General News
We Leverage on ICT for Effective Delivery – Chikezie
Ralph Chikezie, a renowned business administrator and logistician, is the managing director and chief executive officer of Union Express Limited, a Subsidiary of Union Registrars Limited, and a member of Union Bank Group Plc, one of the biggest financial organizations in Africa. He was the former vice president and chief executive officer of Central Logistics and Support Services Limited, with about 16 years experience in the courier industry. Chikezie, a member of Institute of Directors of Nigeria and an alumnus of Philips Business School, Stellamboch University, South Africa, has attended several training in logistics and supply chain management both in the United Kingdom and in Nigeria. In this interview with nkechi david-iwuchukwu, he talked about new innovations in Union Express and other industry issues.
Union Express and other players in the industry
Union Express is a unique player in the industry, based on the fact that we are Union Bank Group and we have a unique product to sell. The courier company is an assembly of professionals from different courier companies. It commenced operations on October 29, 2007, and is duly licensed by the Nigerian Postal Service to operate Courier Services locally and internationally. It is now that Union Express started because we have done several research and discovered what consumers want. We have introduced tracking system, and other special products like; industrial purchase services and bike hire services. In fact what we are planning to leverage on is Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to ensure we better our environment, that is why I said we have a unique product to sell.
Banks Interest in Courier
Banks interest in courier is a venture, it is like the banks interest in every other business. Courier operators in Nigeria are now striving to meet the standard of global courier operators. It is like every other business the banks feel they can venture into. It is a welcome development, about two or three have entered and I hope others will follow suit. We the old players appreciate the interest which the banks are showing because it will make the business lucrative, responsible and more corporate.
Unique Selling Point
Our unique selling point is the ICT we have embarked on. For example, right now mails are delivered on time and Proof of Delivery (POD) is issued immediately to the customer. In industrial support services, we help industries to move their raw materials. Also we leverage on the 386 branches of Union Bank to provide services to remote places. Presently, we are making arrangements with the embassies to assist them to issue visa to Nigerians in remote places. We are still researching and we believe that more innovations will be brought into the courier industry through Union Express. Also the courier company is well represented in over 13 state capitals of the federation from where we deliver to over 1,000 cities and towns in the country.
We ensure that shipments are handled with operational excellence from the point of pick-up to the point of delivery. We also provide customers with tracking facilities to enable customers ascertain the position of their shipment at all times. However, the courier company specializes in the delivery of Capital Market Documents and General Courier Services, for example; Annual General Meeting Reports, Extra-Ordinary General Meeting Notices, Public Offer Parcels, Share Certificates, Dividend Warrants and Rights Circulars. We also offer special benefits to customers like; Free Pick-ups Service, Monthly Credit, Special Discount on Volume, Proof of Delivery, Insurance of shipment in transit, and Speedy Customs Clearance.
Professionalism in the Industry
Professionalism is the key in any industry and we believe it will be a very good tool to give the industry a corporate look. We are pleading with the government to bring the courier reform plan agenda on board. Right now there is no training school on logistics for operators in the courier industry but we have NCC organizing for operators in the ICT industry and Institute of Transport in Zaria, organizing for operators in the transport industry. Association of Nigeria Courier Operators( Anco) is planning to set up a training school, to train and also have a recruitment centre for various departments, from courier to clericals, customer service, marketers, and things like that. As a member of the association, I am hopeful that in the next one year, things will materialize and in our movement with government, the ministry of education and others, we will be able to become certified as soon as possible. Presently individually we are trying to train and re-train our staff in new developments in the courier industry. Also the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) has a quarterly compulsory training for operators in the industry and it is a pre-requisite for renewing our license. However, some of us that can afford it travel abroad for advance training like that of last year was held in Germany and the one for this year will be held in Denmark. Very soon it will come to play once we have the Nigeria Institute of Transport Technology (NITT) offering training in logistics for operators in the courier industry.
Financing the Industry
In Nigeria to finance any industry is difficult because of the credit position of banks. One of the challenges is finance because courier is capital intensive, however once an industry gets a corporate look finance will be easy. For now finance is a big challenge because of the cost of buying trucks, bikes and human capital. We have to keep to a standard by delivering mails on time and this involves a lot of money but we will soon overcome it once a corporate outlook is given to the industry.
Postal Service Commission
The postal service commission is a welcome development. We have gotten the first reading and the first public hearing, for everybody in the industry including Nipost, they say it is a welcome development. We are pleading with the government to fast track their effort to bring the commission in place. To me courier and postal is everybody’s business, so we are all stakeholders. But for players, those who have taken it as their work should be considered to be among board members in the commission. The problem we have in delivering mails is the problem of numbering in some streets but when we have a commission there will be a department where complaints will be lodged. The Commission should look at having a data bank where information can be provided, so that whoever is delivering a letter can do it with ease.
Challenges Faced
The major challenge is finance, another is postal code and street addresses and training. Also a regulatory body that is independent is very important, all these are key factors that will make the courier industry a developed environment. Another challenge is that software developers are not looking into the industry but I believe that when the market is open, a lot of them will be interested in the industry because it is a big market. At a time we were looking at purchasing a software from Athens in Greece but thank God we found one in Nigeria. If all these things are in place, the environment will become a better playing field for players in the industry.
General News
Haleon Introduces New Corporate Identity in Nigeria

Haleon, a global consumer health company with a purpose to deliver better everyday health, is introducing its corporate identity across Nigeria in a phased transition. Trusted brands such as Panadol, Sensodyne, Macleans, Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000 and Andrews Liver Salts remain unchanged in formulation, quality, and effectiveness.

Following the formal demerger from GSK, Haleon was launched on July 18, 2022, as an independent company 100% focused on consumer health. Haleon is the new home for brands like Sensodyne, Panadol, Centrum and others, trusted by millions worldwide for their proven effectiveness in improving everyday health.
From relieving tooth sensitivity or pain to providing essential vitamins and nutrients, our products are designed to fulfil Haleon’s purpose: to deliver better everyday health with humanity.
This revised corporate identity is a branding change only and does not affect the safety, quality, or efficacy of the products. Haleon is sharing this update as part of its commitment to transparency and consumer confidence, helping consumers continue to choose the brands they know and trust.
Haleon’s collaboration with Fidson Healthcare forms part of this approach, reinforcing the value of local production in supporting trusted everyday health brands in Nigeria.
Panadol Extra 100s and Panadol Pain & Fever 100s are currently being produced and supplied to the market under the Haleon identity. Sensodyne Rapid Action will bear the Haleon corporate identity from mid-June, followed by Andrews Liver Salts later this year.
In due course, additional brands—including Otrivin, Voltaren, Cac 1000, Macleans, and the wider Sensodyne portfolio—will also transition to the Haleon identity.
Haleon remains committed to ensuring consumers can continue to access the same high-quality brands at pharmacies, supermarkets and other retail outlets across Nigeria.
“As Haleon introduces its identity in Nigeria, we want consumers to feel informed and reassured. The trusted products they rely on remain the same in quality, formulation and effectiveness.
“At the same time, our local production approach in partnership with Fidson Healthcare supports reliable access to high-quality everyday health products in Nigeria,” said Himanshu Raj, Haleon General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa.
General News
Elon Musk Makes History as the World’s First Trillionaire

Tech entrepreneur and SpaceX founder, Elon Musk, has become the world’s first trillionaire after the successful public listing of SpaceX pushed his net worth beyond the $1 trillion mark.

Elon Musk
According to multiple financial reports, Musk’s fortune surged to approximately $1.1 trillion following SpaceX’s historic stock market debut on June 12, making him the first individual in history to achieve the milestone.
The sharp increase in wealth was driven primarily by SpaceX’s initial public offering (IPO), which valued the company at more than $1.7 trillion at listing before rising above $2 trillion during its first day of trading. Musk’s holdings in SpaceX, combined with his stakes in Tesla and other ventures, significantly boosted his net worth.
Musk, 54, is also the founder or co-founder of companies including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Company. He acquired social media platform X, formerly Twitter, in a $44 billion deal and has remained one of the most influential figures in technology and business.
Financial analysts noted that Musk’s wealth now far exceeds that of any other billionaire.
Matt Durot, deputy editor at Forbes Wealth, said the gap between Musk and the world’s second-richest individual had widened significantly, with no other person currently close to the trillion-dollar threshold.
Despite the historic achievement, Musk’s vast wealth has reignited debates over global inequality and the responsibilities of ultra-wealthy individuals in addressing humanitarian challenges.
Advocacy groups have frequently pointed to issues such as hunger, disease eradication and access to education as areas where large-scale private philanthropy could make a significant impact.
In 2021, Musk publicly challenged the United Nations to provide a detailed plan showing how billions of dollars could help combat world hunger. Although a proposal was later presented, no donation followed.
Analysts note that much of Musk’s wealth remains tied to company shares rather than liquid cash, meaning his net worth can fluctuate significantly with market movements.
Nevertheless, the SpaceX IPO marks a historic moment in global finance, placing Musk in a wealth category previously considered unimaginable.
Commenting on Musk’s business achievements, Jamie Dimon, chief executive officer of JPMorgan Chase, described him as “the Edison of our time.”
Musk’s rise from co-founding internet startup Zip2 in the 1990s to becoming the world’s first trillionaire is regarded by many analysts as one of the most remarkable wealth creation stories in modern history.
General News
Kaspersky Warns of “Grey” Scam Websites Exploiting User Trust

Recent research by Kaspersky has shown that the so-called “grey” websites repeatedly target all world regions, and this may be driving both financial loss and large-scale data harvesting.

Grey websites are deceptive online platforms that fall outside traditional phishing definitions but still manipulate users into voluntarily handing over money and personal data. Kaspersky’s new report provides detailed insights into the threats posed by the grey websites on global and regional levels.
Unlike classic phishing attacks, which aim to steal credentials outright, grey websites rely on persuasion, misleading interfaces, and hidden terms to exploit users. They often impersonate legitimate services such as e-commerce platforms, financial tools, AI services, or subscription-based content, making them significantly harder to detect.
Kaspersky analysis shows that the majority of suspicious resources globally fall into several recurring categories:
- Fake browser extensions and “security tools” that actually harvest browsing data and track user activity.
- Fraudulent financial platforms including crypto exchanges, trading tools, and investment schemes promising unrealistic returns.
- Intermediary services (e.g., legal or real estate), charging for low-value or nonexistent services while harvesting sensitive personal data.
- Subscription traps offering low-cost trials that convert into costly recurring payments hidden in fine print.
- Fake online shops that either deliver counterfeit goods or nothing at all.
Example of a grey website.
A notable trend is the emergence of tools disguised as AI services or image-processing platforms, reflecting attackers’ ability to adapt to current digital trends and target younger audiences.
There are proven security solutions that help users to detect grey websites across different types of devices – those running on Windows, Linux, Android and iOS. The detection model is based on many factors, including domain name and age, IP reputation, stability of the infrastructure used, DNS configurations, HTTP security headers, digital identity and popularity of the web resource and other criteria.
Regional specifics
Regional variations in grey websites demonstrate how threat actors localise scams based on user behaviour and trending technologies.
In Europe, the threat landscape is dominated by links to suspicious browser extensions and fake “privacy-enhancing” tools.
These resources often present themselves as security solutions, promising safer browsing or anonymous search capabilities. In reality, they function as browser hijackers – intercepting traffic, collecting cookies, tracking user behaviour, and injecting advertisements.
The popularity of these threats reflects a high level of user concern around privacy and security, which attackers actively exploit. Additionally, these regions show a steady presence of phishing intermediaries and crypto-related scams, indicating a blend of technical and financially motivated attacks.
Across African markets, financial scams are the most prominent category of suspicious resources. Fraudulent trading platforms, fake brokers, and investment schemes frequently mimic legitimate financial services, often accompanied by fabricated licenses or endorsements.
These platforms typically prevent users from withdrawing funds, instead introducing additional “fees” or taxes to prolong the scam. The concentration of these threats highlights how attackers leverage growing interest in online investing while exploiting gaps in regulatory enforcement and financial literacy.
In the Middle East and North Africa region, suspicious resources frequently mimic communication (Internet telephony) tools, financial platforms, or betting services. Additionally, Ponzi-style investment schemes and crypto scams are widespread, often presented through polished interfaces that mimic legitimate platforms.
Web browser-based threats also play a significant role, with malicious extensions targeting user data and browsing activity. The regional threat profile reflects a convergence of financial fraud and technical compromise, where users risk both data exposure and monetary loss.
“Suspicious websites don’t look harmful at first glance. But they exploit trust, urgency, and familiarity, and a single click on what looks like a harmless AI image tool, a “secure” browser extension, or a heavily discounted online shop could be all it takes to lose money or expose sensitive data.
Instead of direct credential theft, attackers turn to behavioural manipulation – whether that’s subscribing, investing, or installing software,” comments Anna Larkina, Web Content and Privacy Analysis Expert at Kaspersky.
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