General News
NASS to Lift Embargo on Electronic Voting
Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, deputy Senate President, said the National Assembly was working towards amending the Electoral Act to allow for the use of electronic voting in the country.
Ekweremadu made this known in Abuja at the opening of a three-day International Conference on “Promoting Credible Election in Nigeria: Opportunities and Challenges in Information and Communications Technology”.’
The conference was organised by the UNDP’s Democratic Governance for Development in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission.’
“In the present amendment to the Electoral Act, we seek to delete Section 52, which bars the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from using electronic voting.
“This is to allow the Commission use its discretion to apply electronic voting at any time it deems it appropriate,” he said.
Ekweremadu said the Electoral Act Amendment Bill had passed the first reading in the Senate and would be one of the major focus of legislative attention once the 2014 National Budget was passed.
He expressed willingness of NASS to support the election management body to deliver credible and transparent elections in 2015.
“The National Assembly is committed to matching this desire for increased ICT role in our election management and electoral process with the requisite appropriation and law reforms.
“ICT has positively impacted all areas of electoral process such as voter registration, education, electioneering campaign, data acquisition, transmission, voting, vote counting; election monitoring, election security the world over; and Nigeria cannot be an exception,” he said.
He said in spite of fears, mutual suspicion among the political elite and various technical challenges, Nigeria was positively disposed to ensuring that ICT plays greater role in every aspect of its electoral process.
Ekweremadu, however, advised INEC to be cautious in deploying ICT in the nation’s election process.
“The infusion of ICT into any sensitive aspect of our election management system in particular must be very strategic, tested and gradual. This must go with adequate mobilisation, education, and consensus building to make the elections smoother, more transparent, efficient, participatory, freer, fairer, and indeed more credible. Life is in endless evolution, and democracy is not an exception in mankind’s efforts towards finding new, faster, and better ways of getting things done,” Ekweremadu said.
Prof. Attahiru Jega, chairman of INEC, said Information Communication Technology was important in ensuring accurate voter’s registration and voter education.
Jega, represented by Dr Nuru Yakubu, INEC’s national commissioner, stressed that accurate voter register was a prerequisite for conducting free, fair, credible and transparent elections in the country.
He noted that the commission had embraced ICT since 2011 to enhance the integrity of elections.
Jega, however, said that the use of ICT in election was very expensive for developing countries like Nigeria.
The Director General, National Orientation Agency, Mr Mike Omeri, advised INEC to provide a level playing ground for political parties and contestants during the 2015 election.
Omeri urged political parties to introduce electronic method of registering their members with a view to promoting internal party democracy.
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has announced the rollout of a fully digital application system for the Combined Expatriate Residence Permit and Aliens Card (CERPAC).
The new online portal, https://cerpac.immigration.gov.ng, will become the exclusive platform for submitting CERPAC applications from August 1, 2025.
According to NIS, the digital migration is part of the Federal Government’s broader initiative to reform the immigration system by promoting transparency, improving operational efficiency, and enhancing the overall user experience for expatriates and organizations interacting with the Service.
In a press statement signed by A.S Akinlabi, Service Public Relations Officer, the NIS disclosed that manual or physical CERPAC forms will be completely phased out by July 31, 2025.
It noted that after this date, all applications must be submitted exclusively through the online portal.
The Service has advised applicants who have paid for physical forms but are yet to complete the submission process to do so on or before July 31, 2025, warning that any unsubmitted applications after the deadline will be deemed invalid, and associated payments may be forfeited.
Companies and individuals assuming Immigration Responsibility (IR) for expatriates have also been urged to ensure that all outstanding applications are finalized within the stipulated timeframe, to avoid potential delays or administrative setbacks.
“This digital transition marks a critical milestone in our effort to simplify processes and serve the public better,” the statement reads.
The NIS urged members of the public to direct all inquiries and correspondence regarding the new digital process to the office of the Public Relations Officer at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.
Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike
Moniepoint joins a select group of leading fintech players recognised for their financial performance and success across 2023-4. The list – compiled by CNBC in conjunction with market research firm Statista – follows analysis of key performance indicators, such as revenue growth, transaction volume, employee headcount, and capital raised. The result is a diverse group of 250 trailblazing fintech companies.
Founded in 2015 by Tosin Eniolorunda and Felix Ike, Moniepoint (formerly known as TeamApt Inc.) has been instrumental in advancing financial inclusion across Africa – especially for individuals and businesses operating in the informal economy, underserved by formal and traditional institutions.
The Company services 10 million+ customers through its comprehensive, integrated ecosystem of digital banking, credit, payments, and business management tools, and processes over one billion transactions monthly with volumes exceeding US$22 billion.
The accolade follows recent milestones for the Company which reiterate Moniepoint’s commitment to innovation and widening access to the formal financial system.
Notably, Moniepoint expanded its offering to Africans in the international diaspora via the launch of the MonieWorld platform. MonieWorld offers seamless remittance and digital financial services capabilities to individuals in markets such as the UK; the first time the Company has provided services to consumers outside Africa.
In June, Moniepoint was named in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies list for 2025, highlighting the Company’s extraordinary impact. Moniepoint has also been recognised by the Financial Times for three consecutive years as one of Africa’s fastest-growing companies, reflecting its remarkable revenue growth and business expansion; and by CB Insights in the Fintech 100 list, highlighting the Company’s status as one of the world’s most promising private fintech companies.
Tosin Eniolorunda, Group CEO of Moniepoint Inc., said: “It is an honour to be named as one of the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC. Moniepoint’s inclusion in this prestigious, authoritative list is testament to the hard-work and success of the entire team while highlighting our emergence as a key player shaping the future of fintech worldwide.
“Our mission to power the dreams of millions of African entrepreneurs and businesses continues to propel us forward with renewed vigor. As we continue to scale, we remain committed to driving global financial inclusion and widening access to economic opportunities for Africans everywhere – transforming lives and livelihoods.”
CNBC’s list of the world’s top fintech companies was launched in 2023 to identify global market leaders in technology-driven financial services. The list, which includes companies operating across various regions and market categories including banking solutions, digital assets, and payments, highlights the dynamic and rapidly evolving FinTech industry, offering readers, investors, and stakeholders a comprehensive overview of the leading players across various segments.
Innovative financial institution and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, Wema Bank, has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment by partnering with the SheCan Conference for the fifth consecutive year.
The collaboration has announced it would empower women with N2 million grant during the 6th edition of SheCan 6.0. conference, that will be held on July 18, 2025, at Balmoral, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos.
The event is expected to host over 7,000 women under the theme “SheCan Do More.”
Announcing this partnership, Wema Bank through its women-focused platform, SARA by Wema, said it will be awarding ₦2 million in business grants to support women entrepreneurs within the SARA Community.
This grant is to support small and medium businesses within the SARA Community to scale up their business.
Ayodele Olojede, Head, Retail and SME Banking at Wema Bank, said, “Wema Bank is committed to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing the financial backing, tools, training, and networks they need to scale sustainably. Year after year, we’ve seen the incredible ripple effect that access, and opportunity can create in the lives of women and their communities.
“Through SARA by Wema, our goal is to create an environment where Nigerian women can dream bigger, build stronger, and lead the economy with confidence. This partnership with SheCan is a statement of belief in the power of women to transform society.”
“This year’s partnership represents more than sponsorship; it is a tangible investment in helping Nigerian women build sustainable businesses, scale their impact, and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.
“Eligible applicants must be women-led businesses with active Wema Bank accounts and must be registered members of the SARA Community.
“Interested participants are required to submit a written pitch of no more than two pages, detailing their business and founder story, the problem being solved, target audience and competitive advantage, proposed use of the grant, and the expected outcomes and community impact. Entries must also include the applicant’s Wema Bank account number, full name, and the email address used to join the SARA Community.”
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