E-Financial
UBA, LCCI to Create Value for SMEs at 2019 Lagos Int’l Trade Fair
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI), have assured small medium enterprises (SMEs) that the 2019 Lagos International Trade Fair will bring far reaching benefits that will help transform their businesses and take it to the next level.
Mr. Jude Anele, UBA’s Head Group Consumer Retail Business, who gave this assurance on Tuesday at a press conference to officially herald the 2019 Lagos international Trade Fair as well as unveil sponsors of the trade fair, said that Africa’s global bank has put in place various service offerings to guarantee that this year’s fair provides a veritable platform targeted at catalysing businesses to new highs.
He explained that the 33rd edition of Lagos International Trade Fair scheduled to commence on November 1st, 2019 is expected to provide an avenue for networking, trade and investment bound to boost business activities in Africa’s largest economy and by extension, Africa.
While ensuring that SMEs maximise their presence at the fair, Anele explained that UBA would provide uninterrupted banking services during the two-week event, and also provide advisory services to the small and medium entrepreneurs, which the bank realises is fundamental to achieving their business goals.
He said, “Worthy of mention is that merchants and entrepreneurs from other African countries and abroad would be able to conduct their transactions seamlessly without currency exchange hassles, using the extensive reach of UBA as a pan African bank with presence in key commercial capitals in the world,”
“We have realised that critical to the success of SMEs in Africa is not necessarily access to finance, but their understanding of business and accounting mechanisms, process and procedures critical to their growth and existence especially on e-commerce, tax management, and bookkeeping and access to funding, and these are issues which we are trying to address,” he said.
Speaking on the ease of payment during the event, especially with African companies from outside Nigeria, Anele disclosed that UBA has successfully put in place solutions that would see ease of payment within Africa. “UBA will be deploying state-of-art Point of Terminals(POS) configured towards ensuring merchants receive immediate values in currencies of their choice,” Anele assured.
The Bank further said that in line with its unflinching support to the growth of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), it has reached an agreement with the organisers of the fair to give 20% discount to its small and medium business customers who register to showcase their products and services at the fair.
A key activity at this year’s fair is the Africa Special Day, to be organised by UBA to promote Intra-African Trade. “At UBA, we believe that Africans must grow trade and investment amongst themselves. In pursuits of that goal, Africa Special Day will seek for the promotion of trade and investment among African countries.”
Also speaking, Mr. Gabriel Idahosa, chairman, Trade Promotion Board, promised that the 33rd edition of West Africa’s flagship fair would bring utmost value to entrepreneurs and businesses in Nigeria and beyond as he acknowledged the massive support being provided by corporate organisations such as UBA
“At UBA, we have chosen a suitable partner with extensive reach on the continent with capacity to engineer a seamless financial transaction expected of international trade fair of this magnitude,” he said.
Speaking further on the partnership with UBA, he said: “The LCCI and UBA has partnered to give exciting services to visitors and exhibitors at the fair. UBA is a foremost Pan African financial institution operating in 20 African countries, the United Kingdom and the USA and France, thus offering unique services to the delight of visitors and exhibitors during the fair.”
According to Idahosa, 40,000 square metres of exhibition spaces are available with over 2,000 exhibitors from 16 African countries and 200 foreign exhibitors expected in Lagos.
Nigerian insurance industry has recorded a gross written premium of N1.562 trillion in the 2024 financial year. Mr Kunle Ahmed, Chairman, Nigerian Insurers Association, disclosed this during the 54th Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) in Lagos.
Ahmed said that this represented a 56 per cent increase over the N1.003 trillion generated in 2023.
According to him, the industry’s total assets rose to N3.9 trillion, a 46.1 per cent increase from N2.67 trillion in 2023.
He said: “The Nigerian insurance industry in 2024 experienced notable developments, shaped by regulatory changes, economic conditions, and evolving market dynamics. “Available data indicated robust growth in gross premiums.
The industry reported a gross written premium of N1.562 trillion, a 56 per cent increase over the N1.003 trillion recorded in 2023. “Non-life business accounted for N1.1 trillion, while life business generated N470 billion.
“The industry’s total assets expanded significantly to N3.9 trillion, a 46.1 per cent rise from N2.67 trillion in 2023. “Market capitalisation also grew substantially, reaching N1.2 trillion, a 41 per cent increase from N850 billion in 2022.”
Ahmed further disclosed that the net claims paid by the industry stood at N622 billion, with the non-life segment accounting for N437 billion and the life segment for N185 billion.
He said within the non-life sector, fire, oil and gas insurance lines were key drivers of revenue growth, with all non-life products demonstrating strong quarter-on-quarter increases.
Ahead of the Africa Social Impact Summit (ASIS) 2025, scheduled for July 10 and 11 in Lagos, co-conveners Sterling One Foundation and the United Nations in Nigeria held a high-level press briefing at the United Nations House in Abuja.
L–R: Mohamed Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria; Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation; and Abubakar Sulieman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, at the recently held Africa Social Impact Summit 2025 World Press Conference at the United Nations House, Abuja.
The event brought together development partners, policymakers, and the media to outline expectations for the upcoming summit and reflect on Africa’s role in defining local responses to global challenges.
Since its launch in 2022, ASIS has grown into a key platform for regional development collaboration. From eight founding partners, the summit now brings together over 40 institutions working across climate, healthcare, education, finance, governance, and digital inclusion. This expansion points to a growing shift: African institutions are pushing to set the agenda, not wait to be handed one.
The 2025 summit, themed “Scaling Action for the SDGs: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation,”will focus on strengthening sub-national development, rethinking finance flows, and tackling structural inequalities through long-term investment and reform.
Speaking at the press briefing, Mohamed M. Malick Fall, Assistant Secretary-General and United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, reinforced the urgency of this year’s convening.
“The climate crisis is eroding decades of development across Africa, displacing communities, disrupting education and health systems, and undermining economic stability. But lasting solutions must come from those living the impact daily.
“As co-conveners of the summit, and with this year’s theme Scaling Action: Bold Solutions for Climate Resilience and Policy Innovation, ASIS offers a platform for African institutions to lead and for global partners to respond with investment, policy reform, and serious commitment.”
In a presentation on the summit’s evolving impact, Olapeju Ibekwe, CEO, Sterling One Foundation, reflected on the summit’s trajectory:
“ASIS has never been about convening for its own sake. Each summit marks a deliberate step to mobilize capital, shift policy, and advance African-led solutions. Already, we have seen over 100 million dollars unlocked through coalition efforts.
“That scale is not accidental. It is the product of systems thinking, partnership, and a commitment to putting Africa’s priorities at the center of global development conversations.”
In his remarks, Abubakar Suleiman, MD/CEO, Sterling Bank, emphasized the private sector’s enduring role in the ASIS journey: “Sterling Bank has been a strategic partner to ASIS from the very beginning.
“As global development funding becomes more constrained, it is increasingly clear that the private sector must help drive scalable solutions.
“Our engagement with ASIS reflects a belief that impact is not a side effort but core to building resilient economies and inclusive growth.”
Other partners in the room echoed the need for bold, cross-sector investment in areas such as health systems, youth employment, education access, and digital infrastructure.
ASIS boasts a coalition of over 40 institutions that includes Afreximbank, Coca-Cola, United Nations Global Compact Network Nigeria, Sterling Bank, and other theme and technical partners, with Lagos State as the host city.
Interested participants are encouraged to register at theimpactsummit.org
Flutterwave, Africa’s leading payments technology company, has been named in the TIME100 Most Influential Companies List of 2025, marking its second appearance on the prestigious global ranking.
Previously honoured in 2021, Flutterwave joins industry giants such as Amazon, Netflix, and OpenAI in the TITANS category of the fifth-annual list, which recognizes companies driving significant global impact.
The selection process, led by TIME editors, evaluated nominees based on innovation, ambition, impact, and success, highlighting Flutterwave’s transformative role in the fintech sector.
Founded in 2016, Flutterwave has grown into a powerhouse facilitating seamless payments across Africa and beyond, empowering businesses and individuals in the digital economy.
Its solutions span critical sectors such as cross-border remittances, e-commerce, travel, payroll, and hospitality.
The company’s 2021 TIME100 recognition followed its impactful campaign to help businesses pivot online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s inclusion underscores Flutterwave’s sustained influence, with its technology now reaching over 34 African countries and expanding into new markets such as Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, supporting a leading global ride-hailing company’s operations.
Flutterwave’s flagship remittance product, SendApp by Flutterwave, has gained significant traction in the US, UK, and EU, offering faster and more affordable money transfers for the African diaspora.
In 2024, the company secured 20 additional licenses in the US, bringing its total to 34 and achieving near-complete coverage through strategic partnerships.
Flutterwave’s focus on profitability and market expansion, coupled with a strengthened executive team, has fuelled its growth, with nearly half of its customers receiving payments in new markets last year.
Olugbenga Agboola, founder and CEO, Flutterwave, expressed pride in the recognition, stating, “Being recognized by TIME once again is a true honour. It’s a testament to our team’s incredible work. We’re shaping Africa’s financial future and connecting the continent to the world.”
The accolade follows other recent honours, including topping Fast Company’s 2024 Most Innovative Companies list for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and earning a second consecutive ranking in the FXC Top 100 Cross-Border Payment Companies.
The TIME100 listing solidifies Flutterwave’s position as a global fintech leader, bridging Africa to the world through innovative payment solutions.
As the company continues to expand its reach and refine its growth strategy, its influence in transforming the financial landscape remains undeniable, setting a benchmark for innovation and connectivity in the digital economy.
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