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UBA GMD Tasks Media Practitioners on News Channels Paradigm Shift

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Mr. Phillips Oduoza, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc (fifth from left), flanked by attendees to Functional Social Networking for Nigerian Journalists summit held in Lagos on Thursday and sponsored by the bank
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Mr. Phillips Oduoza, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has tasked media practitioners in Nigeria on the need to embrace contemporary channels in news dissemination, stating that social media have transformed the bank’s customer experience.

Oduoza’s wakeup call was contained in his welcome address at a Functional Social Networking for Nigerian Journalists summit held in Lagos on Thursday.

The GMD cited a recent study in America which showed how internet penetration will improve through broadband services including Nigeria.

“Of course, the report”, he said, “revealed that half of the Americans get their news through the social sites; they represent about 30% of the American population. Also, 52% of Twitter users get their news through twitter channel. It is also interesting that these percentages get higher with the younger people coming on board and a clear indication of what the future looks like. In Nigeria, the youths constitute of 75% of the population. And they are the future of this country”.

 He said that across Africa, the population is approximately one billion, with the youths close to about 700 million; “that is very huge. If you lose out in this very segment, then you are losing something substantive”. 
The UBA boss said that UBA operates in 19 African countries, which are the most strategic markets in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, it has stayed ahead of competition through various e-banking innovations and leverage on the social media.

He said: “We facilitate trades and financial transactions across the Continent, employing over 25,000 staff. We are truly a Pan-African bank.

“We consider the media as critical in what we are doing. They not only hold government accountable, the play major roles by influencing policies for the continent. They must be supported to continue to play the critical roles.  

“As a bank that considers the media as critical stakeholders in our development, we are taking note that the media is changing globally. The rise in social media following the disruptive technologies, have caused a rapid shift from the normal practices. This goes to tell that any medium that falls to embrace the social media may soon close shop due to losses.

“The rise of social media is disrupting models in the marketing space. Media moguls have realized the need to change their business models while journalists need not be told to learn new skills”.

Oduoza while admitting that the media industry in Nigeria needs financial interventions in line with recent Federal Government’s approach to the agriculture, entertainment and financial sector, he said that UBA was ready to rally other stakeholders to map out funds in support of innovative media organizations.

Earlier, Taiwo Obe, the convener, said that the summit had become expedient following unethical practices witnessed among untrained members of the public, who are taking the roles of the real-time news men. He said the trend can be addressed when the present news rooms are digitalized in conformity to the contemporary digital media.

He expressed optimism that with the digitization of the newsroom coupled with journalists’ readiness to embrace the social media, the professional norms, values and ethics can be restored.

The organized by Journalism Clinic and Everything About Journalism, sponsored by UBA Pls also drew attentions of both the academic and practitioners.   
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Pawnith Appoints Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director to Lead Strategic Launch into Nigeria’s Fintech Ecosystem

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The Board of Directors of Pawnith Limited has announced the appointment of Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment coincides with the official launch of Pawnith as a sophisticated new entrant in Nigeria’s financial services and alternative investment landscape.

Pawnith Limited is a technology-enabled financial services platform established to address critical gaps in access to capital by delivering transparent, dignified, and scalable financing solutions.

The Board confirmed that Ms. Ogbebor’s appointment is central to a long-term strategy that combines the operational rigor of traditional finance with the speed, efficiency, and innovation of modern fintech.

Ms. Ogbebor brings over 15 years of senior leadership experience across the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors, where she has led brand transformations and nationwide revenue growth initiatives.

Her appointment signals Pawnith’s intent to build a high-trust financial institution anchored on strong governance, regulatory discipline, and long-term value creation.

“The Board is confident that Martina’s experience in building high-trust, regulated brands positions her uniquely to lead Pawnith at this critical stage,” said the Chairman of the Board.

“Her mandate is clear: to establish a disciplined capital platform that delivers rapid access to funding while upholding the highest standards of ethics, risk management, and corporate governance.”

Under Ms. Ogbebor’s leadership, Pawnith is launching a multi-segment capital model designed to evolve into a comprehensive financial services and alternative investment ecosystem.

The company’s initial portfolio spans personal credit solutions, offering short- to medium-term loans for salaried professionals with transparent pricing and rapid disbursement, alongside SME and business lending focused on working capital and growth financing to help entrepreneurs stabilise cash flow and scale operations.

The portfolio also includes asset-backed lending, providing secure, collateralised facilities that support fair valuations and flexible liquidity, as well as structured lending through a forthcoming private credit arm aimed at delivering institutional-grade financing to growing enterprises.

In addition, Pawnith offers private equity investment solutions, providing strategic growth capital to select businesses and partnering with founders to drive long-term value creation, stronger governance, and operational scale.

Pawnith’s digital infrastructure prioritises speed, security, and control. The platform features secure onboarding, automated Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, and structured repayment tracking to ensure a seamless and compliant experience for both individual and corporate clients.

“Pawnith is being built as a disciplined financial platform—one that customers, partners, and regulators can trust,” the Board added. “We are not a quick-win lender; we are building a cornerstone institution for Nigeria’s evolving credit and investment market.”

 


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PalmPay Deepens Its Long-Term Commitment in Nigeria with New Office @ Yaba

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PalmPay has opened a new office at 33 Old Yaba Road, Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational growth in Nigeria.

The new office represents a continued investment in PalmPay’s people, operations, and infrastructure, supporting the company’s ability to deliver reliable financial services at scale. Designed to accommodate PalmPay’s growing team, the workspace enables closer cross-functional collaboration while strengthening service delivery nationwide. Located in Yaba, one of Lagos’s most established commercial and technology corridors, the office further anchors PalmPay within Nigeria’s innovation and financial ecosystem.

Speaking at the office launch, Managing Director Chika Nwosu highlighted that the new workspace reflects PalmPay’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence. “This new office represents an important step in our growth journey and our commitment to building secure, reliable, and inclusive financial solutions for our users,” he said.

The launch event was attended by PalmPay’s leadership team, employees and customers, who toured the facility and marked the company’s continued growth and progress.

With the opening of its office at 33 Old Yaba Road, PalmPay continues to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and reaffirm its mission to drive financial inclusion through innovative digital solutions.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.

Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users and processes up to 15 million transactions daily. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.


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NAHCO Signs New Ground Handling Deals

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The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.

NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.

According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.

The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.

The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.

“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”

The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.

According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.

“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.

 


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