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Dr Aina Tasks FinTechs on Corporate Governance

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Dr Segun Aina, founding President of the Africa Fintech Network (AFN), and Board Chairman, FintechNGR has urged financial technology service providers in the country to embrace and pay a lot of attention to good and well-established corporate governance practices as they expand to new markets beyond the country and continent.

Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 42nd Annual General Meeting of Odu’a Investment Company Limited held in Lagos recently, he said: “We have issues about lack of acceptable corporate governance in startup businesses who are largely small businesses without the desired structures when starting, but over time they will grow and require sound corporate governance practices to scale.

“This is why stakeholders in the industry including the organizations I belong to are now focusing and putting a lot of emphasis on corporate governance.

“The first set of Fintechs are now becoming big institutions. As they move into new markets the demand and need for acceptable, compliant and tested governance structures and practices becomes very imperative.

“That is desirable for the next stage of growth in the Fintech space, and with that in place, Nigeria Fintechs can operate without regulatory hiccups and compete anywhere in the world”.

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Dr Aina who is the immediate past chairman of Odu’a Investment Co Ltd who together with other Board members and management rejuvenated the company of companies and set it on the path of sustainable growth and profitability urged regulators and the government to formulate policies that are friendly towards advancing innovation in the country.

“Innovation related to creating non-existing solutions, these are things that were not in existence before and there is no way the government or regulators would have regulated what does not exist. Therefore, when it comes to existence, they will have to come up with how to regulate those innovative outcomes in a way to ensure in most cases the public interest.

“This may create encumbrances for some startup founders and entrepreneurs who were not in breach of any rules on commencement but now have to follow new guidelines and policies put in place to regulate their activities and operations.

“What is important is that policies have to be business friendly and must recognize that there is a need to innovate and the process ought to carry along all the stakeholders.  Regulatory policies should not stifle innovation but be seen as supportive of and advancing creativity. The good news is that things are changing now for the better with the financial services regulators, especially in the fintech space, he added.

Dr Aina expressed his belief in bequeathing Nigerian youths with digital skills to solve unemployment and create many new businesses that provide solutions to societal challenges.

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This is why he founded Opolo Global Innovation Ltd, an organization that has with the support of BoI established Innovation Hubs in ten University campuses in the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria as one of the platforms to emplace skilling, innovation and enterprise among students and researchers. Also during his tenure as Odua Investment Board Chairman, the company created the South-West Innovation and Technology Company Ltd (SWIT).

He said, “Today, the emphasis is on technology, as we have a large youth population in Nigeria, many of them with University degrees but without the needed skills to enter today’s workplace, hence most of the graduates in the past few years remain unemployed.

“So, we have to provide them with those skills, create the system that encourages them to become entrepreneurs and job creators, provide them with the seed capital, the funding needed to enable them to set up their own business so that a lot of them that are involved in other negative things will be able to focus on positive things that develop the society. Nigerian youths are very, very intelligent, they just need to be supported.

“It is against this backdrop that Odua Investment Co Ltd set up South West Innovation and Technology Co Ltd (SWIT), as a new subsidiary to be the driver of the changes that we want in the innovation and digital space, in solving problems, in doing new things and improving on the ways existing things are done.

“If things go the way it is envisioned, I’m sure in the next five years that company will have produced a lot of new enterprises who will be challenging global players, creating exciting solutions and products. That’s why we added the word innovation-doing new things that will solve the way we are going in our strategy”.

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Guinness Rolls Out Nationwide Consumer Rewards Promotion

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Guinness Nigeria has launched a nationwide National Consumer Promotion (NCP) tagged ‘Open For More’. This is a consumer rewards initiative that will see more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes won by consumers across the country.

The promotion, which runs nationwide, offers consumers the opportunity to win ₦1 million every day, ₦100,000 cash rewards for 1,000 winners, and a brand-new Toyota Land Cruiser Prado as the grand prize. The campaign is designed to reward loyal consumers while creating more opportunities for everyday Nigerians to celebrate life’s meaningful moments.

To participate, consumers are required to purchase specially marked bottles of Guinness Foreign Extra Stout or Guinness Smooth, check for the unique code beneath the crown cork, and enter the code at www.guinnessng.com/1759 for a chance to win.

Speaking on the launch, Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing and Innovations Director, Guinness Nigeria, said the promotion reflects the brand’s longstanding relationship with consumers and its commitment to creating memorable experiences beyond the product itself.

“Nigerians have made Guinness part of their celebrations, milestones, and everyday moments for over seven decades. The ‘Open For More’ promotion is our way of rewarding that loyalty by giving consumers genuine opportunities to win prizes that can make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

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Solayappan added that the promotion was deliberately designed to make participation simple and accessible to consumers across the country.

“We believe, at Guinness, that there is always room for more possibilities, more progress, and more reasons to celebrate. Through this campaign, we are inviting consumers and beloved Nigerians over the age of 18 years to take part in an experience that goes beyond enjoying a Guinness. Every eligible purchase could open the door to something more.”

Beyond rewarding consumers, the promotion comes at a time when many Nigerians are placing greater value on opportunities that offer tangible returns. By putting more than ₦400 million in cash and prizes directly into the hands of consumers, Guinness Nigeria is creating a campaign that celebrates loyalty and delivers meaningful rewards that can support personal aspirations, family needs, and everyday goals.

As part of the campaign, winners will emerge weekly throughout the promotion period, with regular winner announcements and prize presentations aimed at ensuring transparency and public confidence in the process.

The Open For More National Consumer Promotion strengthens Guinness Nigeria’s commitment to rewarding consumers while creating excitement around the brand through meaningful and impactful experiences. Consumers are encouraged to look out for specially marked promotional packs and follow Guinness Nigeria’s official communication channels for updates, winner announcements, and further information on participation mechanics.

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Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

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Bashir Adeniyi, Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has disclosed that the value of Import Duty Exemption Certificate (IDEC) approvals granted by the Federal Government rose to about N34 trillion in 2025.

Nigeria Lost N34 Trillion to Import Waivers in 2025, Customs Tells Senate

Adeniyi made the disclosure on Monday during an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Finance in Abuja.

He said the import duty exemptions had significantly affected the service’s revenue generation, although many of the waivers were introduced to support critical national priorities.

According to him, about 60 per cent of the approved waivers were granted for the importation of military hardware in response to the country’s security challenges.

He said other beneficiaries included importers of compressed natural gas (CNG), electric and hybrid vehicles, healthcare equipment and medical supplies, industrial machinery, manufacturing inputs and food intervention programmes.

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“IDEC approvals reached about N34 trillion in 2025, about 60 per cent of which was rightly granted for military hardware procurements due to Nigeria’s prevailing security challenges,” Adeniyi said.

The Comptroller-General noted that the introduction of the IDEC scheme in March 2020 had remained one of the major fiscal policies affecting Customs revenue.

He said the service would have generated significantly higher revenue over the years if not for government fiscal measures and other external factors that reduced its revenue base.

Adeniyi, however, maintained that fiscal policy should not be evaluated solely on the basis of revenue generation.

He said government interventions through duty waivers were intended to stimulate economic growth, improve healthcare delivery, encourage industrial production and address national security concerns.

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He urged the Federal Government to strengthen monitoring mechanisms to ensure that beneficiaries of import duty waivers achieved the intended objectives, including reducing prices, increasing production and improving access to essential goods and services.

The Customs boss also disclosed that the service generated N7.28 trillion in revenue in 2025.

He added that out of the N11.04 trillion revenue target for 2026, the service had realised N4.5 trillion as of June 30.

Adeniyi expressed optimism that the service would continue implementing measures aimed at improving revenue collection while supporting government fiscal policies.

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DataPro Upgrades Dangote Cement’s Credit Rating to AA+

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DataPro Rating Agency has upgraded the long-term credit rating of Dangote Cement Plc to AA+ from AA, citing the company’s strong financial performance, market leadership and ability to meet its financial obligations despite Nigeria’s challenging economic environment.

In its latest rating report, the technology-driven credit rating agency also affirmed Dangote Cement’s short-term rating at A1, with a Stable Outlook. The ratings are valid until June 16, 2027.

DataPro said the upgrade reflects the cement maker’s sustained financial strength, resilient operating performance and dominant position in Nigeria and across Africa.

According to the agency, the assessment followed a comprehensive review of the company’s capital base, earnings, liquidity, corporate governance, regulatory compliance and the sustainability of its financial performance over the medium to long term.

It noted that Dangote Cement’s strong brand, leading market share, solid earnings, robust asset base and experienced management continue to strengthen its ability to meet financial commitments on time.

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The agency also highlighted the company’s outstanding financial performance in 2025.

According to the report, Dangote Cement posted N4.31 trillion in revenue during the year, representing a 20 per cent increase from the previous year. Profit before tax more than doubled, rising 109 per cent to N1.53 trillion, driven by higher sales, improved operating efficiency, lower finance costs and a stronger capital structure.

DataPro said the AA+ long-term rating indicates low credit risk and reflects excellent financial strength, business profile and operating performance relative to its rating benchmarks.

It added that the A1 short-term rating signifies good credit quality and shows that the company has a strong capacity to meet its short-term financial obligations as they fall due.

The rating agency, however, noted that the credit rating has a maximum shelf life of 12 calendar months in line with international best practice and should be used only as a reference, not as an offer to trade in securities or as a substitute for investors’ independent judgement.

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