General News
Trashverse Recycling Technology Emerges Winner as MTN’s The Gathering on 100 Pitchathon Concludes with N5m Awarded in Aba
MTN Nigeria has successfully concluded the Aba leg of its youth cultural and creative movement, The Gathering on 100. The 18-hour event marks a significant milestone for entrepreneurship in Eastern Nigeria.
The event, which took place at the Prime Time Event Centre in Osisioma from June 14 to 15, 2026, transformed the venue into a tech hub for young innovators in Aba.
The Pitchathon had 10 standout startups compete for a total prize pool of ₦5 million. The competition showcased the immense potential of Aba’s youth, encouraging them to live life to the fullest through technological and creative excellence.
The participating startups, representing a cross-section of Aba’s burgeoning innovation ecosystem, impressed judges with solutions ranging from logistics to artisanal tech. Among the finalists were Trashverse Recycling Technology Limited founded by Charles Ikechukwu, Yadah Food, founded by Deborah Enyinnaya and Utytrends Global Ventures led by Utibe Akwa.
After a rigorous evaluation by judges Chiemela Anosike, Dr. Chime Chimezie-Uche, and Justina Nwokedi, the winners were officially announced. Trashverse Recycling Technology Limited, led by Charles Ikechukwu, claimed the first-place prize of ₦2.5 million.
Ikechukwu, founder of Trashverse Recycling Technology Limited, shared his excitement “Winning this pitchathon is a dream come true for our team. The support from The Gathering on 100 and MTN validates our vision and provides the financial backing we need to scale our production and serve more customers in Aba and the global stage.”
Utytrends Global Ventures secured the second-place prize of ₦1.5 million, while Yadah Food took home ₦1 million. These founders showcased solutions that blended local ingenuity with scalable technological frameworks, reinforcing Aba’s reputation as a powerhouse of Nigerian manufacturing and entrepreneurial spirit.
The Gathering on 100’s Pitchathon provided a platform for these early-stage founders to validate their business ideas before an audience of investors and industry stakeholders. For the winners, the funding serves as a catalyst to scale their operations and fulfill market demands, effectively bridging the gap between innovative concepts and industrial-scale production.
Reflecting on the Pitchathon, the Regional Manager, Operations, Southern Region, MTN Nigeria, Ifeanyichukwu Odom, said “Aba has always been a city of creators, innovators, and dreamers. Today, we witnessed young people expressing their passions across business, creativity, culture, and technology. The Gathering is about giving them a platform to be seen, heard, and celebrated.”
She noted that the Pitchathon had showcased the depth of talent and innovation emerging from the region, with participants presenting solutions capable of creating meaningful impact in their communities. “The Pitchathon winners made one thing clear, the Eastern Nigeria startup ecosystem is not waiting to be discovered. It is already forming, and it is ready when structure and support meet ambition. Through the power of connectivity and digital innovation, MTN remains committed to helping young Nigerians unlock their potential and Live It 100.”
This Aba edition built on the momentum of the Lagos edition held at the National Stadium, Surulere, in April, where eight startups received ₦45 million in funding. With its Aba execution, MTN has deepened access to opportunity and visibility for the next generation of business leaders.
Police in Abuja have uncovered a criminal group making fake diplomatic and government number plates.
Ahmed Sanusi, commissioner of Police FCT, stated this during a press briefing on Friday.
He explained that criminals use these fake plates to dodge security checks and enter restricted areas.
The investigation started soon after Sanusi took office.
He noticed too many unauthorized cars driving around with official government and diplomatic tags.
“I immediately ordered a comprehensive investigation into this disturbing trend,” Sanusi said. He noted that these individuals use the plates as a cover to commit crimes and avoid arrest.
The police have already arrested several people caught using the fake plates.
They have also figured out who is making them.
The manufacturers operate outside Abuja, and police are actively hunting them down.
Sanusi kept their names secret so they would not flee.
He stressed that this is a highly profitable illegal business.
Buyers pay between N500,000 and N1.7 million for a single fake plate.
“This will tell you that they are making such huge expenditure because they have an agenda,” Sanusi explained.
“Now they will face punishment that is bigger than both the cost they incur and the agenda they are planning.”
The commissioner urged residents to report any cars with suspicious diplomatic plates.
He reminded the public that real diplomatic tags follow a very specific format.
A diplomatic number plate in Nigeria is a special vehicle identification tag issued to foreign embassies, high commissions, and accredited international diplomats.
Gavi has approved $500 million to strengthen Nigeria’s immunisation programme, primary healthcare services and long-term vaccine financing.
The move followed high-level discussions between Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, coordinating minister of Health and Social Welfare, ]and Dr. Sania Nishtar, chief executive officer, Gavi in Abuja.
The funding, approved under the Gavi 6.0 programme, will support Nigeria’s efforts to accelerate routine immunisation, sustain polio eradication, expand HPV vaccination, strengthen primary healthcare services, and improve long-term vaccine financing.
Speaking during the meeting, Pate said Nigeria was strengthening its partnership with Gavi to accelerate immunisation, expand primary healthcare services, and ensure sustainable financing for vaccines.
He welcomed Gavi’s country-focused reforms, including the introduction of a predictable five-year funding envelope.
Pate said the US$500 million allocation will enable Nigeria to plan more effectively and deliver life-saving vaccines to more children and vulnerable populations.
The minister also revealed that quarterly visits to primary healthcare centreshad increased from about 10 million in 2023 to more than 45 million, reflecting significant progress in revitalising the country’s primary healthcare system.
Pate welcomed the announcement of a US$600 million pledge by the United States government to Gavi, describing it as a strong endorsement of the alliance’s leadership and the global value of vaccines.
He also commended Nishtar for prioritising Nigeria and praised the closer coordination among Gavi, World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF, World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other development partners, describing it as a model that has improved efficiency and aligned support with Nigeria’s health sector reforms.
The minister expressed appreciation to Gavi and its partners for their continued technical and financial support, while calling on state governments to invest more in healthcare and immunisation to complement federal efforts.
For many women, financial independence means the freedom to provide for their families and build a better future. Yet, this remains out of reach due to limited access to opportunities, business support, and secure payment solutions.
Like millions of women in Nigeria determined to be financially independent, Pricillia started with a single PalmPay POS terminal, and as an agent, every successful transaction provided a commission which brought her one step closer to achieving her dream.
Through consistency, discipline, and support from the payment platform, she reinvested her earnings and eventually opened her own provision store.
“I started as just a PalmPay agent with one POS. The consistency of the platform gave me the confidence to expand. With the income I earned, I was able to open my own provision shop.” Priscilla said.
For Priscilla, PalmPay was more than a payment platform. Its secure payment infrastructure gave her the confidence to serve her customers, build trust, and grow her income.
Today, Pricillia has joined the statistics of SMEs powering Nigeria’s economy and PalmPay continues to support her daily operations, helping her receive payments, as she works towards her next business milestone. Her journey is a reminder that when women have access to secure financial tools and opportunities, they can build lasting economic independence.
Speaking on Pricillia’s journey, Femi Hanson, Head of Marketing, PalmPay said: “Providing a secure platform that users can trust, whether for everyday payments or high-value transactions, is central to our vision of advancing financial inclusion. Priscilla’s story reflects our commitment to supporting the ambitions of Nigerians by providing a platform they can rely on to grow their finances. After all, seamless banking begins with security, and every successful transaction reinforces the trust our users place in us.”
Priscilla stands among thousands of PalmPay agents nationwide who are helping to expand financial access across Nigeria while earning commissions to create sustainable sources of income for themselves.
Every payment tells a story. It begins with trust, the confidence that your money is secure and that financial services are accessible. And when that opportunity reaches women, it creates ripple effects that transform families, strengthen communities, and drive economic growth.
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