In celebration of International Women’s Day 2025, PalmPay, a leading financial technology company, successfully hosted the second edition of its “PalmPay Purple Woman 2.0 Masterclass.”

This three-day event, held from March 6 to March 8, brought together over 100 exceptional women aged 18 – 30, selected through a competitive process to receive intensive training in various tech disciplines.

Speaking on the theme of the program titled” Accelerating the Future of Payments: Women, AI and Fintech, the Head, Marketing and Communications, PalmPay Nigeria, Femi Hanson, noted that “since the masterclass commenced 2 days ago, we have had over 100 women trained on HR, Data Analysis, Product Management, Software Engineering, DevOps, UX/UI, and Digital Marketing.

“We recognize that technology is a powerful enabler, and for too long, women have been underrepresented in the fintech and tech industries. That is why PalmPay is committed to breaking barriers, providing access to digital skills, and creating pathways for women to thrive in the world of finance and technology.

Hanson encouraged participants to leverage the knowledge shared, network with peers, and embrace the limitless opportunities ahead. The training was organized in collaboration with distinguished industry leaders, including Kemi Okusanya, CEO of Hydrogen Pay; Lara Osunsoko, Executive Director, Operations at Stanbic Pensions; and Obianuju Odukwe, Vice President, Digital Ecosystems at Interswitch Group.

On the final day, ten outstanding participants were awarded six-month internships across various PalmPay departments. This opportunity allows them to gain hands-on experience and further their skills within a leading Fintech environment.

This year’s International Women’s Day, which has a theme “Accelerate Action’ reinforces the significant role of women in the socio-economic development of society. IWD is a day to call for gender parity in line with sustainable development goal (SDG) 5 and honour women for their contribution to the political, economic, and cultural sphere.

Chain Reactions Africa, one of the continent’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consultancies, has announced the appointment of Lanre Odukoya as an Associate Consultant, Media, Neuroscience and Storytelling.

Odukoya, a distinguished media and communications professional, brings a wealth of experience to Chain Reactions Africa as the company deepens its consumer neuroscience practice.

Before his new role, he served as the Media and Communications Manager at Caritas Communications Limited, Africa’s pioneering energy, oil, and gas consulting firm.

In this capacity, Odukoya successfully led a media team that delivered critical market insights to multinational clients navigating the complex energy, oil, and gas sectors in Nigeria and across emerging markets.

During his tenure at Caritas, Odukoya orchestrated highly effective campaigns that resulted in a 55% increase in organic search traffic and a 25% improvement in conversion rates within just 12 months.

His efforts have supported leading brands such as Lekoil Nigeria Limited, MainOne (an Equinix Company), Standard Chartered Bank, Union Bank, Savannah Energy, Seplat Energy, Total Energies, Tetra Pak, Globeleq, Waltersmith Petroman, and Pan Ocean Oil Exploration Company, among many others.

Before transitioning to Integrated Marketing Communications, Odukoya had a successful careerin print journalism spanning nearly two decades.

He was a founding editorial member of New Telegraph Newspapers, served as Assistant Editor at City People Magazine, a columnist at ThisDay Newspapers, and Senior Editor at Opera News Nigeria. Odukoya is also a Nigerian Breweries Golden Pen Prize-nominee and has made significant contributions to numerous local and international lifestyle publications.

Speaking on the choice of Odukoya to lead its Media, Neuroscience and Storytelling specialty, Managing Director and Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Africa, Israel Jaiye Opayemi described the firm’s choice of Lanre Odukoya as an extremely intentional one.

“For over a decade now, we have methodically invested in Consumer Neuroscience.As human beings, our brains are wired to respond to stories, which can impact our emotions, memories, and social connection. We have added Odukoya to our league of professionals to lead that specialty,” Opayemi asserted.

Opayemi furthersaid, “Chain Reactions Africais excited to welcome Odukoya to its tribe of storytellers who help our clients with crafting stories that fire the right neurons in people, be it to enable them to make purchase decision or to embrace a new public policy.” He describes Odukoya’s expertise in media strategy, communications, and brand management as a valuable addition to the best-of-breed solutions Chain Reactions Africa offers its clients across Africa and beyond.

National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) has warned Nigerians against modifying their National Identification Number (NIN) data on unauthorised websites.

Dr Kayode Adegoke, head of Corporate Communications, NIMC, issued the warning in a statement released on Monday.

Adegoke stated that modifications to NIN data could only be carried out on the official NIMC self-service portal.

He therefore cautioned that attempting to modify NIN data on unauthorised websites could compromise personal information and expose individuals to identity theft.

According to him, using the official NIMC self-service portal ensures that data remains secure and protected.

“By using the self-service portal, individuals can also enjoy the convenience of updating their information from anywhere, at any time.

“NIMC therefore advises Nigerians to use only the official portal for all NIN modification needs and to avoid unauthorised websites to prevent any potential risks,” he said.