Summit held in Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation and inclusive growth among Nigeria’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
The winners include: BuyScrap, a digital marketplace for recyclable materials – N6 million; Qiqi Farms, which connects local farmers to hospitality and export markets – N4 million; Eco-Cyclers, a youth-led recycling initiative based in Enugu – N3 million
Alongside the grant awards, DBN also launched a new digital data asset, a first-of-its-kind platform aimed at enabling data-driven decisions within the MSME ecosystem.
The platform offers deep insights into business trends, sector-specific challenges, and growth opportunities—supporting smarter policymaking and targeted investments.
In his keynote address in Lagos, Tony Okpanachi, managing director/ CEO, DBN, described the event’s theme, “CTRL + SHIFT: Tech Empowered Movement for Naija,” as a strategic call to reimagine enterprise development in Nigeria.
“This isn’t just a keyboard shortcut,” he said. “It’s a mindset reset—powered by technology—to build a more inclusive, innovative, and resilient business landscape. From financing to innovation, DBN remains committed to enabling MSMEs to thrive.”
Okpanachi emphasized that the Summit aligns with DBN’s AMPLIFI Strategy, which integrates digital transformation, sustainability, and scalability into its core programs.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Digital Shift Workshops and the Eco-Innovation Challenge as key steps toward embedding innovation in Nigeria’s MSME sector.
Encouraging young innovators, he added: “The future belongs to those bold enough to imagine and build it. DBN is proud to support the ideas that will shape tomorrow.”
A major highlight was the unveiling of the DBN Data Asset—a digital platform designed to provide real-time, evidence-based insights into Nigeria’s MSME landscape.
The platform combines DBN’s proprietary data with external sources like the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) to offer a comprehensive view of MSME performance by region and sector.
Jeremy Dan Okayi, DBN’s Head of Strategy, Policy & Innovation, described the platform as: “A reservoir of insight, potential, and direction—built on two years of collaboration and shared vision. This tool will support informed decision-making across the public and private sectors.”
News
FCCPC Shuts France, Belgium, and Italy Visa Centres in Abuja Over Alleged Consumer Rights Violations
In a bold enforcement action, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), supported by the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has sealed off the visa application centres of France, Belgium, and Italy in Abuja over alleged consumer protection breaches and obstruction of regulatory investigations.
The affected centres—located at Mukhtar El-Yakub House in the Central Business District and operated by TLS Contact, a Teleperformance Company—were shut down following reports that they refused to accept formal correspondence from the FCCPC regarding a consumer complaint. The Commission cited further infractions, including obstruction of investigation and alleged assault of its officers during lawful duties.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Mrs. Boladale Adeyinka, Director of Surveillance and Investigations at the FCCPC, explained: “This is an enforcement operation against TLS. On March 25, 2025, we served them a letter to address a consumer complaint, which they refused to accept. Instead, TLS officers assaulted our team, and in a subsequent visit on June 17, they also allegedly assaulted uniformed police officers.”
Citing Section 33 of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA), Mrs. Adeyinka emphasized that failure to comply with Commission directives constitutes a criminal offense, punishable by imprisonment, fines of up to ₦20 million, or both.
TLS has been ordered to appear before the Commission on June 20, 2025, to provide testimony, submit evidence, and make formal depositions. The company may be held liable for any financial losses suffered by applicants due to the disruption of visa services.
Despite multiple requests for comment, management at TLS Contact declined to respond as of press time.
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