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Sterling One Foundation partners Live Abundantly, British High Commission on gender based violence

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L-R: Dr. Ama Onyerinma, Founder, Live Abundantly; Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health; Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO Sterling One Foundation; Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria.
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Sterling One Foundation, in collaboration with Live Abundantly and the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, has officially launched the 2023 edition of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence in Nigeria.

L-R: Dr. Ama Onyerinma, Founder, Live Abundantly; Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health; Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO Sterling One Foundation; Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria.

The 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign, an annual United Nations initiative held annually from November 25 to December 10 (International Human Rights Day), aims to eradicate violence against women.

The global campaign, established in 1991 by the Women’s Global Leadership Institute at Rutgers University, has expanded to include violence against both girls and boys.

It is used as an organisational strategy by individuals and organisations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

In support of the initiative, the United Nations Secretary-General launched in 2008 the campaign UNITE by 2030 to End Violence against Women, which runs parallel to the 16 Days of Activism.

Since its inception in 1991, over 6,000 organisations from approximately 187 countries have participated in the campaign.

The event, held at the EbonyLife Place in Lagos, featured a film screening titled “Chatroom,” produced by Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation.

According to Mrs. Ibekwe, statistics show that one in three women and one in six boys have experienced violations. She emphasised the urgent need to eliminate gender-based violence, calling for advocacy and action from individuals, private sector players, and development organisations to address and find solutions to the pervasive issue.

She added that it is important to escalate discussions on gender-based violence into the living rooms of the citizenry.

The Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Jonny Baxter, in his goodwill message stressed the importance of legislative measures to protect human rights and urged collaboration between the government and the public.

In her goodwill message, Dr. Ama Onyerinma, Founder of Live Abundantly, observed that the provided statistics may not fully capture the reality due to underreporting, adding that there is a need for people to use their voices to amplify awareness about it. She noted that when gender-based violence is not reported there can be no social justice for victims, no better awareness, no protection and no advocacy.

Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi affirmed Lagos State’s intolerance of gender-based violence, citing the establishment of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (DSVA) as part of its commitment to tackling the issue under its THEMES Agenda.

Goodwill messages were also shared by Dr. Adewale Oyerinde of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association and Pearl Uzokwe of the Malala Fund in Nigeria.

Dr. Oyerinde highlighted the multi-dimensional nature of the issue and outlined efforts by the private sector to ensure the safety and protection of their workforce.

Mrs. Uzokwe commended the multi-sectoral partners gathered. She added that all citizens have a part to play and commended the sustained efforts of the Lagos State Government in prioritizing the elimination of gender-based violence.


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NAICOM Signs MoU with BPP to Deepen Insurance Compliance in Public Procurement

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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for collaboration and strengthening of the insurance industry, in the area of public procurement processes.

The Commissioner for Insurance, Olusegun Ayo Omosehin, welcoming the Director-General of BPP, Adebowale Adedokun, and his delegation to NAICOM for a working visit, during which the agreement was signed, highlighted the role of NAICOM as the statutory regulator charged with supervising, regulating and promoting the growth of Nigeria’s insurance industry.

He further stated that NAICOM’s current reform priorities include policyholder protection, regulatory capacity building, legal modernisation, recapitalisation, and increasing insurance penetration.

He emphasised that the collaboration would reinforce the principles of public procurement and insurance practice in Nigeria. He noted that achieving President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of transforming Nigeria’s economy into a one-trillion-dollar economy required strong inter-agency cooperation.

He stressed that the commission’s reform objectives could not be fully realised without strategic collaboration with agencies such as BPP. The Commissioner further disclosed plans to establish a platform to monitor and verify insurance coverage for public procurement items and assured that insurance operators would strictly adhere to established rules and standards.

In his remarks, the Director-General of BPP, Adedokun, commended the ongoing transformation in the insurance industry, describing the Commission’s environment as serene and reflective of its readiness to support the Federal Government’s economic growth agenda.

Adedokun, welcomed the partnership and highlighted implementation as the critical next phase: “Signing MoU is only the beginning — what matters is delivery. BPP has moved to a fully digital submission model to speed approvals and reduce opportunities for corruption”, he stated.


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Binance Cuts Illicit Activity Exposure by 96%, Leads Global Crypto Compliance Push

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Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has reported a 96 per cent drop in direct exposure to illicit activities between January 2023 and June 2025, underscoring its commitment to regulatory excellence and user safety amid Nigeria’s growing digital finance sector.

Binance Cuts Illicit Activity Exposure by 96%, Leads Global Crypto Compliance Push

Binance

The exchange highlighted investments in a robust compliance framework, including over 580 global compliance professionals and 970 staff in related roles, advanced transaction monitoring, stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, and anti-money laundering (AML) systems.

These measures align with evolving regulations across key markets, including Nigeria, where crypto adoption surges despite Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) guidelines.

Binance’s Chief Compliance Officer, Noah Perlman, said: “At Binance we’ve built a system that doesn’t just react to threats, it anticipates them. A 96% reduction in illicit exposure is a testament to our infrastructure and the 1,500+ professionals working behind the scenes to protect our 300M users.”

Key achievements include a 96.8 per cent plunge in sanctions-related exposure—from 0.284 per cent in January 2024 to 0.009 per cent in July 2025.

In 2025 alone, Binance responded to over 71,000 law enforcement requests, helping seize more than $130 million (over ₦200 billion) in illicit funds.

Collaborations with agencies like Europol, DEA, UK’s NCA, and national cybercrime units have dismantled ransomware groups, darknet markets, and trafficking networks.

Binance co-CEO Richard Teng added: “Our mission has always been to increase the freedom of money, but that freedom is only sustainable if it is built on a foundation of trust. By integrating compliance into our product DNA, we are proving that the world’s largest exchange can also be the most secure.”

The platform engages regulators and policymakers to shape balanced rules supporting innovation while prioritising transparency and financial integrity. Since 2017, Binance has served over 300 million users, publishing regular compliance updates to build trust.

Industry watchers note Binance’s efforts resonate in Nigeria, where crypto trading volumes exceed $50 billion annually, but challenges like fraud and regulatory scrutiny persist. The exchange’s progress could bolster confidence as the CBN refines fintech policies.

Binance reaffirmed its dedication to a safer crypto ecosystem through ongoing investments and partnerships.


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Nigeria’s VAT Jumps 34%, CIT Soars 48% to ₦14trn in 9M’25 – NBS

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Nigeria’s non-oil tax collections posted robust growth in the first nine months of 2025, with Value Added Tax (VAT) rising 34 per cent to ₦6.4 trillion and Company Income Tax (CIT) jumping 48 per cent to ₦7.72 trillion, bolstering federal revenue amid oil price volatility.

Nigeria's VAT Jumps 34%, CIT Soars 48% to ₦14trn in 9M'25 – NBS

NBS

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed VAT climbing from ₦4.77 trillion in 9M’24, reflecting stronger domestic consumption and imports. Quarterly trends indicated a slight 1.4 per cent dip to ₦2.03 trillion in Q2’25 from ₦2.06 trillion in Q1’25, followed by a 10.66 per cent rebound to ₦2.28 trillion in Q3’25—a 28.1 per cent year-on-year gain.

In Q3’25, local VAT hit ₦1.12 trillion, foreign VAT ₦680.23 billion, and import VAT ₦479.79 billion. Sectorally, Administrative and Support Services led with 89.28 per cent quarter-on-quarter growth, trailed by Arts, Entertainment and Recreation (82.49 per cent) and Human Health (32.4 per cent). Real Estate contracted sharply by 51.33 per cent. Manufacturing dominated contributions at 25.89 per cent, followed by Information and Communication (18.77 per cent) and Mining/Quarrying (14.85 per cent).

CIT followed suit, surging from ₦5.22 trillion in 9M’24. It stood at ₦1.98 trillion in Q1’25, leaped 40 per cent to ₦2.78 trillion in Q2’25, and grew 5.7 per cent to ₦2.96 trillion in Q3’25—a 67.19 per cent year-on-year rise. Domestic CIT reached ₦1.21 trillion in Q3, while foreign CIT hit ₦1.75 trillion, underscoring multinational firms’ role.

Economists attribute the uptick to improved tax administration, digital tracking, and post-reform consumption, though sectoral disparities signal real estate headwinds. The gains support President Tinubu’s revenue diversification drive, reducing oil dependency as global crude fluctuates.

NBS data highlights non-oil taxes’ potential to fund infrastructure and social programmes, with analysts eyeing sustained momentum into 2026.


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