Easybuy, Africa’s leading smartphone and electronics financing provider and a pioneer in the continent’s Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) sector, has partnered with WAWUAfrica to empower 10 million Nigerian youths and women with job-ready skills for sustainable wealth creation.

The initiative spans digital and IT literacy, financial and economic literacy, creative arts and design, business and entrepreneurship, as well as hospitality and tourism.

At a recent signing ceremony held in Lagos, Easybuy was named the Official Device Financing and Lifestyle Partner for the Federal Government of Nigeria–approved training initiative. The programme is being launched by the Office of the Vice President through the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), and implemented by WAWUAfrica, in collaboration with key development partners, including Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Women, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Ministry of Trade & Investment, the World Bank, African Union Sixth Region Global, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), as well as leading professional bodies such as the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), National Institute of Credit Administration (NICA), Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), and the Nigeria Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (NIIE).

“Smartphones have become essential for participation in today’s economy, yet millions of Nigerians still face barriers to accessing the devices they need,” said Abdul-gaffar Adesoji, Sales Director of Easybuy Nigeria. “As the Official Device Financing and Lifestyle Partner for this great initiative, Easybuy will support WAWUAfrica’s mission by bridging the smart device access gap, empowering underserved communities across the country, and unlocking new economic opportunities for Nigerians through inclusive financing solutions.”

“To boost Nigeria’s economic and financial inclusion drive, as part of our contribution to the initiative, Easybuy will be providing up to 10,000 of sales jobs to trained participants among the 10 million beneficiaries of this worthwhile initiative. The Easybuy team is dedicated to bringing an easier life to millions of Nigerians across the country,” Adesoji further noted.

Commenting on the partnership, Emmanuel Lennox, Chief Executive Officer of WAWUAfrica, said: “This partnership reflects a deliberate shift from skills acquisition as an end, to skills deployment as a driver of national productivity.

By integrating Easybuy’s device financing into the WAWUAfrica training ecosystem, we are ensuring that participants are not just trained, but fully equipped to participate meaningfully in today’s digital economy. It is a model designed to remove structural barriers and accelerate inclusion at scale.”

“What we are building with Easybuy is a closed-loop system for economic transformation, one that connects skills training and real earning opportunities in a continuous cycle. Individuals are given access to acquire smartphones through Easybuy, receive free training, and participate in income-generating activities from sales roles.

The result is a scalable model that doesn’t just prepare people for jobs, it actively enables new businesses, and empowers a new generation of Nigerians to earn, grow, and contribute sustainably to the economy,” Lennox added.

Despite rising connectivity, a significant access gap persists, with over 120 million Nigerians still offline, largely due to the high cost of smartphones. As mobile devices remain the primary gateway to financial inclusion, education, and commerce, affordability continues to limit market penetration.

This gap represents a substantial growth opportunity for scalable financing models to accelerate digital inclusion while unlocking new consumer markets and economic value. This is where Easybuy comes in, offering affordable device financing plans, and empowering millions of users to purchase quality mobile phones through flexible repayments.

This partnership with WAWUAfrica is a strategic response to Nigeria’s economic and financial inclusion gap. Despite steady progress, nearly 29 million adult Nigerians are still excluded from the financial system and only about 52% of the population hold bank accounts.

With rural and low-income communities disproportionately affected, the gap offers an opportunity for scalable, mobile-driven financial solutions like the partnership between WAWUAfrica and Easybuy that can unlock access, drive adoption, and accelerate inclusive economic growth.

Quest Merchant Bank Limited successfully held its 11th Annual General Meeting (AGM), during which shareholders approved the Bank’s Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, and commended the institution on its strong financial performance, successful recapitalisation, and long-term strategic direction.

The recent AGM follows the successful acquisition of the Bank by Everquest Acquisition LLP a special purpose vehicle led by Custodian Investments Plc, as well as the attainment of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s ₦50 billion minimum capital requirement ahead of the regulatory deadline.

Quest Merchant Bank delivered a strong financial performance for the 2025 financial year, with gross earnings increasing by 29% year-on-year to ₦81.5 billion, driven by growth in net interest income and stronger asset yields. Profit before tax expanded by 23%, while operating efficiency improved significantly, with the Bank’s cost-to-income ratio improving by 2.3 percentage points.

The Bank also maintained strong liquidity and asset quality indicators while further strengthening its governance, risk management, and compliance frameworks in response to evolving regulatory expectations and market dynamics.

The Ag. Managing Director/CEO, Afolabi Olorode, stated that the Bank’s performance reflects a deliberate strategy anchored on operational excellence, client-centricity, innovation, and disciplined execution.

“Our strategic focus remains clear: to build a leading merchant bank anchored on strong capital, innovation, execution excellence, and deep client relationships. With our enhanced capital base and the launch of our 2026–2030 strategic plan, Quest Merchant Bank is exceptionally well-positioned to support critical sectors of the economy while delivering superior value to shareholders and stakeholders alike,” he said.

He added that the Bank would continue to deepen its capabilities across corporate and investment banking, wealth management, and global markets, while accelerating investments in technology, talent development, and operational resilience.

Shareholders at the AGM also approved key resolutions, including the payment of dividend, election of directors, and amendments to the Bank’s Memorandum and Articles of Association.

In line with its commitment to inclusive development and sustainable impact, the Bank expanded its corporate social responsibility initiatives during the year through financial literacy programmes, youth empowerment initiatives, healthcare interventions, and inclusive education partnerships.

Looking ahead, Quest Merchant Bank reaffirmed its commitment to strategic expansion, innovation, and sustainable finance while continuing to support Nigeria’s economic transformation agenda through strategic financial intermediation and advisory services.

Sir Stanley Amuchie, chief operations and information officer, Fidelity Bank Plc has been named “Outstanding Banker of the Year” for his incisive record of digital transformation in the financial sector.

Sir Stanley Amuchie,

He was crowned at Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Lectures and Awards, held at the weekend in Lagos.

Africa’s Beacon of ICT Merit and Leadership Lectures and Awards, is an annual, highly respected event in Nigeria’s technology sector organized by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek.

The awards recognize and celebrate organizations, public authorities, and individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to digital transformation and ICT growth across the continent.

Amuchie bagged “Outstanding Banker of the Year” according to the organizers for being one of Nigeria’s most accomplished and sought-after financial executive and technocrat.

He graduated as a First-Class student in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Benin and holds a Master’s degree in Corporate Governance from Leeds Beckett University in the UK.

With over two decades of experience, he is currently the executive director/chief operations & Information Fidelity Bank Plc.

Amuchie started  his career at Arthur Andersen, Lagos, Nigeria (now KPMG Professional Services) in September 1995 where he rose to the level of a Senior manager before exiting the organization in February 2000 to work in the banking industry.

He had earlier been the General Manager/Group Zonal Head, Zenith Bank Plc. Prior to this position, he was in Financial Control & Strategic Planning Department of the Bank  from February 2000 to May 2018 where he rose to the rank of Group Chief Financial Officer of the Bank.

In addition to his then responsibilities, he was a Director of Zenith Nominees Limited, a global Custody Subsidiary of Zenith Bank Plc.

He was at various times in-charge of the co-ordination of the Group’s Foreign Operations and Real Estate Operations.

Prior to the Bank’s election to operate as a Commercial bank with foreign authorization, he held the following  positions in the subsidiaries of the Bank; Chairman – Zenith Securities Limited; Director – Zenith Trustees Ltd, Director – Zenith Bureau De Change Ltd.

He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA), and an

Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Banker’s of Nigeria (HCIB).

He has attended various local and foreign Leadership courses in institutions like

Insead Business School in France and Harvard Business School in USA. Currently, he is an Executive Director Chief of Operations and Information Fidelity Bank PLC.

He is the Founder/President of The Goodlight Foundation.