News
Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde, Yetunde Babaeko, TeeA and Others Celebrate Steve Babaeko’s ADWeek Recognition In Lagos

Leading actress, Omotola Jalade-Ekehinde, Media Entrepreneur, Fade Ogunro, Singer, Praiz, DJ Spinall, On-Air Personality, Gbemi Olateru Olagbegi, Media Personality ,Lamide Akintobi, Comedian and MC, Tee A and other friends, family and close associates of Steve Babaeko, the CEO/CCO of Nigeria’s leading advertising and media production company, X3M Ideas, gathered together on Sunday 21st July at The George Lagos Hotel, Ikoyi, to celebrate Steve Babaeko’s recent recognition by Adweek as one of the top 100 creatives in 2019.
Other guests included; Publisher YES Magazine, Azuh Arinze, CEO Red Media, Debola Williams, Publisher, Brand Crunch, Lekan Babatunde, Chief Strategy Officer, EbonyLife Films, Eunice Omole, CEO Plaqad, Gbenga Sogbaike, Creative Director, STB McCann Lagos, Samson Adeoye, Assistant General Manager, Operations, Channels Television, Kingsley Uranta, CEO ID Africa, Femi Falodun, CEO Smooth Promotions, Ayo Animashaun, Ace Producer & Director, Femi Odugbemi, Supervising Producer, CNN Africa, Stephanie Busari and CEO Daria Media Ltd, Kadaria Ahmed amongst others.
The annual honorary list was created by Adweek to celebrate trendsetters and innovators in creative industries across the globe whose ideas are advancing advertising worldwide.
Steve’s wife and ace photographer, Yetunde Babaeko, their three sons and other members of his family also graced the occasion to honour Steve for his distinctive contribution to the Nigerian advertising and creative industry.
Speaking at the event, Steve expressed his joy on the Adweek recognition and other accomplishments by him saying,
“I’m glad that Nigerian creatives and companies are rising up to change the African narrative and tell original stories.
“We are not erasing our history, we are simply redefining the future and this is birth from a place of passion, as well as hard work.
“I feel honoured to be celebrated today. We will keep pushing boundaries and changing the way Africa is perceived.
We will continue inspiring younger generations and challenge practicing creatives, because this is how we can move Africa forward.”
Other international accomplishments by Steve Babaeko include being on the jury of the New York Advertising Festival in 2016, 2017 and 2018; serving as a judge at The Loerie Awards in 2017; and recently sitting on a panel at the Cannes Lion International Festival this June.
Steve Babaeko is the Vice President of the Association of Advertising Agencies in Nigeria (AAAN), and an associate member of the Advertising Practitioners Council of Nigeria (APCON).
His company, X3M Ideas, has also won numerous awards including the Marketing World Awards, Cristal Awards, and Lagos Advertising and Festival Awards.
Steve founded X3M Ideas, a digital advertising agency, in 2012 after an amazing advertising career that spanned over 15 years. The agency, today, is present in over four African countries, catering to some of Africa’s biggest brands like Globacom, Dangote and Multichoice.
News
How and Why N210 Trillion is Missing in NNPCL – CFO

Adedapo Segun, chief financial officer (CFO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has explained why there is a missing sum of N210 trillion in the company’s audited financial statement spanning from 2017 to 2023.
According to Segun, the missing funds are cash calls requested by joint venture (JV) partners and settlement to the JVs.
He spokeat a session of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Aliyu Wadada.
Segun was responding to an alarm raised by the committee over missing N210 trillion in NNPCL’s audited financial statement.
Recall that Wadada issued a one-week ultimatum to NNPCL to account for the missing N210 trillion.
Reacting, Segun said, “The N103 trillion and N107 trillion are made up of joint venture cash calls that have been requested by the JV operators and JV cash call payments made by NNPCL, which are yet to be reconciled because governance procedures were not done at that time.
“That is why you see the description reflecting those two items would be washed out because they are two sides of the same transaction, which is the cash calls by JV partners and the settlement by NNPCL.”
However, Habu Sadeik, a financial analyst, in a post on X on Thursday, said Segun’s response was unsatisfactory.
Saidik faulted NNPCL’s response about the fund discrepancies, noting that something is not right with the audited financial statement.
“Forget about the senators’ lack of knowledge.
“The CFO’s response is not satisfactory. Are you saying that cash calls worth hundreds of trillions are just appearing on your FS only in 2024 without 31 disclosure?
“If it’s a cash call, why hasn’t the disclosure said so?
“Which cash call is over 100 trillion?
“Something is definitely not right, and I hope they retrospectively correct that FS.
“Someone somewhere did a chef’s work,” he wrote on X.
News
PalmPay, Glo Launch “Recharge and Win Bonanza 2” with Exciting Prizes

PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading fintech company, has partnered with Globacom to launch the second edition of the “Recharge and Win Bonanza” campaign. The promotion, which runs from June 19th to August 8th, 2025, offers Nigerians the chance to win amazing prizes when they purchase Glo airtime and data via the PalmPay app.
According to a joint statement by PalmPay and Globacom, “A weekly live raffle draw will be held and streamed on PalmPay’s official social media channels throughout the campaign. Customers who make Glo transactions through the PalmPay app will be eligible to win prizes, including the iPhone 15 Pro, Infinix Hot 40, and other exciting items”.
To participate, interested customers can log onto http://bit.ly/PalmPaySms .
The statement added that all transaction above N500 gives participants an extra shot at winning, adding that daily social media challenges will also offer participants a chance to win cash prizes.
Additionally, PalmPay users can enjoy up to 6% cashback when they buy Glo airtime and data through the PalmPay app. As an added bonus, customers who have not subscribed to a Glo data plan in the last 90 days will receive a 100% bonus on their recharge during the campaign period.
Wayne Ruppel, Head of Billers at PalmPay Limited expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that, “This collaboration is a major step in our mission to deliver MORE – more support, more rewards, and more innovation to our customers.
Partnering with Glo, a leader in the telecommunications sector, is a testament to our shared commitment to improving everyday experiences for all Nigerians. We are excited to reward our users and encourage everyone to take full advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Globacom also expressed delight at creating additional value for its subscribers through unique customer-appreciation schemes.
“Our partnership with PalmPay on the “Recharge and Win Bonanza perfectly underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional value and experiences. Over the years, we have always sought innovative ways to enrich the lives of our customers. We, therefore, enjoin our subscribers to utilize the opportunity provided by the bonanza and enjoy the many benefits it offers”, the company stated.
PalmPay and Glo will collaborate throughout the campaign period to deliver exceptional customer experience, reward loyalty, and reinforce their shared mission to make digital transactions more accessible, rewarding, and secure for millions of Nigerians.
News
UK Reaffirms 99% Duty-Free Access for Nigerian Exports Under Developing Countries Trading Scheme

United Kingdom has reiterated its long-term commitment to strengthening economic ties with Nigeria, confirming that 99% of Nigerian goods will continue to enjoy duty-free access to the UK market under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

Dr. Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria
The announcement reinforces the UK’s intention to bolster sustainable trade with Nigeria, boost export competitiveness, and promote inclusive economic growth across both nations. Introduced in June 2023, the DCTS is designed to reduce tariffs and simplify export rules for developing economies. It currently benefits 37 African countries, with Nigeria being a key player.
Nigerian exporters are set to gain substantial advantages from the scheme, which allows over 3,000 products—ranging from cocoa, plantain, and shrimp to processed items like cocoa paste, palm oil, and cotton garments—to enter the UK duty-free or with reduced tariffs. This shift supports value addition in Nigeria’s export ecosystem, encouraging the move from raw to processed exports.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, said: > “Nigeria stands at the heart of the UK’s global trade ambitions. This isn’t just about improved market access—it’s about building a fairer, freer global trading system that supports economic growth and job creation, both in developing countries and in the UK.”
He further noted that through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), the UK continues to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) to tackle export challenges and maximise opportunities under the scheme.
The DCTS aligns with broader UK efforts to expand trade relations across the globe, complementing recent agreements with nations such as India and the United States.
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