General News
Chain Reactions Transforms, Unveils Platforms to Boost Businesses, Government

Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consulting firm, Chain Reactions Nigeria, has rebranded and repositioned to become a digital-first platform and 24/7 solution house for governments and brands desirous of winning in Africa’s reputation economy.
The repositioning, which involves a name change from Chain Reactions Nigeria to Chain Reactions Africa, was announced at a colourful 15th-anniversary celebration attended by eminent players in corporate Nigeria and the public sector on Wednesday, March 30, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos.
Speaking at the event tagged ‘Ara Unstripped’, the Managing Director/Chief Strategist, Chain Reactions Africa, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, explained the consultancy’s transition from offering services to making digital platforms available for businesses and the government.
Opayemi, who traced the firm’s history and how the vision was birthed 36 years ago, said the occasion was a watershed in the continuous march of Chain Reactions to growth and impact in Nigeria and Africa.
The Chief Strategist added that it was a turning point for the firm as a business, the commencement of its new 10-year vision, and Chain Reactions was ready to disrupt the industry.
“It is a transition from services to platforms. Today, we are becoming a digital-first Public Relations and Integrated Communications Consultancy.
“This explains why we are officially becoming a 24/7 solution house for governments and brands who wish to win in the reputation economy of Africa,” Opayemi said.
The MD/CS, who described the company’s 15-year-history as a story of vision-propelled resilience, said its repositioning goes beyond name change to a change in focus.
He explained that “It involves not just a change of name but a change in focus. It involves setting a new vision and a mission for ourselves.
It entails unifying our expertise and competencies and using them as a competitive advantage to help businesses and governments. This entails helping government and brands understand the extant and emerging cultures and trends.
“Our new role is to help public and private sector clients develop communications strategies that feed on the plate of culture and trends. Cultures and trends have the power to transform human behaviour.
If a public policy would fail, it may fail because of entrenched cultures and trends a government has failed to notice. Cultures and trends largely influence purchase decisions. We all often hear this statement, ‘don’t buy it. It is no longer in vogue.’ That is a death sentence passed on a brand.
“It was because the Brand Owners never paid attention to the changing culture and trends in the market. Our solutions will now traverse problem identification, cultural solution, and experience design as a company. Be it Voter Behaviour, Driving Against Traffic, or Consumer Behaviour, they are all driven by cultures and trends.”
Chain Reactions Africa also unveiled its new logo, the innovative digital platforms ‘Ara’ and the ‘Prophet’, and the Goodnews Nigeria website Opayemi described as “a digital news platform dedicated to reporting everything good and positive about Nigeria. It will become a one-stop-shop for leisure and business tourists seeking information about our great nation.”
Explaining the new brand logo featuring African drums, colours orange and ochre, intricate designs and the infinity symbol, Chain Reactions Africa’s Creative Director, Briton, Colin Morris, said, “they represent the heartbeat of Nigeria and Africa.
These colours mirror the optimism of every Nigerian. They also reflect the colours of the Sahara. The Sahara, of course, is not in Nigeria but Africa and is the reason the logo is not just Nigeria but Africa, the big picture. The intricate designs are also an African thing, not just Nigeria.
“Chain Reactions is no longer just local; it will get bigger. The infinity symbol tells our story; it’s never-ending. It reflects the opportunities of a new blend of communications merging, beyond the traditional, beyond what we have always assumed.
As a consultancy, the plan is for Chain Reactions to leave a footprint in every part of Africa. Africa is where we will win. Our redesigned logo shows that we are both Nigerian and African; we are progressive and resilient. We are drivers of change in our industry and new industries. Like the infinity symbol, we intend to keep evolving.”
While ‘Ara’, a chatbot, is CRA’s virtual assistant available 24/7, the ‘Prophet’ is a tech-powered hub that helps businesses and brands understand issues, trends and cultural nuances in hindsight.
It provides clarity on current trends with insight and offers foresight without human interaction. CRA’s External Consultant, Frankline Ozekhome, unveiled the ‘Prophet’ while sharing excerpts from a comprehensive Trends Report the firm commissioned to help clients and key players in the market.
The 15th-anniversary celebration featured the maiden Innovation and Tech Trends Summit (ITTS). PR & Comms Manager at OMNIBIZ, Elizabeth Adebanjo, Chief Business Officer, Cellulant, Sike Bamisebi, Group Chief Operating Officer, Palton Morgan, Nidal Turjman and film producer and actress Hauwa Alahhbura discussed ‘Enablers for living and winning in a disrupted world’ at the session moderated by youth analyst, Femi Daniel.
General News
Court Orders Lawyer to Produce “Bail-Jumping” Client in MTN Cyber Fraud Case

Justice Ambrose Allagoa of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has ordered Mr Nnamdi Kalu, a legal practitioner, to appear before the court on July 9, 2025, to provide explanations regarding the whereabouts of Richard Ironbar Edemadem, his client, who is accused of cyber-related fraud and has allegedly jumped bail.
The judge issued the directive during the ongoing trial of Edemadem and four others, namely: Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, and ISD Technology Limited, who are standing trial on charges of tampering with the critical mobile telecommunications infrastructure of MTN Nigeria and illegally profiting from unsolicited messages sent to subscribers.
The prosecution, led by Mr Nnemeka Omewa of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), informed the court that Edemadem, the first defendant, had jumped bail and ceased communication with both his counsel and the court.
He further revealed that Mr Kalu, who represented the defendant at the early stage of the trial, had stopped appearing in court and was unreachable.
During the trial proceedings, Justice Alagoa queried the continued absence of the first defendant, especially as his name had come up repeatedly during the testimony of the EFCC’s witness.
Upon receiving the explanation from the prosecutor, the judge expressed concern that no attempt had been made to bring the sureties to account, as required when a defendant absconds.
Responding to the judge’s query, Omewa said the prosecution had made efforts to trace the sureties and review the bail bond documents.
However, they discovered that no valid documentation about the sureties or their contact addresses could be found in the court file.
Disturbed by the absence of such critical records, Justice Alagoa directed the absentee defendant’s counsel, Mr Kalu, to appear before the court on the next adjourned date to provide clarity on his client’s disappearance and explain his failure to participate further in the trial.
In the meantime, the trial resumed with the testimony of Mr Olamide Sadiq, the fourth prosecution witness and an investigating officer with the EFCC.
Sadiq detailed how the defendants fraudulently manipulated MTN’s telecom systems to send unsolicited messages to thousands of unsuspecting subscribers.
According to his testimony, the defendants, who were employed as IT professionals for various telecom value-added service providers, compromised MTN’s Critical Mobile Telecommunications Network System between 2017 and 2018, adding that by exploiting the system’s vulnerabilities, they deployed mass unsolicited messages that led to unauthorised deductions from subscribers’ airtime balances.
Sadiq explained that these illegal deductions were routed into multiple accounts linked to the defendants and their affiliated entities, notably ISD Technology Limited.
The stolen proceeds, totalling N36,837,438.20, were subsequently distributed among the conspirators, he said.
Following the witness’s testimony, the court adjourned the matter to July 9, 2025, for the continuation of the trial and to enable Mr Kalu to appear and address the court on the issue of his absconding client.
The EFCC had filed a three-count charge against the defendants, detailing their alleged roles in the multimillion-naira fraud.
On count one of the charges, the defendants, Richard Ironbar Edemadem, Samuel Okpapi, Nelson Ojovbo, Bamigbade Olushola, ISD Technology Limited, and a fugitive known only as “Sola”, were accused of conspiring to tamper with a critical mobile telecommunications network system.
This, the EFCC said, is contrary to Sections 27(6)(b) and 10 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) Act, 2015, and punishable under the same law.
The second charge stated that the defendants were charged with unauthorised tampering with MTN’s network infrastructure, an offence also contrary to Section 10 of the Cybercrimes Act, punishable under the same provision.
Counts three of the charges posited that the defendants allegedly took possession of N36,837,438.20, which they reasonably ought to have known were proceeds of an unlawful act, namely, stealing, contrary to Sections 15(2)(d) and (6) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended), and punishable under the same.
Source: Tribune
General News
Airtel Concludes Nationwide Environment Week with Market Clean-Up by Employees

Telecommunications provider, Airtel Nigeria, has wrapped up its 2025 World Environment Week campaign, themed ‘Ending Plastic Pollution’, with an employee-driven market clean-up exercise at Elegushi Model Market, Jakande, Lekki, Lagos.
The activity was supported by the Ecobarter Company, a social enterprise focused on the promotion of a circular economy. Branded #UnPlasticAfrica, the events spanned six states and mobilised Airtel employees, community leaders, government partners, and market communities in a united effort to combat plastic pollution.
With the Lagos Market Cleanup, Airtel staff and community members joined forces to remove plastic waste and sensitize the locals on individual contributions towards a plastic-free environment.
To support sustainability and align with Lagos State’s ban on single-use plastic, large bins for refuse sorting as well as parasols, and reusable tote with #UnPlasticAfrica messaging were distributed to traders and their customers in the market to encourage behavioural change.
Speaking on behalf of Airtel Nigeria CEO Dinesh Balsingh at the clean-up exercise, Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Nigeria, Femi Adeniran, highlighted the critical importance of community participation in safeguarding the environment and commended the market leadership for their openness and commitment to such impactful initiatives.
“True environmental care starts with action: keeping our gutters and surroundings clean and ensuring that plastic waste never finds its way into our canals and waterways.
The Elegushi market community has shown remarkable leadership by welcoming this initiative, and we are proud to have partnered with them to make a tangible difference as we commemorate World Environment Day 2025. We believe that this effort will spark a ripple effect, inspiring communities across the nation to take bold steps towards a cleaner, healthier Nigeria,” he said.
In her response on behalf of the President of the Elegushi Model Market traders’ association Iyaloja Simbiat Ronke Lawal, the Secretary of the trade association Elizabeth Afolabi, conveyed the group’s appreciation to the volunteers and Airtel Nigeria as an organisation. She commended the company for the clean-up initiative which she noted would leave a positive impact on the market.
“We want to thank Airtel Nigeria and all the volunteers for coming to our market to help clean and support us. This has really helped us and made our market a better place. We are incredibly happy and promise to sustain what you have started here today,” she said.
Recall that the Airtel Nigeria World Environment Week campaign began on June 4 with an employee seminar led by Mr Balsingh, followed by market clean-up exercises at Bodija Market, Oyo State; Oba Market, Benin City, Edo State; Wuse Market, Abuja; Artisan Market, Enugu State; Yankaba Market, Kano State; and finally, Elegushi Model Market, Jakande, Lagos.
General News
Verraki to Host Groundbreaking Webinar on Scaling AI for African Enterprises

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) redefines competitive advantage across industries, African businesses are being challenged to evolve from passive observers to active implementers. Verraki, a leading African business and technology solutions firm and member of Andersen Consulting, is answering this call with a virtual event aimed at demystifying the AI journey for African enterprises.
Verraki will host a free webinar titled “From Idea to Action: How African Businesses Can Start and Scale AI Initiatives.” On Thursday, June 19, 2025, at 3:30 PM WAT, the session is designed to give business leaders a clear, executable path for embedding AI into their strategy and operations.
“We’ve moved past the point where AI is a buzzword; it is now a boardroom priority,” said Niyi Yusuf, Managing Partner at Verraki. “This webinar brings together African and global experts to provide actionable insight for businesses seeking to make that transition deliberately and profitably.”
Elevating Africa’s AI Readiness
Despite growing interest in AI, many African organizations struggle with where to begin, lacking both the technical know-how and the internal strategy to move forward. This webinar bridges that gap with both global case studies and local context, tailored to Africa’s unique business realities.
Featured Speakers include, keynote address by Randy McGraw, Chief Commercial Officer at Sertis, a Bangkok-based AI consultancy also a member of Andersen Consulting. Randy will unveil a playbook for implementing Private LLMs.
Fireside Chat with Kehinde Banasko, CEO of Skilladder AI, on how AI is revolutionizing workforce transformation and skills verification across Africa. The conversation will be moderated by Verraki’s Maanging Partner, Niyi Yusuf.
This event is ideal for CEOs, founders, product managers, innovation leads, and C-suite executives looking to implement AI tools that align with their business goals and drive sustainable results.
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