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CSR: UBA Foundation Commissions Link Bridge @ Usman Danfodiyo University,Presents Leo Virtual Banker to Students
UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility Arm of Pan- African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has completed the construction of a pedestrian bridge primarily for students of the Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto State, thus bringing comfort to students of the institution.
The construction of the bridge, valued at about N13m was commissioned on Monday, by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State.
Inaugurating the bridge, Mr Kennedy Uzoka, group managing director of UBA, said the construction of the bridge was part of the bank’s efforts to give back to the society.
Uzoka also said the bank deemed it necessary to construct the bridge, to cushion the suffering of the students of the institution.
“Today’s event is very symbolic. We believe in the society we operate in and this gesture is part of efforts of the UBA Foundation to give back to the society.
“I strongly believe that with this bridge, students can move freely and will not have to go a long distance to reach their hostels.
“So, this saves time and will enable them to study harder,” he said.
He said the Foundation gave priority to education through scholarship to Nigerian students; improve the environment and empowered many people with a view to impacting on the society.
According to Uzoka, UBA is creating a new narrative for Africa capable of making Africans run organisations that can stand the test of time for over 100 years.
He also used the opportunity to enlighten the students on UBA’s new customer centric product, Leo Virtual Banker, which he said gives customers, particularly youths, more power in conducting transactions.
According to Uzoka, “this is the first time a financial institution in Africa has come up with this manner of solution to simplify the way customers transact. Something that has become necessary in today’s fast-paced world with demands for quick-time transactions and response. We know that students can be very busy with lectures and keeping up with so much activity. It is pertinent, they get a young mobile upwardly mobile banker like Leo the chat banker to proffer an array of solutions to all their banking needs.
With the launch of the Chat Banking, customers will be able to open new accounts, receive instant transaction notifications, check their balances on the go, transfer funds and airtime top up. They will also be able to confirm cheques, pay bills apply for loans, freeze accounts, request for mini statements, amongst other things.
Mr. Uzoka said, “The formulation of this product, is consistent with the bank’s customer 1st philosophy, where we are doing things with a strong focusing on what the customers want, where they want it, and in the exact platform they want it.’
“At UBA, we have been working with technology giants that have the global capacity to ensure not only seamless but also effortless banking for millions of our customers across Africa. We at UBA, have collaborated with Facebook to come up with this innovation that is capable of revolutionising the way banking is done in Africa,” he said. Uzoka noted that Leo will in the nearest future, show up on other social platforms and added that all it takes to enjoy the services is simply to have a Facebook account.
Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State
In his remarks, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Bashir Garba lauded the UBA Foundation for the gesture.
He called on other banks operating in the state to emulate the footstep of the bank by giving back to the society.
“We need more of these interventions to public universities in order to improve teaching and learning.
“I really commend Tony Elumelu and the Group Managing Director for coming to the aid of the students,” the governor said
Tambuwal, therefore, renamed the bridge ‘Tony Elumelu UBA Pedestrian Bridge’.
Prof. Abdullahi Zuru, Vice-Chancellor of the University, described the construction of the pedestrian bridge as unprecedented.
He said it would go a long way in taking care of the challenges facing the students
“We reached out to a number of organisations but thank God UBA heeded our call and came through for us in a big way. It is now the shortest way for our students particularly now. We deeply appreciate Elumelu and the UBA family. The edifice which has side lights will serve us in no small way,” he stated.
In the recent past, UBA Foundation has intervened in the infrastructure development of universities across Africa with donation of ICT centres, hostels, recreational parks among many others. Beneficiaries of such interventions include Universities of Ilorin, Benin, Lagos, Ekpoma and many others.
Adedapo Segun, chief financial officer (CFO), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), has explained why there is a missing sum of N210 trillion in the company’s audited financial statement spanning from 2017 to 2023.
According to Segun, the missing funds are cash calls requested by joint venture (JV) partners and settlement to the JVs.
He spokeat a session of the Senate Committee on Public Accounts chaired by Aliyu Wadada.
Segun was responding to an alarm raised by the committee over missing N210 trillion in NNPCL’s audited financial statement.
Recall that Wadada issued a one-week ultimatum to NNPCL to account for the missing N210 trillion.
Reacting, Segun said, “The N103 trillion and N107 trillion are made up of joint venture cash calls that have been requested by the JV operators and JV cash call payments made by NNPCL, which are yet to be reconciled because governance procedures were not done at that time.
“That is why you see the description reflecting those two items would be washed out because they are two sides of the same transaction, which is the cash calls by JV partners and the settlement by NNPCL.”
However, Habu Sadeik, a financial analyst, in a post on X on Thursday, said Segun’s response was unsatisfactory.
Saidik faulted NNPCL’s response about the fund discrepancies, noting that something is not right with the audited financial statement.
“Forget about the senators’ lack of knowledge.
“The CFO’s response is not satisfactory. Are you saying that cash calls worth hundreds of trillions are just appearing on your FS only in 2024 without 31 disclosure?
“If it’s a cash call, why hasn’t the disclosure said so?
“Which cash call is over 100 trillion?
“Something is definitely not right, and I hope they retrospectively correct that FS.
“Someone somewhere did a chef’s work,” he wrote on X.
PalmPay, Nigeria’s leading fintech company, has partnered with Globacom to launch the second edition of the “Recharge and Win Bonanza” campaign. The promotion, which runs from June 19th to August 8th, 2025, offers Nigerians the chance to win amazing prizes when they purchase Glo airtime and data via the PalmPay app.
According to a joint statement by PalmPay and Globacom, “A weekly live raffle draw will be held and streamed on PalmPay’s official social media channels throughout the campaign. Customers who make Glo transactions through the PalmPay app will be eligible to win prizes, including the iPhone 15 Pro, Infinix Hot 40, and other exciting items”.
To participate, interested customers can log onto http://bit.ly/PalmPaySms .
The statement added that all transaction above N500 gives participants an extra shot at winning, adding that daily social media challenges will also offer participants a chance to win cash prizes.
Additionally, PalmPay users can enjoy up to 6% cashback when they buy Glo airtime and data through the PalmPay app. As an added bonus, customers who have not subscribed to a Glo data plan in the last 90 days will receive a 100% bonus on their recharge during the campaign period.
Wayne Ruppel, Head of Billers at PalmPay Limited expressed excitement about the partnership, stating that, “This collaboration is a major step in our mission to deliver MORE – more support, more rewards, and more innovation to our customers.
Partnering with Glo, a leader in the telecommunications sector, is a testament to our shared commitment to improving everyday experiences for all Nigerians. We are excited to reward our users and encourage everyone to take full advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Globacom also expressed delight at creating additional value for its subscribers through unique customer-appreciation schemes.
“Our partnership with PalmPay on the “Recharge and Win Bonanza perfectly underscores our commitment to delivering exceptional value and experiences. Over the years, we have always sought innovative ways to enrich the lives of our customers. We, therefore, enjoin our subscribers to utilize the opportunity provided by the bonanza and enjoy the many benefits it offers”, the company stated.
PalmPay and Glo will collaborate throughout the campaign period to deliver exceptional customer experience, reward loyalty, and reinforce their shared mission to make digital transactions more accessible, rewarding, and secure for millions of Nigerians.
News
UK Reaffirms 99% Duty-Free Access for Nigerian Exports Under Developing Countries Trading Scheme
United Kingdom has reiterated its long-term commitment to strengthening economic ties with Nigeria, confirming that 99% of Nigerian goods will continue to enjoy duty-free access to the UK market under the Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).
Dr. Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria
The announcement reinforces the UK’s intention to bolster sustainable trade with Nigeria, boost export competitiveness, and promote inclusive economic growth across both nations. Introduced in June 2023, the DCTS is designed to reduce tariffs and simplify export rules for developing economies. It currently benefits 37 African countries, with Nigeria being a key player.
Nigerian exporters are set to gain substantial advantages from the scheme, which allows over 3,000 products—ranging from cocoa, plantain, and shrimp to processed items like cocoa paste, palm oil, and cotton garments—to enter the UK duty-free or with reduced tariffs. This shift supports value addition in Nigeria’s export ecosystem, encouraging the move from raw to processed exports.
British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Dr. Richard Montgomery, said: > “Nigeria stands at the heart of the UK’s global trade ambitions. This isn’t just about improved market access—it’s about building a fairer, freer global trading system that supports economic growth and job creation, both in developing countries and in the UK.”
He further noted that through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP), the UK continues to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) to tackle export challenges and maximise opportunities under the scheme.
The DCTS aligns with broader UK efforts to expand trade relations across the globe, complementing recent agreements with nations such as India and the United States.
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