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The Chairman of Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Lukmon Agbaje, has said pupils stand to benefit many things by participating in the Spelling Bee Competition.

The competition was introduced in Lagos State by First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, during her husband’s tenure as Governor of Lagos State.

Speaking during the event, which had the participation of pupils from primary and secondary schools in the council, Agbaje said the competition was more than just a spelling contest.

He added that the competition revives the dying reading culture and encourages excellence among the pupils.

‘This spelling bee is about building confidence, promoting a reading culture, and encouraging excellence among our children. Education remains the best legacy we can give, and Ayobo-Ipaja will continue to invest in it for the sake of our future generations,’ he said.

The Deputy Director, Education District 1, Mrs. Rihanat Adeogun, praised the initiative, noting that ‘spelling bees sharpen vocabulary, strengthen reading culture, and prepare children for future academic challenges’.

In the primary school category, Praise Paul emerged as the winner, with Adedayo Abigail and Ayodele Victoria clinching the second and third positions respectively. Their performances drew loud applause and admiration from the audience.

Expressing gratitude after his victory, Paul said: ‘All I can say is that God helped me. I also want to thank the council chairman for this great opportunity.’

The secondary school category also featured outstanding performances, with participants demonstrating remarkable confidence and determination. Though the results were highly competitive, organisers described every contestant as a winner for their courage, hard work, and dedication.

Some of the parents at the event also commended the programme, describing it as a motivation for pupils to take education more seriously.

The competition concluded with the presentation of prizes, certificates, and group photographs.

The 2025 campaign carries the slogan ‘Strive for Five’, urging communities to mobilize at least 5 percent of their populations. Research indicates that this percentage marks the tipping point necessary to drive systemic societal and environmental change.

This year’s focus highlights one of the most pressing yet under-discussed waste issues: the pollution caused by the fashion and textile industry. Globally, an estimated 92 million tonnes of textiles are discarded annually, the equivalent of a garbage truck full of clothes being dumped every second. Addressing textile waste is closely tied to promoting sustainable consumption and transitioning toward circular economies.

World Cleanup Day directly supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13: Climate Action, SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 15: Life on Land

Over the years, many national, regional, local governments and communities have been undertaking clean-up activities. Globally World Cleanup Day represents the reflection on their achievements. The clean-ups serve as a reminder of the collective responsibility we share in preserving and maintaining a clean and healthy environment as well as sustainable waste and resources management.

Solid waste management affects every single person in the world, whether individuals are managing their own waste or governments are providing waste management services to their citizens. As nations and cities urbanize, develop economically, and grow in terms of population, the World Bank estimates that waste generation will increase from 2.01 billion tonnes in 2016 to 3.40 billion tonnes in 2050. At least 33 percent of this waste is mismanaged globally today through open dumping or burning.

This year’s World Cleanup Day in Nigeria paraded NGO’s, Students, Banks, Agencies of government and Corporate Organisations and others.

For instance in a bid to mark this year’s World Cleanup Day, the National Association of Nigerian Students, Lagos State Chapter, mobilised students to lead what it described as the ‘largest environmental cleanup in Lagos State.’

The event took place at Iyana-Iba Market in Ojo Local Government Area, with hundreds of student volunteers, community members, and partner organisations removing solid waste, promoting recycling, and educating traders and residents on sustainable environmental practices.

The exercise featured collaboration between development partners, student bodies, and local NGOs.

The large-scale activation, hosted at Iyana-Iba Market, Ojo Local Government Area, brought together hundreds of student volunteers, student leaders, community members, and partner organisations, including GenImpact Africa, Lima Adejoke Foundation, and the Rotaract Club of Lagos State University (LASU). Participants worked collectively to remove solid waste, promote proper recycling practices, and sensitise traders and residents on sustainable environmental management.’

The Lagos Waste Management Authority helped to evacuate the collected waste.

The organisers said, ‘The initiative formed part of an ongoing collaboration between UNICEF and NANS Lagos aimed at advancing youth engagement on climate action and the Sustainable Development Goals.’ They also expressed appreciation to all parties involved in the activity.

‘The organisers expressed profound appreciation to all volunteers, market stakeholders, and partner agencies whose contributions made the World Cleanup Day event a benchmark for coordinated environmental action in Lagos,’

Among the corporate organisations that participated actively in this year’s clean-up was Wema Bank where volunteers took on the vital work of cleaning and restoring their communities. 133 staff members of the Bank spread across Lagos, Abia, Nasarawa, and Ogun State showed up with gloves on and bags in hand to contribute to the initiative.

At the end of the exercise, the numbers spoke volumes: These volunteers had cleared 3,962 kilograms of waste from streets, drains, beaches and markets. 89.5 kilograms of the waste were recyclable materials that will now be re-channeled into the circular economy.

For Wema Bank, this was no one-off show of goodwill. The Bank has been an active participant in the global World Cleanup Day movement, evacuating over 13,000kg of waste and recyclables over the last 7 years. In previous years, the bank has proudly joined this cause by actively partnering with community groups and organizations to commemorate the day each year. From restoring the Kids Beach Garden in Lekki (2018) to collaborating with Ibadan Catholic Youth Organization (IBCYON) and the state government to revitalize communities in Ibadan (2019), the Bank has expanded its impact.

In the following years, the Bank joined forces with prominent cleanup initiatives like theAfrican Clean-Up Initiative (ACI) and International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) to restore vital coastal and urban areas such as Eleko-Idado Beach and Ojuelegba, Navy Beach and Makoko (2020-2025) respectively.

So far, statistics say over 63,730 beneficiaries have been impacted with this initiative.

Since its launch, the World Cleanup Day has stood as a global movement dedicated to uniting millions in the fight against environmental pollution. The event mobilizes millions across continents for a single 24-hour wave of action. Let’s Do It World NGO’s data notes that more than 20 million volunteers across 191 countries took part in the 2024 edition, just one year after the UN officially proclaimed September 20 as the annual observance day. The participants were all united by a simple but powerful mission: rid the planet of waste and mismanaged trash, one community at a time. If left unchecked the consequences are stark experts say suggesting increased greenhouse gas emissions from decomposing waste, microplastics in oceans, and the growing economic costs of cleaning and managing refuse.

The bank has worked on building a culture of environmental consciousness that is as consistent as it is impactful. This custom is embedded in staff and recreated across the bank where waste management and recycling is a big part of how its amenities are managed. What began as a single day of volunteer action in 2018 has become a daily and by extension, yearly tradition that reflects the bank’s broader commitment to sustainability and community stewardship.

‘Our job as a financial institution doesn’t end at providing banking solutions. We are deeply invested in the communities we serve, and part of that responsibility is making sure those communities are healthy, safe, and sustainable. World Cleanup Day gives us a chance to put our values into practice,’ says Managing Director and CEO of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni,. ‘It allows us to roll up our sleeves and show that we care, not just about today’s business but about tomorrow’s environment. Over the years, our involvement in World Cleanup Day has allowed us to bring staff, partners and local stakeholders together to leave a meaningful footprint on our localities.’

Wema Bank’s actions on World Cleanup Day are not just about filling trash bags; they are about reducing disease vectors, protecting waterways, restoring civic pride, and demonstrating that collective action works. This year’s cleanup was a logistical feat. In Lagos, where urban density makes waste management a perennial challenge, Wema Bank partnered with Ocean Conservancy Nigeria to mark the 40th International Coastal Cleanup under the theme Seathechange.

At Alpha Beach in Lekki, 70 volunteers joined other stakeholders to tackle marine pollution head-on, preventing 285kg of debris from reaching the ocean. In Ogun State, the team turned its attention to Kuto Market in Abeokuta, partnering with Orange Strategy Waste Value Ltd for a cleanup that drew 75 volunteers. The volunteers split into two teams, one focusing on plastics and community advocacy, the other on general waste. In just ninety minutes, they cleared 720kilo gramme of refuse, including 68kilo gramme of plastic to be recycled.

Children came out to watch, some even joining in, turning the day into a spontaneous community learning moment about environmental hygiene. The effort earned praise from the Baba Oloja of Kuto Market.

In Abia, where market districts are often overwhelmed with post-trading waste, Wema Bank partnered with Sosocare for a cleanup at the bustling Shopping Clothing Center in Aba. Volunteers from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) and National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement Agency (NESREA) joined the effort.

By the end of the exercise, 121kilo gramme of waste had been cleared and properly disposed of, leaving the market cleaner and more accessible. The recyclables were sorted and transported for proper reprocessing, making a small but significant contribution to Nigeria’s growing recycling value chain.

The market cleanup continued in Mararaba Market, Nasarawa State, where it partnered with SproutBud , a community-driven social enterprise dedicated to waste recovery and recycling. Twenty Wema Bank volunteers, joined by representatives from Nasarawa State Waste and Sanitation Agency (NASWASA), Karu Youth Group, and PathShaker, began the day with a talk on responsible waste management and community participation.

By the end of the exercise, an impressive 2,800kg of waste had been cleared from the market and surrounding areas, making it one of the most impactful cleanups of the year and a powerful example of what corporate and community collaboration can achieve.

For volunteers like Victor Olajumoke, the experience went beyond corporate responsibility; it was deeply personal. ‘Walking through a beach littered with plastic, wrappers, bottles and even food waste, you see how ugly nature can look like when littered and how much of a difference a few hands can make. As I joined in the cleanup at Alpha Beach, I felt an immense sense of purpose,’ she says. ‘This is my community where I live and being able to take action to keep it clean means so much. It was also inspiring to see strangers join us along the way, asking for bags so they could help too. It reminded me that sometimes, people just need to see someone else take the first step.’

Her words capture the heart of World Cleanup Day as a movement built on the quiet power of example and community.

In the same vein, Wema Bank’s cleanup campaign is never done in isolation. The bank works with state and local government authorities, sanitation agencies, community leaders, and private waste operators to ensure that the cleanup is not just symbolic but part of a sustainable waste management chain. Trucks, waste bags, disposal points, and other logistical support are coordinated ahead of time so that what is collected is disposed of responsibly.

This year, the Lagos cleanup was supported by partners like Lagos Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Plastic Evolution, and the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research.

In Ogun State the support came from the Ogun State Waste Management Authority officials. Such partnerships are crucial as Nigeria generates an estimated 32 million tonnes of solid waste annually, of which only about 30 percent is collected. By collaborating with public institutions, Wema Bank ensures that its efforts plug into formal systems, amplifying impact and avoiding duplication.

Head of Corporate Sustainability, Wema Bank, Abimbola Agbejule, sees these collaborations as essential to the bank’s long-term strategy.

She shared, ‘World Cleanup Day is our opportunity to bring people together, to inspire action, and to demonstrate what corporate social investment looks like. But it’s also a launchpad for the relationships we build with government agencies, local waste managers, and community groups that allow us to keep the conversation going all year long. Our long-term goal is to see cleaner cities, healthier citizens, and stronger recycling habits in the communities where we operate. That can only happen when we all work together.’

The impact of cleanup actions like Wema Bank’s extends far beyond what can be measured on the scale.

Removing nearly four tonnes of waste means fewer clogged drains and reduced risk of flooding, which is a real benefit for public health in urban areas. Diverting 89.5 kilograms of recyclables means lower demand for virgin raw materials and a small but measurable reduction in carbon footprint.

Each volunteer hour contributes to a shift in culture, signaling that waste management is everyone’s business.

The work also maps neatly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, showing that cleaner environments reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, making progress toward good health and well-being more attainable. Also, cleaner streets and well-managed waste make cities more livable and resilient; recycling and waste sorting encourage responsible consumption and production; and reduced landfill waste means lower methane emissions and climate action.

Going further, the effects of a well-organized cleanup day means there would be less plastic entering waterways and that protects marine life and supports life below water. Healthy terrestrial ecosystems also benefit when litter and hazardous waste are removed from soil, and the collaboration between private sector, government, and civil society demonstrates that partnerships are key to driving lasting change.

Insurance companies have paid over N180 billion claims to restore businesses and compensate for loss of lives in the country in the first nine months of 2025.

A major chick of the claim costing N82.5 billion was paid to Brittania-U, a Nigerian indigenous petroleum company.

This marks a major feat for the nation’s insurance industry.

Brittania-U operates in the Ajapa marginal field and owns the FPSO Britannia UI, which experienced a significant fire incident in July 2024 of which its claim was filled.

Speaking at the 2025 Annual Seminar for Insurance Journalists in Abeokuta, Ogun State, the Commissioner for Insurance, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Segun Omosehin said these payments were a feat and a testament that insurance companies actually pay genuine claims, as against public misunderstanding about capacity of insurance in Nigerians.

Using N1,500 to a US dollar, Omosehin disclosed that the company had earlier filled a N108 billion ($72m dollars) claims to the insurance industry, which was later adjusted to N82.5 biillion and was dispatched accordingly.

He stated that the company had earlier paid N255 million, equal to $170,000 dollar as premium to underwrite the business, a figure that underscores the relevance of risks pooling in protecting business and entities.

He, however, said the N180 billion include big-ticket payments to policyholders who encountered losses during the period, aside other pockets of smaller claims paid by insurance operators in the country.

He stressed that the commission has maintained a hardline stance on any operator who refused to pay genuine claims in the country.

Claims payment is a priority for us in the commission and we are pursuing it with all the commitments it requires, he said.

The Chairman of Odiolowo/Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Seyi Jakande, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life for residents through targeted interventions in education, healthcare, security, environment and social welfare.

He said the council has consistently supported indigent pupils by distributing free General Certificate Examination (GCE) forms.

He added that a ‘Back-to-School’ initiative has been rolled out across the LCDA’s 87 public primary schools to reduce parents’ financial burdens and encourage academic excellence among young learners.

The council boss acknowledged recurring complaints about blocked drainage and flooding, especially on Post Office Street.

He said the council has acquired more waste disposal trucks and intensified community sensitisation on proper refuse management.

‘Residents cannot continue to enjoy free-flowing drainage if they keep dumping refuse into the channels,’ he said.

Jakande also underscored ongoing efforts to improve security. Shortly after assuming office, the council inaugurated a Joint Task Force to combat rising crime.

He noted that Ogunmoku Bridge, once a hotspot for criminal activity, has regained safety through the provision of streetlights and regular patrols. In addition, youths are being engaged through ICT training and skill acquisition programmes designed to provide alternatives to crime.

Responding to residents’ complaints about electricity, the council boss clarified that power supply and prepaid meter distribution fall outside the council’s direct mandate. However, he assured that the LCDA is in constant engagement with relevant agencies to ensure community concerns are addressed.

On infrastructure, Jakande dismissed allegations that work along the Kumuyi-Fafolu axis had been abandoned.

‘It is not abandoned. When you visit, you will see massive construction work going on,’ he added.

The council boss also defended healthcare delivery within the council, insisting that the Ayantuga Primary Health Centre remains fully operational, well-equipped, and manned by qualified personnel.

He said that new health centres are being developed in Kayode and Ilupeju to expand access and ease pressure on existing facilities.

Jakande further urged youths to look beyond social media commentaries and play more active roles in community development programmes and democratic processes.

The Chairman of Yaba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Dr. Bayo Adefuye, has kicked off the distribution of food items under the ‘Ounje Tuntun’ programme, an initiative in alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The exercise, he said, was a direct response to the economic realities and a demonstration of government’s responsibility to cushion the effects of these challenges. Through this programme, staple food items are being distributed to households across Yaba LCDA, ensuring that families, particularly the vulnerable and less privileged, have access to essential nutrition.

Adefuye applauded President Tinubu for his visionary leadership and bold reforms aimed at repositioning the economy.

He highlighted the president’s achievements, including the removal of fuel subsidy with palliative measures to support citizens, the unification of the foreign exchange market to stabilize the economy, increased investments in agriculture to enhance food security, and massive infrastructural development projects across the nation. ”Today, we are not only distributing food; we are rekindling hope. This initiative is a testimony that our government listens, cares, and acts in the best interest of its people. President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is already yielding results, and here in Yaba LCDA, we are complementing his efforts by ensuring that the dividends of democracy reach every household,’ he said.

He assured residents that beyond the immediate relief, the council will continue to prioritize programmes and projects that promote sustainable development, empower youths, support women, and improve the quality of life of all residents.

A beneficiary in the community, Tope Adeoye, commended the council, stating that ‘It’s a laudable programme.’

As Nigeria marks 65 years of independence, attention is shifting toward the next phase of freedom – one defined not just by political sovereignty but by economic and industrial self-reliance. In the transport sector, NEV Electric Ltd is emerging as a key player shaping that vision, using local manufacturing and clean energy to solve Nigeria’s mass transit challenges.

For decades, Nigeria’s public transport system has relied heavily on imported vehicles and fossil fuels, exposing citizens to fuel price shocks and rising costs. NEV Electric is changing that narrative through an integrated model that combines local assembly, increasing local content manufacturing, and sustainable infrastructure deployment.

The company currently builds its electric buses with 30% local content, incorporating Nigerian components, materials, and labor, with a clear roadmap to reach 70% local content as domestic supply chains expand. This strategy ensures more value remains within the economy, fueling industrial growth, job creation, and technology transfer.

‘True independence means being able to design, build, and power what we need with our own hands,’ says Mosope Olaosebikan, Founder of NEV Electric. ‘We’re not just assembling buses; we’re building Nigeria’s transport future – powered by clean energy, local innovation, and sustainable systems.’

So far, NEV Electric has assembled over 120 electric buses in-country, with plans to scale up to 300 units in its next production phase. The company is also deploying 160kW high-capacity fast chargers across Abuja and Lagos – the largest in Nigeria – to support fleet operations and reduce range anxiety for operators.

To make electric mobility affordable, NEV Electric has introduced a Pay-As-You-Drive financing model that enables transport operators and state agencies to adopt EVs without heavy upfront capital. The plan bundles access to the bus, charging, maintenance, and battery into one predictable payment, ensuring smooth fleet transition and easier adoption.

Beyond vehicles, NEV Electric is investing in training programs for Nigerian engineers and technicians in EV assembly, maintenance, and conversion – empowering a new generation of green-skilled workers.

Aligned with Nigeria’s industrialization goals, NEV Electric is positioning the country as a regional hub for electric mobility. The company’s vision extends beyond Nigeria, with plans underway to export its electric buses and technology solutions to other African markets, contributing to the continent’s clean mobility transition.

By integrating local manufacturing, charging infrastructure, and innovative financing, NEV Electric is delivering a homegrown solution to Nigeria’s urban transport needs – one that reduces emissions, lowers operating costs, and builds local capacity.

As the country looks toward a more sustainable future, NEV Electric represents the promise of a new kind of independence – powered by Nigerians, built in Nigeria, and soon exported to Africa.

‘Every bus we build is a statement of what’s possible,’ Olaosebikan says. ‘We’re proving that Nigeria can lead Africa’s clean mobility revolution – not by importing the future, but by building it.’

The Coalition of Farmers Association of Nigeria (COFAN) and the Himma Youth Farmers Association of Nigeria (HYFAN), have raised concerns that the restructuring of the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) by the Federal Government could lead to a sharp increase prices, that could threaten the productivity of smallholder and youth farmers.

The groups commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his agricultural reforms and programmes aimed at boosting food security, farmer empowerment, and youth inclusion.

However, they warned that the new direction of the PFI risks undermining the progress achieved earlier.

‘The PFI was a cornerstone of Nigeria’s agricultural transformation, ensuring affordable fertilizer through raw material importation and support for local blending plants. Millions of farmers benefitted from this intervention, which strengthened food production and national food security,’ Bamai said.

The farmers’ associations urged President Tinubu not to abandon the importation of raw materials until local production is capable of meeting national demand.

They also called for the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI) to continue managing importation, arguing that this would guarantee efficiency, transparency, and stability in the supply chain.

‘Nigerian farmers cannot afford a disruption in fertilizer supply at this critical moment. We deeply appreciate your reforms, but we appeal: do not kill the legacy of Buhari’s agricultural transformation on fertiliser access.’

Sustain raw material importation until Nigeria’s local capacity is ready,’ Bamai stressed.

While reaffirming their commitment to work with the government, private sector, and development partners to ensure the success of the restructured PFI, COFAN and HYFAN insisted that protecting farmers in the short term is essential to securing Nigeria’s long-term food security.

The University of Arkansas, Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences’ School of Art hosted internationally acclaimed artist and scholar Prof Peju Layiwola for a two-day workshops culminating in a student fashion show. The show, which was held last Thursday at the School of Art’s Studio and Design Center lobby featured no fewer than 125 students who modeled the clothing made by the participants and from Layiwola’s fashion line. It also featured varieties of Nigerian food.

The fashion show marks the end of a weeklong resist-dyeing workshop series, where students from across disciplines will study àdìr?, a centuries-old Yoruba textile tradition from southwest Nigeria. Their finished creations made debut on the runway alongside designs by Layiwola and by Edward Osei, a University of Arkanasas art education master’s student from Ghana.

Participants learned the entire batik process, from making foam stamps, to producing designs with wax, to dyeing, and dewaxing. Participants also learned about adire eleko and adire oniko.

According to Prof Layiwola, the initiative is to help the students learn about other textile cultural practices, engage with a genre that would illuminate their art practice, and great satisfaction from the university community. The programmes refreshing and some ‘think that this should be annual event. Students were thrilled at the experience, which they thought was unique,’ Layiwola added.

Layiwola, professor of art and art history at the University of Lagos and Mellon Curatorial Fellow at the Stanley Museum of Art at the University of Iowa, is recognised as a leading voice in African art and material culture. Her career includes numerous awards, grants and fellowships, as well as ties to Arkansas through the 2020 Ambassador of Goodwill Award from the state of Arkansas and the 2019 Tyson Scholar Fellowship at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Layiwola’s work is also represented in major collections, including Microsoft Lagos, the Yemisi Shyllon Museum at Pan Atlantic University and with private collectors such as JP and Ebun Clark and Hs Royal Majesty Nnaemeka Achebe, the Obi of Onitsha.

Assistant Professor of art history, Janine Sytsma, noted that these events demonstrate how the school is providing students with unique opportunities to engage with a respected artist and to learn firsthand a resist-dyeing tradition from southwest Nigeria. ‘Through this workshop,’ she explained, ‘students gain knowledge of Yoruba textile design that will enrich their development as artists, scholars, educators and designers.’

Layiwola’s visit is a collaborative effort between the school’s art history and art education programs, demonstrating their shared commitment to interdisciplinary, experiential learning in arts scholarship and practices. Kathy Brown, director of graduate studies in art education and endowed assistant professor of art education, noted, ‘Art education is excited to collaborate with art history to bring Prof. Layiwola’s workshops to our students. We are looking forward to participating in cultural traditions and situate the workshops’ themes and experientiality within the wider arts-based research discourse.’

John Blakinger, art history programme director, explained that the School of Art is a hub where local and worldwide art practices converge, calling the events prime examples of how the school engages in meaningful outreach, ‘Her visit reflects the global reach of our program and demonstrates how we connect local partnerships – such as with Crystal Bridges – with international, cross-disciplinary projects that strengthen the arts in Arkansas.’

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that Nigeria is ‘racing against time’ to address decades of underinvestment in power, roads, and infrastructure.

In his 65th Independence Anniversary broadcast on Wednesday, the President defended his administration’s tough reforms, including the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of foreign exchange rates, insisting that the country has ‘turned the corner’ towards recovery.

Tinubu acknowledged the hardship Nigerians are facing but assured that his government is channelling resources into education, healthcare, security, and critical infrastructure to secure a prosperous, self-reliant future.

Stanbic IBTC Insurance, a subsidiary of Stanbic IBTC Holdings has launched the Manifold Endowment Plan, an innovative blend of insurance and investment designed for Nigerians who want to protect what matters, grow their wealth, and enjoy peace of mind.

With life cover up to N1 billion, partial maturity payouts, and end-of-term bonuses, Manifold is for the modern Nigerian working hard today, planning boldly for tomorrow.

The Manifold Endowment Plan is uniquely designed for Nigerians aged 18 to 64, providing them with flexible policy durations ranging from six to fifteen years. At its core, it integrates death benefits, partial maturity bonuses, and accidental medical coverage, all while offering a structured avenue for individuals and families to plan, protect, and prosper.

Speaking on the launch, Akinjide Orimolade, Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Insurance said the Nigerian insurance sector, though still underexplored, has seen remarkable growth, with industry revenues surging by 147per cent in the first nine months of 2024. Yet, with insurance penetration hovering around just 0.5per cent of GDP, the gap in uptake remains stark.

He noted that Stanbic IBTC is tackling this head-on by introducing an offering that speaks to the everyday concerns of middle- and high-income Nigerians who seek value, reliability, and transparency in financial services.

He said: ‘The Manifold Endowment Plan is a response to Nigeria’s pressing need for accessible and rewarding insurance solutions. We are not just offering protection; we are empowering Nigerians to build financial resilience while preparing for the future. With Manifold, every premium is an investment in both peace of mind and real financial return.

‘Manifold bridges the perception gap often associated with insurance. It assures Nigerians that even if the ‘worst’ doesn’t happen, their money is never wasted. With premiums starting at just N10,000 monthly, policyholders can earn two 25per cent bonuses on their premiums while still receiving 100% of their chosen sum assured at maturity.

At its core, the Manifold Endowment Plan aligns with Stanbic IBTC Insurance’s broader mission: to help Nigerians secure today and prosper tomorrow. Whether it’s a young professional saving towards future goals, a parent building generational wealth, or a retiree seeking peace of mind, Manifold offers a tailored and transparent financial solution”, he added.