General News
RisingRose is Customer-Centric -Linda
Linda Austin-akuta is the managing director of RisingRose Nigeria Limited. Linda, a pious manager is a graduate of Lagos State University (LASU), obtaining Bachelor of Science in Political Science. Upon completion of her National Youth Service she joined UPS in 2002 as a Client Services Executive. She rose to the position of Accounts Executive after she gathered many awards. She spoke to peter ugwu on matters that need urgent attention by the government in a quest to open courier industry for national development.
RiseRose’s Mission
The mission is to provide the best possible delivery service to our customers by curbing the inconsistencies in mails and financial documents delivery system. RisingRose wants to ensure end to the mishandling of the investors’ documents. Sometimes, the documents are lost in transit.
Part of the processes of ensuring safety is by packaging the documents in accordance with international best practices.
We are committed to offering superior levels of service with the most flexible options available at shortest possible time. We have been doing this for the past three years and our clients can testify to our integrity and reliability.
We believe in high effective customer service. For instance, there are practitioners that wouldn’t know that during packaging if one misses the address labeling, one are creating room for confusion for those that pick the package.
When the names and addresses are blurred or not conspicuously written the delivery may end up in a wrong hand or place. We believe in integrity and trust.
Assessment of Courier Industry
Since we started operations, we have discovered the need to deliver customers’ items on time.
For instance, our customers, most of whom we deliver dividends warrants, would want it delivered as scheduled.
If one fails to do that, it may end up in the hands of people that will mis-represent it.
That becomes a problem to the registrar. These documents are time sensitive.
Once we have this kind of job, we make sure we deliver; even if it implies stepping down other things. Moreover, all mails in our care are very important to us and must be treated very urgent.
Expansion Plans As e-Dividends Have Emerged
The conversion of annual reports, dividend certificates, et cetera to compact discs has already been taken care of, especially by the concerned authorities.
When the conversion started, it was still given to us (couriers) to deliver, but the prices crashed. For instance, annual reports that cost N150.00 were reduced to N60 per CD. Even if one is given 100,000 copies to deliver, the revenue was not enough.
However, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST) intervened, because CDs are more fragile to handle. The process of packaging the CDs needs extra care; the packaging was different.
So, it attracted extra charges. Presently, it cost N150.00 per CD to deliver.
Rising Rose Expectations
There are many expectations in the industry, like the regularization of the sector. Everybody is expectant that it will become a reality soon.
Meanwhile, in the interim, Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) of NIPOST has been doing what they could, within the limited resources at their disposal to quail some challenges in the industry.
Some people are of the opinion that they are not doing much. But, we believe that they are on the right track.
For instance, one cannot establish a courier company without obtaining a licence; otherwise one is going against the law. The CRD will provide all necessary rules and regulations to guide in the obtaining of courier licence and operation.
The rules form the operational basis for courier companies. We have witnessed in the recent past that some firms were axed by CRD for their inability to play according to the rules. Nevertheless, we feel they can do better if they are made to operate as courier regulatory commission.
Kicks Against Yearly Renewal of Licence
With regards to the annual licences renewal, well, the ANCO EXCOS are working on it and I hope they will come out with something more favourable to all operators.
Caging Portfolio Courier Firms
I believe that CRD is always after those people. It also behooves on the media and industry players to fight the old trends by consistent campaign against that and alerting the regulators when we see any of them in operation.
In ANCO, we can identify our members. It is an illegality that must stop. These people are architects of the downfall of many practitioners, because they would approach unsuspecting customers, collect parcels to deliver and later dump such packages thereby bringing bad name to the courier industry.
Although, they are not magicians, but their operations affect the genuine companies; they are threats to our integrity as an industry.
It boils down to the call for a Commission to manage the affairs of this industry. Meanwhile, the new ANCO executives have sounded the gong; if you are not a member of NAICA or ANCO, you should not be in the industry.
That will help in fishing out the bad eggs. Both the Government, regulators, registrars, recognized practitioners and the customers must unite to cage them.
Unharnessed Potentials
There are many of them. When I was in UPS, we started the warehousing project. Before then, we knew nothing about it in the country.
It has been yielding revenue for the company. Warehousing is an area that courier companies should look into. A lot of people do not want to have warehouse due to safety requirements, so others can leverage on that opportunity.
The online retailers may require such services too. In the actual sense, the online shops ought to partner with courier firms in terms of warehousing and delivery of goods to customers. Even Bulk post should tighten their noose on them.
The potentials in the industry can better be harnessed when players play according to the rules in the industry. They will become templates that future investors will emulate.
Meanwhile, the sector can be equated with the oil and gas. If we get a Commission today, a lot of jobs will be created in the industry.
IT and Courier
What we are doing is not pleasure inclined. Emails are pleasure writings. What we deliver are sensitive and time bound documents. They are physical documents that must be seen and felt at the other end. We still deliver them. So, email or no email we are moving on.
After e-dividends and e-certificates, for instance, we still carry the e-advice, which is meant to notify the shareholders involved that their accounts have been credited. In fact, technology is a plus to what we do. More people are beginning to trust the system.
They can use the internet to track movement of their packages. If you are doubtful of the capital market, you can use your system to monitor how the share is fairing in the market. That has restored shareholders’ confidence.
Encounter with Government Agents
We have a lot of challenges in this regard; Government agencies do obstruct the movement of courier dispatch riders on essential duties because of tax collection. These taxes we pay. I am of the opinion that if a special identification is given to us for the dispatch riders, it will enhance our inter-state operations and could reduce some legal risks to us.
Automation
Before now, when we have registered mails we recorded them in note books. This takes longer times. Presently, we give our customers soft copy that helps them to monitor the shareholder’ registered manifest. This makes it easier and more convenient to access their customers’ share registration.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised the alarm that some corrupt Nigerian politicians are now hiding their illicit wealth in cryptocurrencies to evade scrutiny and detection by anti-graft agencies.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC
The EFCC boss said the agency had uncovered a growing trend where fraudulent public officials now used cryptocurrency wallets to stash stolen public funds and conduct illicit transactions.
Olukoyede made the revelation at an event commemorating Africa Anti-Corruption Day.
The event was held simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and Ibadan, Oyo State.
Other speakers at the event lamented that Nigerians usually fell victim to crypto fraud, including the recent CBEX scam, where Nigerians lost over N1.3tn.
Olukoyede said, “Virtual asset fraud is on the rise. Our findings show that fraudulent politicians are already perfecting schemes and hiding their loot in cryptocurrencies to beat the investigative blackness of anti-corruption agencies.
“Stolen funds and unexplained wealth are being warehoused in wallets and payment for services are being done through this window,” he said.
Olukoyede warned that while the rise of virtual assets had transformed financial transactions globally, it had also created new avenues for money laundering and financial crimes.
He said, “Technology is moving at a supersonic speed around the world.
“The advent of virtual assets is a response to one of the qualities of money as a store of value like it is known in our elementary economies.”
“However, as with every progressive innovation, fraud starts to usually evolve, evolve ways of perverting their genuine purposes,” he said.
He added that the EFCC was not helpless in the face of the sophisticated schemes, noting that proactive training and intelligence sharing had enabled the commission to identify and investigate such cases.
Airtel Nigeria, telecommunications and digital solutions provider, has reemphasised its commitment to national development with a two-day workshop for companies in Nigeria’s Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI) and utility sectors.
Held from July 8 to 9, 2025 at the Lagos Continental, the exclusive event brought together C-suite executives and industry thought leaders to co-create transformative and tech-driven solutions for these critical industries.
Themed “Banking on Innovation: Powering Financial Services with Connectivity” on 1 and “Accelerating Nigeria’s Digital Leap: Smarter Networks, Smarter Business” on Day 2, the sessions were designed to identify critical pain points, unlock business potential, and drive smarter, more connected operations across two of the nation’s most essential sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, Dinesh Balsingh, Managing Director/CEO of Airtel Nigeria, reaffirmed Airtel’s dedication to enabling and driving Nigeria’s digital transformation across the finance and energy sectors.
Speaking on the timeliness of the workshop, Airtel Nigeria’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dinesh Balsingh said, “From power and water to finance, transportation, and logistics, this is a defining moment for every sector. The real question isn’t whether to adopt digital solutions, but how quickly and intelligently we can do so. At Airtel Nigeria, we’re moving beyond basic connectivity and becoming a true digital partner to the industries we serve.”
He highlighted Airtel’s categories of enterprise solutions that has been created to improve quality of life. These groupings include Internet of Things (IoT) for such services as smart metering, leak detection, energy optimisation, and real-time asset tracking; Communications Platform as a Service (CPaaS), which enables secure, multi-channel customer engagement via SMS, WhatsApp, Voice, and USSD; as well asl Network as a Service (NaaS), which delivers flexible, secure connectivity with cloud-ready agility.
Mr. Balsingh added that, “Nigeria’s power and energy industries are under growing pressure to modernise. Legacy infrastructure, fragmented systems, and lack of real-time visibility are major obstacles. Airtel is stepping in with the right tools, not just to connect, but to transform. With IoT, CPaaS, and NaaS, we’re laying the groundwork for smarter operations, improved service delivery, and better outcomes for businesses and consumers alike.”
Abhishek Biswal, Chief Business Officer, Digital Services at Airtel India, brought substantial insight to the discourse with a demonstration of Airtel’s IoT Hub and its transformative impact on energy distribution.
Biswal said, “The future of finance and energy is digital, and that future must be secure, scalable, and seamless. When financial players and utility providers partner with telcos like Airtel, we’re not just connecting systems; we’re building a smarter digital ecosystem for everyone.”
Reinforcing the CEO’s position, Ogo Ofomata, Director, Airtel Business, called for collaboration among the participating sector and their stakeholders.
“We don’t take lightly the trust you have put in us. Airtel operates in what we call the enabler industry. Sometimes we don’t even know there’s a problem until we come together like this. This workshop is about understanding your needs and working side by side to design solutions that truly fit,” she said.
In his remarks, Luc Serviant, Group Enterprise Business Director at Airtel Africa, highlighted the company’s role in driving digital transformation through sustained investments in 5G and LEO satellite connectivity, aimed at boosting remote operations and expanding access in underserved regions across the finance and energy sectors.
He said, “At Airtel, we understand that the future of is going digital, and reliable connectivity is the backbone of that future. From 5G to LEO satellite integration, we are investing in intelligent infrastructure that empowers service providers to operate more efficiently, respond in real-time, and deliver uninterrupted services to millions of Nigerians. This isn’t just about innovation; it’s about building the digital foundation that will power the nation’s next chapter.”
This workshop, which continues the series of sectoral engagements within Nigeria’s growing economy, concluded with feedback from stakeholders who called for the inclusion of regulatory bodies such as the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) in future editions.
The Credit Fund of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund has successfully closed its first investment, committing $10 million to Telecel Global Services Ltd, through a senior secured amortising loan.
The transaction marks a significant milestone in the operationalisation of the Fund. The Credit Fund is one of three Funds under the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, established by the AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to provide targeted transitional support to AfCFTA State Parties and private sector entities as they adjust to the requirements and opportunities presented by the AfCFTA Agreement.
Telecel Global Services, a subsidiary of the Mauritius based Telecel Group, provides wholesale voice and SMS services and enterprise connectivity solutions to more than 250 telecoms operators across Africa and globally.
With digital connectivity being at the heart of the trade and economic integration and success of the AfCFTA, this facility will support Telecel’s expansion in Ghana and Liberia, strengthen its infrastructure, and contribute to bridging Africa’s digital divide through enhanced connectivity and digital inclusion.
By investing in digital infrastructure in underserved markets, the Fund is helping reduce trade barriers, foster cross-boarder productivity and accelerate inclusive industrialization. Mr. Jean-Louis Ekra, Chairman of the Board of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund Corporation, stated: “
The closing of our first deal marks a historic milestone for the Credit Fund and the broader vision of the AfCFTA.
This US$10 million investment in Telecel Global Services is a clear demonstration of how targeted capital can drive meaningful impact—accelerating digital connectivity, enabling intraAfrican trade, and supporting private sector-led development in priority sectors.
It is our commitment to ensure that such investments continue to bridge critical gaps, stimulate economic resilience, and unlock Africa’s vast potential.”
H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, noted: “This transaction demonstrates how the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund is beginning to serve its intended purpose – supporting State Parties and the private sector as we work to make this Agreement commercially meaningful.
By investing in digital infrastructure, we are addressing some of the most critical enablers of trade facilitation, industrialisation, and regional value chain development.”
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, added: “Today, we make another bold statement of our unwavering intent to ensure that Africans reap the benefits of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.
We are proud to have commenced the operationalisation of the Credit Fund. With this Fund, we will provide vital support to African corporates, helping them retool and expand their operations necessary to capitalise on the AfCFTA opportunities.
The investment strengthens a critical enabler, the digital economy and regional connectivity, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to transforming the structure of the African economy.”
Marlene Ngoyi, CEO, FEDA, the Fund Manager of the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, said: “This investment exemplifies the strategic intent of the Credit Fund – to catalyse growth and resilience in sectors that are vital for Africa’s structural transformation.
We are proud to partner with Telecel, whose operations directly advance intra-African connectivity and digital trade.”
The Credit Fund will continue to prioritise commercially viable investments that enable trade, support diversification, and promote inclusive growth in line with the broader AfCFTA implementation agenda.
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