General News
Growing Crime Due To Lack of Central Database – Oyebo
Yemisi Grace Oyebo (Mrs) is head, Document Management, First Bank of Nigeria Plc.
She is also a member of various Associations in the records and information management profession, within and outside Nigeria and has held such positions as senior librarian, records, archives and information management, analyst/consultant.
With 20 years experience in Information Management, and over 24 years experience as a seasoned Historian, she is passionate about the evolving industry in Nigeria.
Oyebo spoke to peter ugwu on the imperatives of delivering proper information management to businesses, government, financial, and private sectors in the country.
Rating Information Management Industry in Nigeria
The industry is an evolving one; not only in Nigeria, but it is a global trend.
Why it has not been well recognized before now is because the awareness on the business or keeping records was very low.
Meanwhile, everybody has records, right from the day we were born. At birth certificate is issued to the baby, even at death, people still ‘receive’ death certificate. So, in one’s life cycle, documents are generated.
While in school, all the admission letter, examination papers, results, certificates, etc are documented.
When you get to work, again the advert for your job should be documented; the interview materials, etc. if you don’t document them, of course there will be no evidence for you in future.
Therefore, in the time past the people failed to realize that such information and records ought to be documented for reference purpose.
Many have lost court cases; it has caused them a lot of stress for failure to keep records.
Thus, at time people started reasoning alongside record keeping, particularly the legal profession which pioneered the records and information documentation.
When the lawyers need evidence to support their litigations they need documents. So, it was in the mid-1950s that the profession started evolving.
And in Nigeria today, people don’t really know how to go about it, that is the reason why few of us who exposed to the intricacies involved in the profession and out of dedication to the course; we are willing to share the knowledge with whoever cares.
Your Passion Suggests You Would Like the National Assembly Legislate on Information Management?
Exactly, there should be legislation on this matter.
It serves as the same thing as having guiding rules, policies and principles and having consequent-management.
That is, there should be sanctions if things are not done right; and in a situation where things are working well you give reward.
Like the adage that say: where there is no law there is no sin; the same thing applies to the issue at stake, if there is no Bill to support the profession, people will not take it serious.
Businesses should also consciously make it part and parcel of their operating guidelines, right from take-off. It should be such that you consider your certificate of registration, how do you keep it; the advert for positions, the interviews as you proceed in your endeavours, etc.
So, upcoming businesses should not make the same mistakes that multi-nationals have made, which they are finding it difficult to leave with.
Some of us are only interested in accumulating documents, no meaningful means of labeling them; neither do they have retrieval method.
Where Does Record and Information Management Comes in Data Security; Especially in the Banking Sector cum Cashless Policy?
If we are looking at cashless economy we should be also considering a paperless economy. But even in cashless economy, there are still elements of paper document flow or control which demands strict adherence to laid down procedure to maintain data security.
Even the online transactions there are records that must be kept. All the ATM transactions, we keep the records.
There is no transaction that does not require record keeping. And it is becoming easier with cashless economy policy.
The same success expected from this economy is accruable from paperless economy if we embrace it.
Paperless documentation is very credible aspect of proper information record. Both the paperless documentation and cashless policy share the agenda of ensuring security of information or data.
So, the enablers to communicate or transact business within the contest of cashless economy are the ICT gadgets, and they are ridden with data or information captured during our transmission from paperless to electronic documentation.
Even the text messages, financial transaction alerts, facebook comments, tweets, etc are information shared and they are recorded somewhere via ICT tools.
The only difference is that ICT is a tool that requires a professional handling. And the people to do that are the records and information managers. We are the real information content managers.
First Bank had bagged Information Security Management Systems Certification, How Was the Bank Able to achieve the Feat?
It started with the management’s decision that First Bank must pursue excellence in information and document management.
The actualization of this certification was a proof of the management’s foresight. I give kudos to them, because they are willing and committed to the course.
This was a solid foundation for the department to operate better.
First of all, they believed in us that work in that department. They provided the fund for and mandated the relevant departments to provide us with necessary documents and supports.
The bank has been apt since it adopted and complied with the highest known management standards, not only in document management, but in information security, IT governance and business continuity.
What Are your Advices to Banks and Corporations yet to Embrace this Important Administrative Approach?
My advice to them is to know that it is not late. They should just include proper information management in their processes and redo all their backlogs while the new once are handled professionally.
As An Evolving Profession, What Are The Career Opportunities Available?
There are so many career opportunities available in the discipline. Looking at the lifecycle of information; starting with the creation, companies need us, (RIM managers) to guide them on various policies they need to put in place.
We need to inform them on how to enforce the policies, how to generate the documents, etc. even when they want to classify and filling, they need information managers. When it comes to storage, forget about it, that one is endless.
You can go into ranking system, document management for the e-information, etc. Currently, ICT experts are doing our job.
For instance, all those selling certain information management software are doing our job, because the sector has not brazen up.
They may not get the actual solution until the professional give them the appropriate information on what to build.
When it comes to archiving, it is still us that will do that, and determine who should have access to what.
So, there is a huge potential in this profession.
Unfortunately, people don’t really know. That’s why I am happy with what Records and Information Awareness (RIMA) Foundation is doing.
We have seen people develop passion for the field just for the fact they have come to understand potentials in this field.
They were exposed to what others are doing through this platform; most of them were overwhelmed.
Information, Document and Archives managers in the Country had at Different Public Fora Decried the State of the National Archives, What Do You Think is the Problem?
We all know that whenever something is within the purview of the government as a parastatal, the situation is not always encouraging.
It’s really unfortunate because I can’t start analyzing our public sector is going through. My colleagues at the national archives are frustrated, because there is no commitment from people at the top echelon, no fund, no support and they don’t buy into programmes that will rejig the institution.
Notwithstanding the challenges, we are coming together to attack the monster of improper information management in Nigeria.
It’s an evolving sector actually, but I want to say that it is paying. It will evolve and get sustained.
Our focus should be to have legacies for the coming generations. Other countries have central database, we don’t have that in Nigeria.
The national information managers are supposed to have collection of certain documents. Over there you can’t forge birth certificate; because they have your data even thumb prints of the citizens, etc.
This sector has capacity to help business grow. Government should provide a platform to enable this happen.
As A RIMA Ambassador, What are your Plans for the Industry?
RIMA ambassador is like an ambassador of a country; you are that country. So, I stand for what Rima is to the society.
It is expected of me to create awareness. Even as a member of the advisory board I have to do more than that.
Although it is going to be a challenging task, but I have accepted it, because we must get thing right and working in our country.
We have that gap that must be closed. For instance, Records management is studied under management Science in University of Ibadan; in other words, it is not even a full-fledged course. How do we address that if we don’t create awareness?
Thus, it is done on us, already practicing to even increase our knowledge. Personally, I have visited warehouses, vaults, libraries, archives, resource centers; wherever information is stored, I do visit them while on tour abroad. We need to sacrifice for others coming up to have where to stand to grow.
Guinness Nigeria Plc has announced its unaudited financial results for the twelve months ended 30 June 2025, reporting a remarkable turnaround in performance despite a persistently challenging economic environment and an intensely competitive landscape.
The announcement comes in a landmark year for the company, as Guinness Nigeria celebrates 75 years of operations in Nigeria—a testament to the enduring strength of its brands, its people, and its commitment to brewing excellence.
In the period under review, the company delivered strong topline growth, with revenue rising by 65.8% to ₦496.6 billion, up from ₦299.5 billion in the previous year. Gross profit grew by 62.2% to ₦148.3 billion, while operating profit rose by 86.6% to ₦47.4 billion. Most notably, the company returned to profitability with a net profit after tax of ₦16.2 billion, compared to a ₦54.7 billion loss recorded in FY24.
These results reflect Guinness Nigeria’s focused execution of its strategic priorities, disciplined cost management, and the resilience of its people and portfolio.
Commenting on the performance, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, SAN, Chairman of the Board, said: “This strong turnaround speaks to the quality of leadership, clarity of vision, and strength of governance at Guinness Nigeria.
“As we mark 75 years of doing business in Nigeria, this performance underscores our long-standing resilience and commitment to value creation. The Board remains confident in the company’s long-term strategy and is committed to sustaining this momentum for our shareholders and stakeholders.”
Girish Sharma, Managing Director/CEO, added: “These results reflect our team’s focus, agility, and deep connection with our consumers. We have set a clear ambition—to be one of the best performing, most trusted, and most respected consumer products companies in Nigeria.
“That ambition is driving us to build a high-performance organisation with an entrepreneurial spirit. While the external environment remains dynamic, we are building on this momentum with confidence and purpose.”
Guinness Nigeria remains committed to delivering long-term, sustainable growth while continuing its legacy of enriching lives and communities across the country.
With the fast-evolving financial technology ecosystem, FintechNGR plans to restructure the model of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW) coming up between October 7–9, 2025, with a next-level, bold experience and movement uniting over 20,000 multi-industry stakeholders across Africa’s digital landscape.
As part of the restructured model, the event will take place as a multi-location experience, bringing activities to Abuja, Delta, and Enugu, while the main event unfolds at the Landmark Centre in Lagos. This inclusive structure allows for broader access and reflects the national impact of fintech across all geopolitical zones.
Dr. Stanley Jacob, President, Fintech Association of Nigeria, disclosed this at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, where the Association officially unveiled the direction for the 8th edition of Nigeria Fintech Week (NFW25), themed “The Fintech Ecosystem Symphony: Orchestrating Nigeria’s Digital Future.” This edition will spotlight how harmonised efforts across government, startups, corporates, and investors can accelerate financial innovation and inclusion across the continent.
According to him, “We’re no longer just an association; we are a movement. NFW25 is where partnerships will be born, sectors will be reimagined, and Nigeria’s digital economy will be orchestrated like a grand symphony.”
Since its inception in 2017, Nigeria Fintech Week has emerged as the continent’s foremost fintech convening – a catalyst for market-shaping conversations, regulatory advancements, and investment deals.
Dr. Jameelah Sharrieff-Ayedun, Vice President and Chair of the Organising Committee, noted that this year’s expansion across multiple cities was designed to enhance accessibility, financial inclusion, and grassroots innovation. “Fintech is no longer for a select few. From the aviation sector to agriculture, from secondary school students to startup founders, this year, everyone has a seat at the table.”
Whether you’re a startup, policymaker, enterprise, student, creative or influencer, developer, or fintech enthusiast, your voice matters in this symphony. As Ms. Uche Uzoebo of SANE puts it, “Even food companies, schools, and churches are now digitizing. NFW25 is where they find solutions and partnerships.”
General News
Unmasking Nigeria’s Food Safety Crisis: A Dual Pathway to Public Health and Global Competitiveness
By Diana Tenebe, COO, Foodstuff Store
Nigeria, often heralded as Africa’s economic powerhouse and most populous nation, is grappling with a silent epidemic that exacts a devastating toll on its citizens and stifles its economic potential: a pervasive food safety crisis. This isn’t merely a matter of occasional discomfort; it’s a grim reality where over 200,000 Nigerians perish annually from foodborne illnesses, inflicting an estimated economic burden of US$3.6 billion each year. The current state of food safety is not just a public health nightmare; it’s a significant impediment to the nation’s economic growth and global trade aspirations, demanding immediate, comprehensive attention.
The challenges plaguing Nigeria’s food supply chain, from farm to fork, are multifaceted and deeply entrenched. Across the vast landscape, inadequate practices, weak enforcement mechanisms, and a widespread lack of awareness among both consumers and food handlers contribute to this grave situation. Unhygienic food handling, poor storage conditions, and the pervasive use of contaminated raw materials are disturbingly common, particularly within the vast informal food sector. This sector, a lifeline for many Nigerians, often operates without the most basic amenities, such as running water, adequate refrigeration, or proper waste disposal. The problem is further compounded by insidious issues like food fraud, deliberate adulteration of products, and the indiscriminate misuse of agrichemicals, leading to numerous documented cases of mass poisonings and tragic deaths across the country. A critical and alarming finding is the glaring absence of an organized system for monitoring food safety issues. This systemic failure means that incidents are often misclassified, under-investigated, and consequently, the true scope of the problem remains obscured.
Beyond the immediate public health ramifications, the ramifications of Nigeria’s weak phytosanitary policies and inadequate regulatory oversight ripple into the international arena, costing the nation millions in lost export revenue. The repeated rejection of Nigerian agricultural products by discerning international markets, including the EU, US, and various Asian countries, due to contamination from pesticides, aflatoxins, and pest infestations, severely limits market access and fundamentally undermines the nation’s agricultural competitiveness. The seven-year EU ban on Nigerian bean exports, initiated in 2015 and costing the country millions, stands as a stark and painful reminder of these systemic failures. It underscores the urgent need for a robust and internationally recognized food safety framework if Nigeria is to truly unlock its agricultural potential on the global stage.
Crucial regulatory bodies like the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), along with policies such as the National Policy on Food Safety (NPFS), are in place to ensure food safety in Nigeria. However, their full effectiveness faces ongoing challenges in implementation and enforcement.
These challenges often stem from overlapping responsibilities, insufficient funding, and a need for greater collaboration among the various agencies. Additionally, current legislation lacks comprehensive traceability requirements, which can make it difficult to identify the origin of contamination and assign accountability. Furthermore, certain traditional cultural practices sometimes present a barrier to the widespread adoption of modern, hygienic food handling standards.
Overcoming these formidable hurdles requires a concerted, multi-pronged strategy. For customers, fostering a culture of food safety is imperative. A pivotal step in addressing this crisis lies in empowering consumers through comprehensive public awareness campaigns and readily accessible food safety education. These initiatives must be presented in simple, digestible formats, perhaps through a “food safety culture toolkit” that demystifies complex information. Education should emphasize the critical importance of personal hygiene, safe food handling, proper storage, and effective preparation practices, all aligned with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) internationally recognized “Five Keys to Safer Food.” Also, promoting the widespread adoption of robust risk assessment and management tools, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, is vital for food businesses of all sizes. This proactive approach can significantly mitigate risks throughout the food production process.
For market competitiveness, elevating standards and enforcement should be the goal. To enhance Nigeria’s global market competitiveness, a strategic focus on strengthening regulatory oversight is paramount. This includes substantial investment in modern testing and quarantine infrastructure, which is essential for meeting stringent international standards. Furthermore, establishing a more coordinated and effective phytosanitary enforcement authority will streamline processes and ensure compliance. By improving these standards, Nigeria can drastically reduce export rejections, enhance its credibility in global trade, and unlock immense opportunities presented by schemes like the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS), which offers duty-free access to over 3,000 Nigerian products. Crucially, enacting the comprehensive National Food Safety and Quality Bill is a vital legislative step, along with ensuring greater involvement and capacity building for state and local authorities in food safety enforcement.
By prioritizing food safety, Nigeria stands at a critical juncture where it can not only safeguard the health and well-being of its citizens but also significantly boost its agricultural exports, attract much-needed foreign investment, create sustainable jobs, and ensure overall economic prosperity. This is not merely a regulatory issue; it is a fundamental pillar of national development.
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