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FBNQuest Explains How Artificial Intelligence is Changing the World of Finance, Investing

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a popular trend these days, but it seems so abstract that it is easy to assume only people savvy with technology should be concerned about it. This is far from the truth.
AI is expected to add $13 trillion to the global economy within the next decade. It is helping to make the world a faster and smarter place, so every savvy investor and wealth collector needs to pay attention to it. AI is not a passing trend that will one day become popular, rather it is at the centre of every leading industry in the world today.
American computer scientist, John McCarthy, who was also one of the founders of the discipline of artificial intelligence, defined AI as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs. It is related to the similar task of using computers to understand human intelligence.”
This means that the goal of AI is to create machines that think and act like humans and use human intelligence to solve problems and perform tasks that are ordinarily done by people but in a more efficient manner.
Machine learning is the most popular branch of AI at this time and it simply means the creation of systems that can learn from their experiences and data gathered without human intervention.
AI is already a part of our everyday lives. We use it when we check emails while shopping online and for ease of connection with our friends and family on social media. Google uses AI to predict what you want to search for online and finishes your sentences for you. Also, when you get directions to a venue with your digital maps, you are using AI.
It is therefore evident that, just as AI has changed our daily lives, it will also change how we do business, manage finances and invest wealth.
Investment expert and prominent member of the “Shark Tank” team, Mark Cuban, said, “As big as PCs were an impact, as big as the internet was, AI is just going to dwarf it. And if you don’t understand it, you’re going to fall behind. Particularly if you run a business.”
The financial world has evolved and developed smart solutions to keep up with the unique needs of consumers in the digital age. Here are few ways that AI has changed and is changing the world of finance and investing:
Fraud prevention
Technology is currently being used to spot credit card fraud and money laundering by monitoring large deposits and unusual activity. Money can be moved around very quickly online and this has caused an increase in fraud. AI-based systems can now analyse normal customer behaviour and quickly detect when something is out of the ordinary.
Data-driven investments
AI applications are used to regulate the supply, demand, and pricing of securities. They are also able to accurately predict stock performance by analyzing past data. Furthermore, AI systems can provide more personalized investment options by taking into account the investor’s goals, and previous financial habits.
Personal banking
Personal banking applications are also a product of AI and they are used to provide customized services to the consumer at the touch of a button. Customers no longer need to go to the physical bank branch to carry out routine tasks such as checking balance, requesting statements and monitoring account activity.
Increased accuracy in financial markets
AI is transforming the financial markets by ensuring increased accuracy in analysis, predictions and trading decisions. Smart advisers in the stock market can analyze a massive amount of data and carry out trades at a satisfactory price.
Also, National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations (NASDAQ) is using artificial intelligence to detect irregular and potentially malicious trading activity on the U.S. stock market. In the area of forex, AI has brought massive improvement through predictive analytics programmes which identify market patterns and make fewer errors in processing data.
There’s no denying that AI has brought disruptions to the world of finance and investing. The landscape is changing rapidly and both financial organizations and their customers will need to adjust accordingly. However, it is safe to say that the improvements already brought on by AI have made this change something we can look forward to rather than dread.
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FG May Forfeits $4m from World Bank Loan over Audit Flop

Federal government may lose $4 million from a World Bank loan after failing to get a pass mark on key audit standards in its revenue-generating agencies, such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and the Nigeria Customs Service.
This is according to a World Bank restructuring paper dated June 2025.
The amount, which is the equivalent of around N6.2 billion with an exchange rate of N1,568 per dollar, could have helped to address one of Nigeria’s infrastructural deficits.
The fund formed part of the $103 million Fiscal Governance and Institutions Project, a public financial management initiative financed through a credit facility from the International Development Association.
Accordingly, the revenue assurance audit covering the FIRS and Customs for the 2018 to 2021 financial years was assessed as not achieved because the reports submitted did not meet international auditing standards.
“Revenue assurance audit of Main Income Generating Agencies, including the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Nigeria Customs Service for FY 2018–2021, with an allocation of $4m.
“These Intermediate Results to be implemented by the Office of Auditor-General of the Federation were assessed as not achieved by the Independent Verification Agent because the reports submitted for verification did not meet the requisite international auditing standards.”
Also, the unsuccessful audit was one of ten performance-based conditions under the project that the government could not deliver before the closing date of June 30, 2025. Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Finance formally requested the cancellation of $10.4 million in project funds.
“The FMF has requested cancellation of $0.9m of unused funds for technical assistance and $9.5m, which is the amount allocated to 10 performance-based conditions, which will not be achieved by the close of the project on June 30, 2025,” the document read.
Further analysis shows that $4.5 million was tied to the uncompleted Revenue Assurance and Billing System, while $1 million was allocated to the development of a National Budget Portal.
According to the document, the Budget Office of the Federation, which was responsible for the portal, did not submit any evidence of achievement. In addition, $0.9 million in technical assistance funding was left uncommitted and has also been cancelled.
News
CDCFIB Warns against Recruitment Racketeers

Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has warned job seekers to be wary of fraudsters circulating inappropriate recruitment information.
The warning came against the backdrop of social media publications that President Bola Tinubu has ordered massive recruitments into some government agencies.
The agencies listed in the report were the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS); the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) and the Federal Fire Service (FFS)..
The agencies are all under the Ministry of Interior, headed by Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
However, while responding to the reports, the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) cautioned Nigerians against falling into the traps of job racketeers.
The Board acknowledged a Presidential approval for the recruitment of personnel in the four (4) Paramilitary Services under its purview, but insisted that due process would be followed on the matter.
Major Gen. Abdulmalik Jibrin (rtd), board secretary, said in a statement that “there are series of processes which leads to the actual recruitment exercise.”
“The Board wishes to reiterate that for all its recruitment processes, appropriate notifications would be done via adverts in the national dailies and it would be carried out in a fair and transparent process devoid of payment of any fee.
“To this effect, members of the public should be weary of the activities of recruitment racketeers who may want to take advantage of unsuspecting job seekers to rob them of their hard-earned resources”, Gen Jibrin said.
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Concerned Nigerians Ask EFCC to Release Abiodun, CBEX Promoter

Adefowora Abiodun, one of the alleged promoters of the CBEX investment scheme, who voluntarily surrendered to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in April following a ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, is still languishing in the custody of the anti-corruption agency.

Adefowora Abiodun, one of the alleged promoters of the CBEX investment scheme,
Concerned Nigerians who have been following the matter have urged the EFCC to release him unconditionally since he honoured their invitation without being arrested.
The court had approved the EFCC’s request to arrest and detain six individuals connected to the scheme, including Abiodun.
Alongside Abiodun, five other individuals—Adefowora Oluwanisola, Emmanuel Uko, Seyi Oloyede, Avwerosuo Otorudo, and Chukwuebuka Ehirim—were declared wanted by the EFCC for their involvement in the alleged fraudulent investment scheme, which was valued at over $1 billion.
Fadila Yusuf, EFCC’s legal counsel, had submitted evidence that led to their public declaration as wanted individuals.
After the announcement, Abiodun, who was shocked by the declaration, alongside his legal team, presented himself to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, expressing his willingness to cooperate with the investigation.
Babatunde Busari, his legal counsel, explained that Abiodun’s decision to submit voluntarily was made in order to clear his name and address the media narratives circulating about the case.
Despite the return of investor funds and CBEX’s assurance that withdrawals would be allowed by June 25, Abiodun has been in detention for over a month, triggering speculation about the EFCC’s high-handedness and rights abuse.
His legal team is now advocating for his release on administrative bail, emphasizing that the ongoing detention is unwarranted under the circumstances since he submitted himself for investigation.
According to one of the family sources, “Keeping him in a cell for over one month would send a negative signal to other Nigerians who would be declared wanted by the EFCC in the future. It would discourage Nigerians who have clear cases from surrendering themselves voluntarily to security agencies if, at the end of the day, they don’t receive mutual respect for surrendering themselves.”
He added that CBEX is not a Ponzi scheme.
Reacting to the agitation by concerned Nigerians, Dele Oyewole , EFCC spokesman hinted that the agency obtained a remand order to keep him beyond 48 hours.
According to him, “Anybody that we are holding beyond 48 hours, be rest assured that we have a lawful remand order from the magistrate court to hold him beyond 48 hours.
“We are a law-abiding commission. Concerning that suspect, we are holding him on the basis of that remand order.”
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