News
Zain Rewards UNN team to Zain Africa Challenge, Pledges Support for Nigerian Varsities
Zain Nigeria has restated its commitment to supporting Universities in Nigeria to perform their key role as purveyor of knowledge, innovation, development and change by igniting the desire for learning and rewarding academic brilliance through its popular academic programme, Zain Africa Challenge.
Speaking at a recent prize presentation ceremony held in honour of University of Nigeria’s representatives to the International Festival of the on-going Zain Africa Challenge, Emmanuel Otokhine, public relations manager of Zain Nigeria, said the company will continue to provide exciting platforms for students of Nigerian Universities, adding that the Zain quiz show is designed to stimulate and reward academic excellence among youths in Nigerian Universities.
Otokhine also commended the University for qualifying for the International Festival two years in a roll and for being worthy ambassadors of the country at the Championship in Kampala, Uganda.
The University team comprising four team players, a coach and a Liaison were presented with cash prizes as reward for their participation in the International Championship Festival and for emerging from the keenly contested Zain Africa Challenge National Qualifier Tournament as one of the country’s representatives.
The team comprise Julius Arop a fourth year student of Civil Engineering, Odigwe Michael, a final year student of Medicine & Surgery, Samuel Ugochukwu, a 200 level student of Education & Political Science, Macdonald, a second year student in the department of Economics, Professor Marie-Stella Nzewi (Team Coach) and Celine Ngozi Nnebedum (Team Liaison).
In addition to receiving cash prize (Institutional grants), the University was also presented with a Zain Africa Challenge trophy.
In his response the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Bartholomew Okolo thanked Zain for its contribution to the advancement of the Nigeria tertiary Institution and opening the doors for youths across various African borders to interact and forge a long term relationship.
The Vice Chancellor who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Egbeke Aja applauded the University’s Zain Africa Challenge team for upholding the good name of the Institution both at the National Qualifier and at the International Festival.
The prize presentation held on Monday, April 26, 2010 at UNN’s Campus in Nsukka, Enugu State.
The University is one of the five Institutions that made it through the highly contested National Qualifier held in Abuja, which was used to select the teams that represented Nigeria at the International Festival.
The other Nigerian teams that qualified to fly Nigeria’s flag included the University of Ibadan, University of Jos, University of Maiduguri and University of Abuja.
The ceremony was attended by many principal officials of the University including Dean of School of General Studies, Professor Elsie Ogbonna, Acting Registrar, Chris Okonta, University Librarian, Dr Charles Omekwu, Dean of Students, and Professor Malachy Okwueze amongst others.
Other representatives of Zain present at the event included Chinda Manjor, Head of Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, Uloma Osisioma, Manager Shop and Franchise, East Region, Veronica Nwosisi, Team Lead, Indirect Sales, Enugu, East Region, Isi Hilda Nsofor, District Manager, Enugu and Moustapha Adekunle, District manager, Enugu.
The Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN) and the Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) have enjoined banks to further deepen and prioritize financial inclusion, women’s empowerment and sustained growth through strategic mandates and frameworks, aimed at closing the financial gap and empowering more small, and medium enterprise (MSME) owners.
Both organisations made this call during a courtesy visit to the newly invested 24th President and Chairman of Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dr. Dele Alabi, Ph.D, FCIB, as part of plans to congratulate him on his investiture as well as seek a stronger alliance between both bodies.
The visit followed Alabi’s investiture where he unveiled his “IMPACT” Vision, themed “Consolidating Our Local Impact, Enhancing Our Global Relevance.”
The vision rests on six pillars: Inclusion across geographic, gender, and generational lines; Membership growth and quality; Professionalism and ethics; Accountability; Competencies and skills development; Technology, automation, and innovation. Other areas of shared interest, include women empowerment, financial inclusion and literacy, as well as MSME clinics, all of which are top on his agenda.
Alabi explained that under him, the institute will be prioritising financial inclusion and women empowerment, because of its realisation that women are often the primary financial managers and caregivers in families. Access to savings, micro-credit, and insurance acts as a safety net during crisis and allows them to significantly improve living conditions.
He added that CIBN would be happy to drive joint knowledge sharing and exchange sessions with CBN and ACAMB across various platforms. “Educating the public through public awareness programmes, with ACAMB as the rallying point, is central to what we do,” he noted.
ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, who led the delegation, spoke in unison with the CIBN president, as he noted that, closing the inbalances in financial access help economies grow faster, reduces inequality, and encourages greater civic participation by all.
Lagos State has become the first sub-national government in Nigeria to establish a comprehensive Greenhouse Gas Registry, a move aimed at strengthening climate governance, improving emissions accountability and accelerating the state’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The Lagos State Greenhouse Gas Registry (LGHGR) was unveiled at the Central Business District, Alausa, Ikeja, at a ceremony attended by Prof. Akin Abayomi, commissioner for Health, members of the State Executive Council, representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, development partners, TPHG Technologies, the diplomatic and business communities, academics, civil society organisations and the media.
Describing the initiative as a landmark achievement in the state’s environmental sustainability drive, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, general manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), said the Registry marks a defining moment in Lagos’ climate action journey and reflects Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s commitment to building a resilient, climate-smart and environmentally sustainable economy.
According to Ajayi, the digital platform will enable the state to accurately measure, monitor, report and verify greenhouse gas emissions across key sectors, providing credible data to guide environmental policies and climate interventions.
He said the Registry would strengthen evidence-based decision-making, improve transparency and accountability, support national and international climate reporting obligations, unlock carbon market opportunities and boost investor confidence in Lagos’ environmental initiatives.
Ajayi also commended TPHG Technologies for providing the technical expertise that made the pioneering project possible.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Abayomi described the Registry as a major milestone that positions Lagos at the forefront of climate governance and emissions accountability in both Nigeria and Africa.
He noted that climate change has evolved into a significant public health and governance challenge, stressing that access to reliable emissions data would enable the state to formulate evidence-based policies, attract climate financing, strengthen resilience and accelerate its transition to a low-carbon economy.
Providing insights into the technical framework of the project, Dr. Mofoluso Fagbeja, lead consultant and chief executive officer, TPHG Technologies, explained that the Registry was developed from the greenhouse gas inventory jointly undertaken by LASEPA and TPHG Technologies in 2022, using 2019 as the baseline year for emissions assessment.
He said the platform is designed to close critical emissions data gaps, particularly within the industrial sector, while supporting effective climate policy implementation, emissions management and sustainable development.
Fagbeja also disclosed that the greenhouse gas inventory estimated that poor air quality contributes to about 35,000 premature deaths annually in Lagos, underscoring the urgent need for stronger emissions control measures and cleaner environmental practices.
In a goodwill message, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, minister of Environment, represented by Mrs. Adenaike Olunimpe Oludunni, federal controller of Environment in Lagos, commended Lagos State for pioneering the initiative, describing it as a significant contribution to Nigeria’s climate commitments.
He said the Registry aligns with the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement and supports the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, while reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to deeper collaboration with Lagos State on climate governance and environmental sustainability.
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
Fact-Check: Elon Musk’s “Tesla Pi Phone” is Internet Rumor
Dangote Plans to Donate One-Third of Wealth to Charity as Legacy
NDPC Directs DCPMIs to Register with Agency or Face Legal Consequences
Malpass, Ex World Bank Chief Raises Alarm over Nigeria’s Secretive Debt Structures
How and Why Apps Deplete Data – ALTON
NRC, Ponzi Scheme Collapses Resulting Loss of Billions of Naira
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
Tokenization, Blockchain Technology will Transform Financial Institutions – IMF
From Scarcity to Scale: What Africa Can Learn from India’s Agricultural Transformation
BON Establishes Six Ad Hoc Committees to Modernize Broadcasting
News2 days agoSee Verified 20 Countries Nigerian Passport Holders Can Travel Visa-Free
E-Business2 days agoReport Says Cybercriminals Deploy Malware to Hijack Crypto Wallets, Monitor Browsers Telegram
Telecom2 days agoNCC, REA Partner to Cut Telecom Costs with Renewable Energy
Telecom2 days agoSubscribers, Telcos Warn FCCPC over Airtime Lending Enforcement
E-Business2 days agoNPC Opens 131 Births, Deaths Registration Centres in Anambra
General News2 days agoAfDB, Nigeria Urge African Control of Mineral Resources
General News2 days agoLagos Chamber Opposes 21 Percent Pension Contribution, Warns of Job Losses
News1 day agoHistory as Lagos Becomes First Nigerian State to Launch Greenhouse Gas Registry