News
Etisalat Charts Career Path for Secondary School Students
Etisalat, in continuation of its commitment to corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the society, Nigeria’s most innovative telecommunications company, organized a Career Counseling session for secondary schools students.
The schools include Ilado Community Secondary School, Wahab Folawiyo High School, Government Senior College, Ikoyi; Government Senior College, Maroko and Akande Dahunsi Senior High School, Osborne Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The career counseling scheme is being executed under the auspices of Etisalat Nigeria’s Employee Volunteer Program. The beneficiary school, Akande Dahunsi High School, is one of the schools the telecoms company adopted under the Adopt-A-School Initiative of the Lagos State Government.
At the counselling session, students were exposed to detailed information required to guide their decision and career paths in Law, Marketing and Information Technology by experienced Etisalat employees.
The presentations provided working definitions of the various professions and explained what the professionals who do them really do. It also detailed requirements needed to meet in order to be able to undertake the professions as course of study in higher institutions of learning. Students also learnt of the world of opportunities that studying these courses opened up to them and how they could specialise in different areas of whichever of these professions they chose to study. The presentations also touched on the various challenges associated with the professions and explained the roles of professional bodies of the professions, among other discussions.
Speaking at the occasion, Steven Evans, Etisalat CEO, said the scheme provides Etisalat’s employees the opportunity to give back to the society through impacting of their knowledge and skills.
According to him, “Through the volunteering program, Etisalat employees have an opportunity to fulfil their personal as well as the company’s corporate desire of impacting society positively. They are encouraged to volunteer their time and employ their skills in providing career counseling as well as mentorship to students of secondary schools. There is no doubt that the students certainly need appropriate guidance towards making the right and fulfilling career choices as a wrong career move may have long-term negative effects.”
The CEO noted that the career counseling program is not a one-off affair but one that is designed to run continuously. He also noted that Etisalat is implementing the scheme in partnership with the Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network (LEARN), an NGO founded by the wife of the Lagos State Governor, Mrs. Abimbola Fashola.
“Being part of the Adopt-A-School Initiative, the Career Counseling scheme is continuous and it is designed to be implemented three times yearly in Etisalat’s adopted schools,” Evans reiterated.
The Adopt-A-School initiative is an ongoing CSR project of Etisalat Nigeria, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, committed to continually providing support in areas including but not limited to infrastructure, leadership/management and direct support for students and teacher development in adopted schools.
Bisi Awoyemi, head, Support Our School desk officer, Office of the deputy governor who represented Mrs. Abimbola Fashola, the Lagos State First Lady in her remarks, said Etisalat in partnership with LEARN is grooming students to be socially responsible individuals by equipping them with right information to make an informed decision.
She lauded Etisalat support and charged other organizations to emulate this CSR initiative.
Otunba Ayobade Obajimi, tutor general/permanent secretary, Education District 3 applauded Etisalat and LEARN for providing an avenue for guidance and counselling to enlighten students on available career paths.
Etisalat has so far adopted three schools namely; Akande Dahunsi Memorial Secondary School in Ikoyi, Edward Blyden Primary School in Okesuna, Lagos Island and Rabiatu Thompson Primary School in Surulere. Edward Blyden and Rabiatu Thompson Primary Schools are currently being rebuilt after old structures in the school were declared unsafe for the students and were thus demolished.
Etisalat recently commissioned a CSR centre at the prestigious Lagos Business School of the Pan Africa University as a platform designed to shape CSR opinions and understanding of present and future business leaders as well as key policy and decision makers. It is estimated that the CSR Centre would be of benefit to business students as well as over 30 corporations across different sectors of the economy in its first year of operation.
The telecommunication company has also instituted a Merit Award that awards scholarships to university students with the highest CGPA in Electrical Electronics Engineering, Computer Science and Management Sciences. About 150 students have so far benefited across the country.
Africa Prudential Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable growth and digital transformation after posting another strong half-year financial performance, driven by robust growth in its core registrar business, technology-driven solutions and increased activity in Nigeria’s capital market.
Speaking during the company’s H1 2026 Investor Call on Tuesday, the management outlined plans to deepen revenue diversification and accelerate innovation as part of efforts to reduce reliance on interest income and strengthen long-term profitability.
The company reported gross earnings of ₦4.28 billion for the first half of 2026, representing a 27 per cent increase from ₦3.34 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Profit before tax rose by 22 per cent to ₦2.41 billion, while profit after tax climbed 18 per cent to ₦1.59 billion.
Net operating income also increased by 27 per cent to ₦4.21 billion, while total assets grew by 13 per cent to ₦46.53 billion. Shareholders’ funds similarly rose by 13 per cent to ₦12.52 billion.
According to the company, the impressive performance was driven by sustained growth in its registrar business, increased corporate actions across the Nigerian capital market, stronger treasury earnings supported by the prevailing interest rate environment and rising adoption of its technology-enabled products and services.African Mineral Wealth
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Catherine Nwosu, said Africa Prudential is steadily evolving from a traditional share registrar into a diversified technology and business solutions provider serving the broader capital market ecosystem.
Addressing concerns from investors about the sustainability of earnings if interest rates decline, Nwosu said the company was deliberately expanding its non-interest income sources.
“Interest rates influence our treasury income positively, but that is why we are deliberately diversifying our revenue streams. Our strategy is to grow recurring fee-based business lines such as our digital solutions, Know Your Customer (KYC) services, AGM technology, probate services and the SabiVest mobile app. Over time, this will reduce our reliance on interest income and create a more balanced and resilient earnings mix,” she said.
She noted that increasing activity in the Nigerian capital market presents fresh opportunities for technology-driven solutions.
“With capital market activity nearly doubling over the past year, demand for seamless digital investor experiences, improved market efficiency and stronger compliance standards continues to grow. We are investing in technology-enabled solutions that position us to capitalise on these opportunities while delivering sustainable value to our shareholders,” she added.
Looking ahead, the company identified five strategic priorities for the second half of 2026, including driving sustainable growth through its core registrar business and new revenue streams, accelerating technology-led product innovation, strengthening brand leadership, investing in talent development and reinforcing corporate governance.
The investor call attracted institutional investors, shareholders, analysts, regulators and other capital market stakeholders, reflecting strong interest in Africa Prudential’s earnings outlook, revenue diversification strategy and long-term growth plans.
News
IHS Nigeria Donates Business-Support Equipment to Empower People with Disabilities in Abuja Community
Communications infrastructure company, IHS Nigeria, has donated business support equipment to empower people with disabilities within the Karonmajiji community in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. This is part of the company’s commitment to drive inclusive community development and sustainable livelihood support under its Project Empower initiative.
The equipment was distributed to beneficiaries during a ceremony held in the community on Monday, July 27. The initiative was conceived following a community needs assessment and is designed to empower active traders by providing them with business tools rather than cash grants, thereby strengthening their businesses and ensuring long-term economic impact and accountability.
Speaking at the event, Director, Sustainability, IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga, described the initiative as a reflection of the company’s commitment to advancing inclusive development by equipping persons with disabilities with the tools and opportunities needed to build resilient livelihoods.
She explained that rather than providing short-term financial assistance, IHS Nigeria adopted an asset-based approach by donating 50 pieces of business support equipment, including sewing machines, freezers, generators and hairdressing kits, to the selected beneficiaries.
According to her, the intervention is designed to create lasting value by supporting entrepreneurship, promoting self-reliance and strengthening household incomes, while contributing to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 1 (No Poverty), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
In his opening remarks, the Chief of the Karonmajiji Disabled Community, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Katsina, represented by the Secretary of the Community, Alhaji Mohammed Dantani commended IHS Nigeria for its commitment to empowering persons with disabilities through practical and sustainable interventions.
He described the initiative as a demonstration of genuine partnership with the community and expressed appreciation for the company’s continued engagement with the Association, noting that the donation of the equipment was a significant investment in improving the livelihoods of persons with disabilities and would create meaningful economic opportunities for the beneficiaries and their families.
The event brought together traditional rulers, government representatives, leaders and members of the Karonmajiji Disabled Community Association, implementing partners, including Field of Skills and Dreams Vocational Technical and Entrepreneurship (FSD VTE) Training Institute and other community stakeholders, reaffirming a shared commitment to promoting inclusion and sustainable community development.
Project Empower reinforces IHS Nigeria’s commitment to advancing sustainable development through strategic partnerships that promote economic inclusion, strengthen community resilience and create opportunities for underserved communities.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
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