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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.
Africa’s leading neobank and foremost fintech platform, PalmPay, is celebrating six years of delivering value, impact, and reliable banking services to millions of users across Nigeria. With more than 35 million people now choosing PalmPay for their everyday financial needs, the company marks this milestone by reflecting on a journey shaped by its users.
Since its launch in 2019, PalmPay has transformed from facilitating its very first transaction into powering millions daily. Along the way, PalmPay has helped small and medium businesses scale, supported families in reaching their goals, and made everyday money management simpler, safer, and more rewarding. Its users’ trust has fueled PalmPay’s journey and continues to inspire the company’s commitment to making financial services smarter, simpler, and more inclusive.
“PalmPay was built on the belief that banking should be accessible to everyone, safe, easy, and rewarding,” said Chika Nwosu, Managing Director at PalmPay. “Over the last six years, we’ve earned the trust of our users, and their impact stories remind us that our solutions are not just about technology, but enabling smarter banking habits tailored to individual needs.”
To celebrate this milestone, PalmPay is launching the Lucky Wish Campaign, running from September 12 – 29th, 2025. The campaign will spotlight user stories, reward loyal customers with Apple AirPods, iPhone 17 Pro, Samsung A16, and highlight impact data, to showcase the trajectory of the brand’s impact since its launch in 2019.
In addition, the ongoing Hustle Grant Campaign continues to spotlight ambitious entrepreneurs leveraging PalmPay’s solutions. As part of the celebrations, 9 final winners will be announced in phases with the final announcement scheduled for September 26th. Each of these winners are set to receive N500,000 to support and grow their businesses, further amplifying the celebrations and reinforcing PalmPay’s user-centric approach to marking this milestone.
As PalmPay looks ahead, the company remains focused on powering the future of smarter banking and driving impact across its diverse user base.
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has blamed suspects involved in internet fraud and money laundering for subjecting Nigerians to stricter visa restrictions criteria abroad.
Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC
Ola Olukoyede, chairman, EFCC, made his remark during an event organised by the Coalition of Nigerian Youth on Security and Safety Affairs on Monday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Olukoyede, who was represented by Coker Oyegunle, chief superintendent of the EFCC, said fraudulent practices not only destroy the future of those involved but also tarnish Nigeria’s international image, resulting in stricter travel conditions for law-abiding citizens.
He urged young people in the South-South and across the country to channel their energy into productive ventures such as digital innovation, entrepreneurship, agriculture, and the creative industry.
Olukoyede reaffirmed the commission’s readiness to intensify sensitisation, enforcement and collaboration with communities to combat fraud and related crimes.
“The EFCC boss highlighted that internet fraud, money laundering, and economic sabotage cost Nigeria billions of naira annually, undermining national growth and depriving citizens of infrastructure, jobs, and opportunities.
“Beyond the economic damage, he pointed out that the crimes erode Nigeria’s international image and subject innocent Nigerians to stricter visa restrictions abroad.
He was quoted as saying, “Fraud is not success; it is a trap. Easy come, easy go. Many who follow the path of ‘yahoo-yahoo’ always end up losing their freedom, reputation, and future. The law is catching up with them, and digital footprints never disappear. Don’t destroy your tomorrow with shortcuts today.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has revealed that more than 126 million Nigerians have been registered in the National Identity Database and issued National Identity Numbers (NIN), marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s digital identity drive. The announcement was made on September 16, 2025, at the 7th National Day of Identity event held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu praised the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) for clearing a backlog of over 2.5 million records in two years and arresting more than 30 individuals running fraudulent registration centers. He also highlighted the success of the NIMC’s mobile and web self-service applications, which have processed over 500,000 record updates, and the deployment of over 800 mobile enrolment devices nationwide.
Under the theme “Public Key Infrastructure: Backbone to Digital Public Infrastructure,” Tinubu stressed that a secure identity system is essential for building trust in Nigeria’s digital economy. He explained that integrating identity management with digital services will enhance financial inclusion, improve governance, strengthen social protection programmes, and boost national security.
According to Tinubu, the impact of the NIN extends to workers claiming pensions securely, students accessing loans and scholarships, farmers receiving targeted incentives, and vulnerable groups obtaining proof of identity for humanitarian aid. Registration efforts have also expanded beyond Nigeria’s borders with over 200 diaspora centres, alongside the enrolment of refugees, internally displaced persons, and inmates. A disability inclusion policy has trained more than 5,000 enrolment agents to serve persons with disabilities effectively.
The national database capacity has increased from 100 million to 250 million records, with 1,500 enrolment devices now in operation nationwide. Additionally, 125 government agencies have been harmonized with NIMC to reduce duplication and improve efficiency in areas such as passport issuance, tax records, birth registration, healthcare, and education. The enforcement of the NIN-SIM linkage has helped curb fraud and strengthen national security.
President Tinubu also highlighted improvements to the Commission’s operations, including staff training, upgraded tools, the establishment of a world-class customer care center, and the renovation of enrolment facilities. Staff welfare has improved with salary adjustments and promotions for over 2,800 employees. Anti-extortion efforts and collaboration with security agencies have led to the closure of illegal centres and the arrest of fraudsters.
NIMC has maintained ISO 27001:2022 certification for data security and launched the High Availability Verification Service, ensuring 99.9 percent uptime for identity verification. Tinubu noted that the NIN facilitates seamless access to government services, enhances financial inclusion, supports national planning, and strengthens security architecture while eliminating ghost beneficiaries in social programs.
NIMC Director General, Engr. Abisoye Coker-Odusote, disclosed that 52 percent of Nigerians in the diaspora and 85 percent of inmates have been registered. She also noted that infrastructure upgrades have reduced enrolment time by 49 percent and eliminated extortion, dismissing claims about the database being compromised and affirming its global-standard security .
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