Telecom
Union Bank Starts Off on Losing Note in Bank Wars
Action in the augural edition of Bank Wars, a FIFA 21 Gaming competition for leading Nigerian banks, got underway in Group B on Saturday, May 15, 2021 as Sterling Bank and Fidelity thrashed rivals, Union Bank, to take charge of proceedings in the group.
Bank Wars is sponsored by foremost Original Equipment Manufacturer, Samsung.
The event – hosted by the Tech Experience Centre, Africa’s cutting-edge technology and lifestyle hub located at Yudala Heights, 13 Idowu Martins Street, Victoria Island, Lagos– witnessed excitement on Saturdayas participating banks battled hard for precious points.In the day’s opening match, Sterling Bank thrashed Union Bank 10-7.
The game, which kicked off by 1pm, saw the Sterling Bank representative, Israel Emoitologa, a Software engineer dominate his Union Bank counterpart, OluwaseyiAyoade, a Graphics designer, to grab all three points at stake.
Meanwhile, the second game between Fidelity Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank (GTB) did not hold, as GTB failed to show up, thereby resulting in a walkover, with three points and three goals awarded to Fidelity. Same applied to Sterling Bank who were expected to play GTB in the day’s third game.
Nevertheless, action returned to the screen for eager fans in the final game of the day, as Fidelity Bank pipped Union Bank 3-2, with Nathan Goodluck, a Media Executive, running the show for the victorious side.
The day’s proceedings ended with Fidelity and Sterling Bank occupying the joint top position in Group B, with six points apiece. However, Sterling Bank have a better goal difference, making them outright group leaders. Union Bank, which lost its first two matches and GTB, which failed to show up for their encounters, occupy the third and final position respectively.
A few attendees at the event suggested that GTB may have been worried by the potential fire-power of the other teams in the group, thereby opting to beat a tactical retreat in order to avoid heavy defeats.
Earlier, Bank Wars had kicked off on Saturday, May 8 with goals-filled matches featuring the teams in Group A.
Access Bank got the ball rolling on the day with a 7-2 drubbing of First City Monument Bank (FCMB). In the second game, Standard Chartered Bank pipped Zenith Bank 4-3. Taking to the FIFA 21 pitch in the third match in Group A, Access Bank cemented its place as one of the early favourites with an impressive 11-2 thrashing of Zenith Bank, while FCMB made up for its initial loss to Access Bank by beating Standard Chartered Bank 7-4.
The final round of group matches is scheduled for Saturday, May 22, 2021.
Access Bank which occupies the leadership position in Group A with six points, will be looking to confirm its place in the semi-finals as group leaders, as it takes on Standard Chartered Bank in the day’s first game by 1pm. Standard Chartered are third on three points and a win may see them draw level with Access Bank.
In the day’s second game, fellow Group A contenders, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) will trade tackles with bottom side, Zenith Bank by 1:30pm. A win for FCMB, who are second with three points, will also likely take them to the top of the group and on the verge of qualification, depending on how the first match pans out.
Also, hostilities in Group B will come to a head on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash between Sterling Bank and Fidelity Bank. Both sides have six points and excitement is bound to hit fever-pitch in what is potentially a winner takes all tie, with the victors guaranteed a place in the semi-finals. The match kicks off by 2pm. In the day’s final game, GTB will face off against Union Bank, with both sides looking to preserve their dignity after failing to record any points on the board so far.
Bank Wars is expected to run for five Saturdays until June 5, 2021, with winners of the FIFA 21 Gaming competition expected to smile home with some mouth-watering prizes, courtesy of Samsung.
A Samsung 55-inch TV awaits the first prize winner while the runner-up will go home with a massive Samsung Refrigerator. Also, the third best team will claim a Samsung Washing Machine. In addition, there are prizes for individual representatives of the competing teams while the best goal of the competition (to be determined by votes) will fetch the scorer a Samsung 49-inch TV.
Airtel Africa reported a profit after tax of $376 million for the half year ended September 30, 2025 as compared to $79 million in the corresponding period last fiscal, benefitting from a $90 million gain largely arising from Nigerian naira appreciation during the current quarter (Q2’26) and the Central African franc (CFA) appreciation during the previous quarter (Q1’26).
Revenues at $2,982 million for the reported period saw strong growth as compared to $2,370 million in the six months of the last fiscal, rising 24.5% in constant currency and 25.8% in reported currency.
The company said constant currency revenue growth reflects the consistent execution of its strategy, supported by tariff adjustments in Nigeria and continued strong growth momentum in Francophone Africa.
“Our strategy has been focussed on providing a superior customer experience and the strength of these results is testament to the initiatives that we have been implementing across the business,” Sunil Taldar, chief executive officer of the company said in a statement.
He said the company has been scaling the network to build additional capacity to facilitate the rise in both digital and financial inclusion.
“The increase in smartphone penetration to 46.8% reflects the substantial demand for data services across our markets but also highlights the scale of the opportunity to further develop the digital economy,” Taldar said.
Capex for the period stood at $318 million. “We have increased our capex guidance for FY’26 to between $875m and $900m – from ‘between $725 million and $750 million’.
This reflects our decision to accelerate our ability to capitalise on the significant growth opportunity that is available across the region, as is reflected by these strong H1’26 results,” the company said.
During the period, the company continued investments in network with the rollout of over 2,350 new sites to over 38,300 sites and an expansion of its fibre network by approx. 4,000 kms to over 81,000 kms.
Vitel Wireless Limited, a GSM second level operator, licensed by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) is set to begin nationwide operations on October 30.
Kenneth Nwabueze, Chairman and CEO of Vitel Wireless
Themed “Blue is Here,” the launch event will unveil E-SIMs, physical SIMs, and smart connectivity solutions for individuals and businesses
With the tagline “Everything Connected,” Vitel aims to redefine communication in Nigeria through innovation, speed, and trust.
In a statement earlier, Vitel Wireless, said it combines reliability with innovation, leveraging cutting-edge technology to deliver seamless connectivity and intelligent solutions across the country.
“The company’s services go beyond communication — they integrate safety, mobility, and smart systems to enhance how individuals, businesses, and communities connect,” the statement reads.
According to Engr Kenneth Nwabueze, executive chairman, Vitel Wireless, at the heart of the telco’s mission is a bold vision to redefine mobile communication through technology that not only connects people but also protects them.
He highlighted the features saying the device is embedded with IoT-driven devices, smart logistics solutions and AI-powered safety analytics.
“Vitel Wireless is more than a telecom brand — it’s a movement toward a smarter, safer, and more connected Nigeria. Our goal is to bridge technology and humanity, using mobile innovation to improve lives, empower businesses, and strengthen national security,” Engr. Nwabueze said.
He stated that the Vitel Wireless team has interconnected with all major Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria, including MTN, Airtel, and Glo, and has a roaming agreement with MTN for nationwide rollout, extending Vitel Wireless coverage as one of the largest networks in Nigeria.
“Vitel Wireless has partnered with NCC and various law enforcement agencies to define and support key regulatory frameworks that now govern the nation’s telecom space in personal and public safety,” he said.
He added that the value added service includes Xphone -free phone calls and low international calling rates, SecureMe -location awareness solution for personal safety, Oga-App -employment enhancement and performance tool, ISEEYOU -AI-based CCTV with real-time alerts, AssetNow -LBS/GPS-based asset tracker, and many more.
“Vitel Wireless’s nationwide rollout signals a new era for the telecom industry — one where connectivity meets intelligence, and technology serves both purpose and people,” Nwabueze added.
MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, in collaboration with the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF) through the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Nigeria, has announced the shortlist of 100 young Nigerian innovators for the second phase of the 2025 Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge.
The initiative, launched in 2024, is aimed at fostering home-grown solutions to Nigeria’s most pressing environmental challenges, including climate change, pollution, community conservation, and sustainability.
According to a joint statement by the organisers, the top 100 were selected from a pool of 2,169 applications received nationwide. The selection process involved a rigorous multi-stage evaluation conducted by 20 expert assessors, guided by a robust framework to ensure fairness and consistency.
“The shortlisted innovators represent the brightest minds committed to environmental resilience,” the statement read. “Their solutions span high-impact sectors and are designed to address both national and continental environmental issues.”
The PachiPanda programme offers participants access to mentorship, technical workshops, seed funding, and a network of industry experts. The next phase will see a further evaluation to determine the Top 10 finalists, who will be unveiled ahead of a three-day sprint pitch and masterclass event scheduled for November 2025 in Lagos.
During the event, finalists will undergo intensive training to refine their business strategies and enhance their solutions for broader impact. Winners of the Nigeria PachiPanda Challenge will advance to the continental Africa PachiPanda Contest, where they will compete with other national champions.
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that the programme underscores MTN Nigeria’s commitment to eco-entrepreneurship and environmental sustainability, empowering youth-led enterprises to drive green innovation across Africa.
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