Category: Business Day

In a space where hype and speculation often overshadow substance, a different kind of crypto project is taking shape, one that doesn’t just ask for attention but asks for interpretation. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), a new protocol centered around blockchain-based knowledge verification, is not inviting everyone. It is calling for a particular kind of participant, those capable of discernment.

Its upcoming whitelist is less of an entry line and more of a philosophical filter. Participation, here, is not about first-come, first-served. It’s about what you recognize, what you understand, and how well you can evaluate what should be verified on-chain.

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is not content with being part of the latest crypto presale trend. Instead, it reframes the very function of a presale. Rather than asking for capital or code contributions alone, it invites critical filters to step forward. The whitelist phase for this new crypto presale is designed for those who want to shape meaning, not just buy into it.

From Accumulation to Interpretation

While most presale crypto 2025 platforms gear their early access models toward accumulation, how many tokens you can grab, stake, or flip, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) redirects the focus to evaluation. The architecture of the ZKP blockchain is designed to reward those who can discern value within the flow of information, claims, and assertions.

In this system, not all participants are treated as default validators or miners. Instead, they are offered the opportunity to act as evaluators, people who decide what kind of data, content, or signal deserves verification through cryptographic proofs. The mechanism is subtle but powerful. By asking people to think before they stake, to reflect before they signal, ZKP creates a selective culture. It favors intention over volume.

This approach reshapes what it means to engage in a crypto presale. Instead of simply offering token access, Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) offers intellectual access. It filters for those willing to assume a role in shaping the future architecture of the network. Those chosen are not just participants, they are curators.

A Blockchain That Prioritizes Meaning

The core of the Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) protocol is built around the idea that not everything needs to be shouted across a network. Instead, it introduces a structure where cryptographic integrity supports semantic evaluation. What is ZKP, in this context? It is a blockchain that prizes meaning over noise.

Using zero knowledge proofs not only for privacy but also for epistemic filtering, ZKP makes it possible to validate a claim without exposing who made the claim or how it was verified. This ensures not only user protection but also reduces bias and manipulation. The whitelist process reflects this ethos. Those who gain early access aren’t random applicants or top spenders, they are those who understand the role of trust, proof, and context.

Participants in the whitelist are not just entering a token sale. They are entering a protocol designed to elevate the act of verification itself. It is not about believing what you see; it’s about proving what you understand.

The Whitelist as Gate, Not Giveaway

Presale structures often aim to attract as many early adopters as possible. But in Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP), the whitelist is more than a funnel, it is a filter. It is the first signal that this blockchain is not looking for volume alone. It is looking for vision.

The new crypto presale now on the horizon doesn’t reward mere presence. It rewards engagement with ideas. The application process is designed to assess interpretation, not just participation. For those exploring the best crypto presales to align with in 2025, this whitelist sets itself apart by who it includes, not how many it can onboard.

This intentional selectivity is the project’s strength. It pre-builds the social layer of the network with people who are attuned to curation. These early users are not just invited to watch the protocol develop, they are the ones who shape what gets seen, verified, and recorded.

Why It Matters for Crypto’s Future

The presale crypto 2025 cycle is already filled with platforms aiming to provide tools, tokens, and tech, but few are questioning what should be verified in the first place. Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) does exactly that. Its structure is less about financial throughput and more about epistemic infrastructure.

This shift could represent a new chapter in blockchain development, one where knowledge validation becomes the foundation for trust, reputation, and value. In that world, those who evaluate become more essential than those who merely transact. It reframes ‘network participants’ as knowledge actors. And it begins with the whitelist.

Final Say: From Interested to Involved

Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP) is offering something different. Not just a presale, but a premise: that the future of crypto belongs to those who can interpret it. The whitelist phase for this project signals a move toward deeper participation. It is for individuals who are not content to follow signals but want to determine which signals matter.

What is ZKP offering in its whitelist? The chance to think, to evaluate, to filter, to play an early role in shaping how truth and meaning operate on-chain. For those seeking the best crypto presales in 2025, this project is not just another opportunity, it’s a call to interpret the next layer of blockchain value. And the door opens not with hype, but with discernment.Find Out More About Zero Knowledge Proof (ZKP):

Sam Altman, Open AI’s CEO has laid a roadmap to build a fully autonomous AI researcher by March 2028, capable of doing independent scientific work without human direction.

He revealed this during a livestream press event where Altman and OpenAI’s leadership described this as a concrete, measurable goal, rather than an abstract philosophical claim around artificial general intelligence (AGI).

The company expects to deliver an ‘intern-level research assistant’ by September 2026 which will act as a stepping stone toward the full researcher.

Fully autonomous researcher by 2028 target is for a system that can independently carry out nontrivial research which include formulating problems, designing experiments, interpreting results, and iterating essentially functioning at the level of human researchers.

The Intern-level assistant by 2026 is meant to handle more structured research tasks under supervision, such as literature reviews, hypothesis generation, and basic experiment design. Scaling ‘test-time compute’ is a key part of the plan which is giving models more computational resources when reasoning, allowing them to think longer per problem. Altman and the team said algorithmic innovations plus sheer compute scaling are essential to hit their goals.

‘Our aspiration is that we can build an infrastructure factory where we can create one gigawatt a week of compute,’ he said.

After a string of deals, OpenAI has current commitments for $1.4 trillion in spending on AI infrastructure for roughly 30 gigawatts of new computers in the coming years. Altman noted that he wants more.

He stated that if OpenAI’s research continues to advance alongside sustained consumer demand, he would like OpenAI to build infrastructure that would produce 1 gigawatt of compute a week.

Altman said, ‘Our aspiration is that we can build an infrastructure factory where we can create one gigawatt a week of compute.

‘We would like to get that cost down significantly to like $20 billion over that five-year lifecycle of that equipment.’

First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is pleased to announce that it has redeemed its $350 million Eurobond upon maturity on 27 October 2025.

The Eurobond was issued as Senior Notes in October 2020 at 8.625% with semi-annual coupon payments, which was 70% oversubscribed at the time, evidencing FirstBank’s deep market access and investor confidence.

The proceeds of the Senior Notes were used to, among others, finance various customer projects and activities, some of which were of vital national and economic importance.

This redemption reflects FirstBank’s effective liability management strategy and further demonstrates the Bank’s robust foreign currency liquidity and unrivalled franchise strength, while cementing the Bank as a preferred issuer in the international investment community. With this redemption, FirstBank has now successfully redeemed $1.275 billion over 4 maturities, since it 2007 vintage issue.

Commenting on the milestone, CEO, FirstBank Group, Olusegun Alebiosu, stated, ‘This redemption is entirely from the Bank’s balance sheet, reflecting FirstBank’s superior assets and liabilities management, the unrivalled franchise strength and reinforces the confidence that the investment community reposes in FirstBank.’

Mr. Alebiosu reaffirmed FirstBank’s 131-year legacy as a leader in corporate banking in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa. He also assured customers of the Bank’s commitment to meeting their transaction banking, treasury and cash management needs, through differentiated product offerings, powered by recent cutting-edge technological investments aimed at further streamlining its processes and improving customer experience.

Recently, Fitch affirmed FirstBank’s Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘B’ and upgraded the bank’s National Long-Term Ratings to ‘A+(nga)’ from ‘A(nga)’, both with ‘Stable’ outlooks, further reinforcing the Bank’s credit capacity and excellent balance sheet quality.

In recognition of FirstBank’s leadership in corporate and transaction banking in Nigeria, the Bank was awarded the Best Bank for Corporates in 2024 by Euromoney, Global Finance and World Economic Magazine.

About FirstBank

First Bank of Nigeria Limited ‘FirstBank’, established in 1894, is the premier bank in West Africa, a leading financial inclusion services provider in Africa, and a digital banking giant.

FirstBank’s international footprints cut across three continents – Africa, Europe and Asia, with FirstBank UK Limited in London and Paris; FirstBank in The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea and Sierra Leone; FBNBank in Senegal; and a FirstBank Representative Office in Beijing, China. All the subsidiary banks are fully registered by their respective Central Banks to provide full banking services.

Besides providing domestic banking services, the subsidiaries also engage in international cross-border transactions with FirstBank’s non-Nigerian subsidiaries, and the representative offices in Paris and China facilitate trade flows from Asia and Europe into Nigeria and other African countries.

For over 13 decades, FirstBank has built an outstanding reputation for solid relationships, good corporate governance, and a strong liquidity position, and has been at the forefront of promoting digital payment in the country with over 13 million cards issued to customers (the first bank to achieve such a milestone in Nigeria). FirstBank has continued to make significant investments in technology, innovation and transformation, and its cashless transaction drive has been steadily accentuated with virtually over 25 million active FirstBank customers signed up on digital channels including the USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code.

With over 43 million customer accounts (including digital wallets) spread across Nigeria, UK and sub-Saharan Africa, the Bank provides a comprehensive range of retail and wholesale financial services through more than 820 business offices and over 300,000 agent locations spread across 772 out of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.

In addition to banking solutions and services, FirstBank provides pension fund custody services in Nigeria through First Pension Custodian Nigeria Limited and nominee and associated services through First Nominees Nigeria Limited.

FirstBank’s commitment to Diversity is shown in its policies, partnerships and initiatives such as its employees’ ratio of female to male (about 41%:59%; and 37% women in management roles) as well as the FirstBank Women Network, an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase the participation of women at all levels within the organisation. In addition, the Bank’s membership of the UN Women is an affirmation of a deliberate policy that is consistent with UN Women’s Women Empowerment’s Principles (WEPs) – Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Nondiscrimination.

For six consecutive years (2011 – 2016), FirstBank was named ‘Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria’ by the globally renowned The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group and ‘Best Retail Bank in Nigeria’ eight times in a row, 2011 – 2018, by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards.

Significantly, FirstBank’s Global Credit Rating was A+, while ratings by Fitch and Standard and Poor’s were A+(nga) and ngBBB+ respectively both with Stable outlooks as at September 2025. FirstBank maintained the same level of international credit ratings as the sovereign; a milestone that was achieved in 2022 for the first time since 2015.

In 2024, FirstBank received notable international awards and accolades. Some of these include Nigeria’s Best Bank for ESG 2024 and Nigeria’s Best Bank for Corporates 2024 both awarded by Euromoney Awards for Excellence; Best SME Bank in Africa and in Nigeria by The Asian Banker Global Awards; Best Private Bank in Nigeria and Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa by Global Finance Awards; Best Corporate Bank in Nigeria 2024, Best CSR Bank in Nigeria 2024, Best Retail Bank in Nigeria 2024, Best SME Bank in Nigeria 2024 and Best Private Bank in Nigeria 2024 all awarded by the Global Banking and Finance Awards.

FirstBank has continued to gain wide acclaim on the global stage with several international awards and recognitions received so far in 2025 which includes Best SME Bank in Nigeria 2025 and Best SME Bank in Africa 2025 by The Asian Banker; Best Private Bank in Nigeria 2025 and Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa 2025 by Global Finance Awards; SME Financier of the Year in Nigeria 2025 by The Digital Banker Global SME Banking Innovation Awards; Best Retail Bank in Nigeria 2025 and Best Bank for Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Nigeria 2025 all by The Annual Global Economics Awards.

Our vision is ‘To be Africa’s Bank of first choice’ and our mission is ‘To remain true to our name by providing the best financial services possible’. This commitment is anchored on our core values of EPIC – Entrepreneurship, Professionalism, Innovation and Customer-Centricity. Our strategic ambition is ‘To deliver accelerated growth in profitability through customer-led innovation and disciplined execution.’

The National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism (NIHOTOUR) has announced a strategic partnership with Circuits, Africa’s premier virtual cinema and audiovisual distribution platform with a global audience and multi-device accessibility, to drive the digital transformation of Nigeria’s hospitality and tourism ecosystem.

Established under the NIHOTOUR Act, NIHOTOUR is Nigeria’s apex government agency responsible for the regulation, licensing, training, and capacity development of personnel in the hospitality, travel, and tourism sectors.

The Institute serves as the principal institution mandated to raise professional standards, enhance skills, and promote service excellence across Nigeria’s vibrant hospitality and tourism industries.

Through this partnership, NIHOTOUR will leverage Circuits’ advanced digital platform to deliver its capacity development programmes, professional courses, and culinary showcases to a vast online audience.

This collaboration will enable millions of Nigerians, especially those working across all segments of the hospitality ecosystem in hotels, restaurants, tour operations, travel agencies, catering services, and related value chains, to access world-class capacity development and industry content conveniently and affordably, regardless of location.

The initiative will also feature digitally streamed culinary shows celebrating Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage and creative gastronomy.

These shows are poised to set new benchmarks for African culinary standards, captivating food lovers around the world and reinforcing Nigeria’s reputation as a destination of hospitality excellence.

Speaking on the partnership, Abisoye Fagade, director-general of NIHOTOUR, said, ‘This partnership with Circuits marks a major leap in hospitality capacity development in Nigeria. It aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises innovation, youth empowerment, and economic growth.

‘By embracing digital dissemination, we are extending NIHOTOUR’s mandate to millions of Nigerians, equipping them with knowledge and skills to compete globally.’

Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, chief operating officer of Circuits, expressed excitement about the collaboration, ‘Circuits is built to connect African creativity with global audiences.

‘Partnering with NIHOTOUR allows us to merge education, entertainment, and technology in a way that redefines how hospitality expertise and indigenous culinary excellence are shared and celebrated.’

This partnership reaffirms NIHOTOUR’s leadership in hospitality capacity building and standardisation while leveraging Circuits’ digital ecosystem to amplify Nigeria’s presence on the global hospitality stage.

‘By combining innovation with accessibility, NIHOTOUR and Circuits are charting a new course for the future of hospitality and tourism development in Nigeria empowering millions of practitioners and aspiring professionals across the country’s tourism value chain.

Nigeria’s healthcare system is on the verge of collapse, as health workers are yet to receive the salaries, allowances, and welfare packages promised by the federal government, resident doctors said, while appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and address the situation.

Resident doctors, who constitute the bulk of Nigeria’s healthcare workforce, decried the current situation, describing it as a national emergency and a matter of national security.

In an open letter to the President titled, ‘A passionate appeal to the Commander-in-Chief of the Federation’ signed by Mohammad Suleiman, president, Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), the association urged the president to ignore statements that doctors’ demands have been addressed.

According to the association, the statement is not accurate as the reality in hospitals tell a different story of struggling doctors who are denied basic legitimate entitlements, despite several signed agreements and repeated assurances from government representatives.

Meanwhile the resident doctors have already begun ward rounds and patient handovers in preparation for a planned nationwide, total, and indefinite strike beginning on Saturday, 1 November 2025.

The letter read, ‘Your Excellency Sir,

Warm greetings to you from the entire body of Resident Doctors in Nigeria; a vital group of young medical professionals who provide specialist care and constitute a significant portion of the nation’s healthcare workforce.

‘We write to you today with deep concern and a profound sense of duty to draw your urgent attention to the worsening state of Nigeria’s health sector. Our healthcare system, Sir, is on the verge of collapse, a situation that has now assumed the dimensions of a national emergency and a matter of national security.

‘Your Excellency, we are aware that some individuals around you may have assured you that the challenges facing resident doctors have been resolved. Respectfully, Sir, that information is not accurate. Our realities in the hospitals across Nigeria tell a different story. Many of our members are yet to receive their legitimate entitlements, despite several signed agreements and repeated assurances from government representatives.

‘We are not politicians. We are doctors; men and women devoted to saving lives, working long hours in often harsh and under-resourced conditions. Our appeal is simple and sincere: we seek not luxuries, but the basic salaries, allowances, and welfare packages that have already been approved and promised by government.

‘Sadly, while many in privileged positions continue to receive their full emoluments without delay, the frontline doctors who shoulder the burden of patient care are left struggling. This inequity is demoralizing and threatens the very foundation of our healthcare delivery system.

‘Mr. President, you have always been known for your compassion, fairness, and courage in addressing difficult national challenges. We therefore appeal to your fatherly leadership to personally intervene and resolve the long-standing 19-point demands of the Nigerian Resident Doctors in order to restore hope, trust, and stability to our health sector.

‘We believe that under your decisive leadership, Nigeria’s health system can once again stand strong to serve our people with dignity and save countless lives.

‘May God grant you the wisdom, strength, and goodwill to act swiftly in the interest of all Nigerians. Thank you Your Excellency for your kind attention and anticipated action.’

Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, has called on Nigerian entrepreneurs and small business operators to take full advantage of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) to expand their reach across West Africa and strengthen regional economic integration.

She made the call in Enugu on Tuesday while declaring open a Sensitisation Workshop on the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) at the International Conference Centre.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with ECOWAS, brought together policymakers, business leaders, and trade experts to explore ways to enhance the participation of Nigerian SMEs in regional trade.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu described the workshop as ‘a timely initiative that speaks directly to the urgent task of deepening regional integration, expanding cross-border trade, and empowering our SMEs to take their rightful place in the West African market.’

She commended Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, Governor of Enugu State, and his administration for hosting the event and for their ‘forward-looking commitment to innovation, enterprise, and inclusive growth,’ which, she said, aligns with the spirit of the ECOWAS integration agenda. According to the Minister, the choice of Enugu for the workshop was deliberate, as the state has become ‘a beacon of economic transformation in the South-East.’

She emphasised that small and medium enterprises remain the backbone of Nigeria’s economy, serving as key drivers of employment, innovation, and shared prosperity.

‘Strengthening our SMEs is not merely a local concern but a regional imperative. Enugu today stands as a model for how local dynamism can align with continental ambitions’, she said. Odumegwu-Ojukwu highlighted the ETLS as one of the oldest and most strategic pillars of West Africa’s economic integration, facilitating the free movement of goods and services within the subregion.

She added that the scheme complements the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons and supports the broader framework of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

‘ETLS is not just a technical instrument, it is a gateway and a test case for Africa’s economic renaissance,’ she noted.

The Minister underscored Nigeria’s pivotal role in driving regional trade, noting that while leadership from Abuja and Lagos is essential, true success will depend on how well local entrepreneurs, traders, and manufacturers across the country can access and benefit from the regional market.

‘This workshop is about democratizing opportunity, equipping our SMEs with the knowledge, skills, and networks to transcend local boundaries and embrace the wider West African market,’ she said.

She urged participants to fully engage in discussions, share their experiences, and leverage the platform to form business partnerships that can boost competitiveness beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Odumegwu-Ojukwu reaffirmed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to economic diplomacy and trade facilitation, emphasising that the ultimate goal of Nigeria’s foreign policy is the prosperity of its people.

‘Regional integration is not an abstract idea, it is about people, jobs, markets, and opportunities. It is about transforming promises into tangible benefits for every Nigerian entrepreneur,’ she said.

According to a statement by Kimiebi Ebienfa, Spokesperson, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the event forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing efforts to promote economic cooperation within the ECOWAS framework and ensure that Nigerian businesses, especially those in emerging regions like the South-East, are not left behind in the evolving landscape of African trade.

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) over alleged misappropriation of more than $25 million in development grants received from the world football governing body, FIFA, and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) between 2015 and 2025.

The decision followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Adedayo Adesola and co-sponsored by Nwaeke Uche during Tuesday’s plenary.

Moving the motion, Adesola referenced recent comments by former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, who accused the NFF of undermining Nigerian football through corruption and mismanagement of FIFA and CAF funds.

Oliseh cited the handling of $1 million disbursed by FIFA to prepare the Super Eagles for the 2002 World Cup as an example of systemic rot within the football body.

The lawmaker recalled that between 2015 and 2025, the NFF allegedly received over $25 million in grants from FIFA and CAF but had little to show for the substantial inflows.

He noted that in 2016, FIFA issued an audit query to the NFF over the handling of a $1.1 million development grant, revealing that $802,000 was not properly accounted for. This led to a directive by then Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, for an independent audit of the federation’s accounts.

Adesola also reminded the House that several NFF officials, including former President Amaju Pinnick, were subjects of investigations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) between 2018 and 2019 over alleged diversion of funds and sponsorship monies.

He cited a recent viral report alleging that the NFF used $1.2 million meant for football development to construct the Birnin Kebbi Stadium. According to him, physical inspection of the facility revealed it was substandard and failed to justify the expenditure. He compared it to Kenya, which reportedly used a similar amount to build a standard, fully equipped facility. The lawmaker expressed concern that continued mismanagement within the NFF could undermine Nigeria’s preparations for upcoming continental and global football tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup qualifiers.

‘There is an urgent need to halt further misuse of FIFA and CAF grants by the NFF leadership and ensure transparency in the management of football development funds,’ Adesola said. Adopting the motion, the House resolved to set up a special investigative committee to examine the activities, accounts, receipts, and disbursements of the NFF from 2015 to date.

The committee is also mandated to invite the NFF leadership to provide records of all financial transactions within the period.

The House further resolved to take additional measures aimed at enhancing transparency and accountability within the federation to restore both national and international confidence in Nigeria’s football administration.

Determined to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity, Jobberman Nigeria, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has announced plans to host the 2025 Lagos Careers Fair.

The fair will bring together over 1,000 young Nigerians aged 18 to 35 and more than 100 employers actively recruiting across Nigeria’s thriving creative economy.

According to the organiser,s the career fair themed: The Creative Economy Edition will take place on October 31, 2025, at Daystar Christian Centre, Lagos.

Olamide Adeyeye, country head of programmes, said the fair is open to young Nigerians with 0-5 years of work experience, with a special invitation extended to women, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).

Adeyeye said that participating employers represent a diverse range of industries within the creative economy, including digital marketing agencies, content production studios, tech startups, and established brands, all with active vacancies.

He said attendees can benefit from structured recruitment booths, on-the-spot interviews, and personalised discussions with hiring managers. ‘This event promises to be a platform for jobseekers to explore opportunities and connect with potential employers in Nigeria’s burgeoning creative economy,’ he said.

Adeyeye further said that a major highlight of the event will be masterclass sessions led by top Nigerian creative professionals, including Tomike Adeoye, the celebrated content creator and host, and Esiaga, the accomplished videographer, expertly hosted by Joseph Onaolapo (Jay On Air), the renowned media personality and content creator.

‘The comprehensive programme also includes a keynote address, goodwill message from a government representative, panel discussion addressing skills gaps in the creative economy, and an innovation showcase spotlighting emerging creative-tech startups,’ he added.

A new socio-political organisation, E’Ekpede Initiative, has been officially launched in Uyo with the aim of mobilising grassroots support for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio and Governor Umo Eno in the 2027 General elections.

Briefing journalists at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Information Drive, Uyo, Kufre Inima, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Initiative, described the movement as ‘a child of necessity’ – conceived out of the desire to promote unity, continuity, and renewed hope in Akwa Ibom State and across Nigeria.

According to Inima, the E’Ekpede Initiative was established to ‘push the right narrative, deepen democratic values, and provide clear direction for the people of Akwa Ibom State’ while countering political misinformation and divisive tendencies. ‘Our mission is unmistakable. we are poised to promote and support the reelection of our President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu; our Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; and our Governor, Pastor Umo Eno.

‘This is not out of selfish interest but in the overall interest of our people – to ensure continuity, stability, and accelerated development’, he said.. He noted that the group remains committed to sustaining the current developmental trajectory of both the State and the nation through civic engagement, voter enlightenment, and grassroots mobilisation.

The group commended President Tinubu for implementing policies that empower State Governments to drive grassroots development, describing his Renewed Hope Agenda as a framework that has strengthened economic stability and enhanced state autonomy. It also lauded Governor Umo Eno for his empathetic and people-centred leadership, particularly in rural transformation, job creation, and inclusive governance.

Inima further observed that with Akwa Ibom State now politically aligned with the Federal Government, the State stands to enjoy greater federal presence and developmental opportunities.

Responding, Nsibiet John, Akwa Ibom State NUJ Chairman, urged the group to maintain close collaboration with journalists in the State to ensure accurate and responsible reportage.

The Association of Corporate Treasurers of Nigeria (ACTN) has announced the 2025 edition of its flagship event, the Treasury360 Conference, Exhibition and Corporate Treasury Awards. The event will be held on November 6 and 7, 2025, at the MUSON Centre in Lagos.

At a media launch held on Friday in Lagos, the President of ACTN stated that this year’s conference will focus on how treasury professionals can utilise digital finance and artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, mitigate risks, and foster resilience.

The theme for the 2025 edition is ‘Navigating Treasury Challenges in Nigeria: Leveraging Digital Finance and AI for Efficiency.’ The event will bring together industry leaders, policymakers, innovators, and regulators from across Nigeria’s financial sector.

The ACTN President said 2025 has been a difficult year for businesses. Inflation remains high. Interest rates are elevated. Fiscal tightening and new tax reforms are reshaping the business environment. Rising operational risks, he added, have disrupted liquidity and cash flow cycles across many firms.

He explained that corporate treasury roles are becoming more strategic. ‘Treasurers now go beyond managing cash. They are focused on risk, capital optimisation, and ensuring business continuity,’ he said.

The two-day event will highlight discussions on AI-powered treasury systems, digital FX and liquidity management, payments modernisation, and sustainable finance. Experts will also explore risk mitigation strategies, governance, regulatory compliance, and capital market insights.

Several high-profile speakers are expected at the conference. They include the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Michael Cardoso, who will serve as Special Guest of Honour, and Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Others are Yele Oyekola, Co-founder and CEO of Duplo; Wole Ayodele, CEO of Fincra; Ola Oyetayo, Co-founder and CEO of Verto; and Olaitan Martins, Group Executive, Corporate Banking at FirstBank Nigeria Limited. The ACTN President commended regulators such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for their continued engagement with industry players. He also called for greater policy stability, a more cohesive foreign exchange framework, and deeper financial market reforms. He added that a supportive regulatory environment is essential for business growth and economic recovery.

The 2025 conference has already attracted strong institutional support. FirstBank of Nigeria Limited is the headline sponsor. Other sponsors include FMDQ Group Plc, Dangote Cement Plc, Fincra, Duplo, Oando Plc, Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Waza, May and Baker Plc, and Verto.

The conference will also feature the 2025 Corporate Treasury Awards, which celebrate excellence in treasury practice. Award categories include Corporate Treasury Team of the Year, Most Digitally Transformed Treasury Department, Best B2B Payment Digitisation Initiative, Best Foreign Exchange Risk Management Strategy, and Innovative Use of Capital Markets Instruments. Others are Best Liquidity Management Strategy, ACTN Support Bank of the Year, and ACTN Corporate Member of the Year.

According to ACTN, Treasury360 is ‘more than a conference.’ It is a platform for collaboration and innovation, designed to empower treasurers and help businesses navigate uncertainty.

Participants expected at the event include corporate treasurers, chief financial officers, finance executives, risk managers, auditors, regulators, fintech innovators, and capital market operators