Category: Business Day

In a country where sports unite millions, Olamiji Osifeso, founder and CEO of City Rebels Predictions (CRSPredictions), says he is using data to change the way fans see the game. His mission is to transform sports prediction from a game of chance into a culture of learning, logic, and literacy.

Founded in July 2022, CRSPredictions has rapidly grown into a platform that blends sports analytics, technology, and education. For Olamiji, a graduate of Computer and Mathematical Sciences, the goal isn’t entertainment – it’s enlightenment. ‘Sports prediction shouldn’t be about chance,’ he said. ‘It should be about knowledge – knowing how data connects to results and how logic improves decisions.’

From inception, CRSPredictions was designed to stand apart. Unlike many prediction platforms built around odds and risk-taking, Olamiji created a hub for pure analysis – offering fans accurate, data-backed insights without promoting gambling.

Launched officially in 2023, the platform provides detailed match previews, statistical breakdowns, and trend analyses for top football leagues. These tools help users appreciate the reasoning behind outcomes rather than rely on emotion. ‘We want people to enjoy the beauty of football through intelligence,’ he explained. ‘When fans understand the logic behind play, they appreciate the game differently.’

Before launching CRSPredictions, Olamiji honed his entrepreneurial grit in Lagos’s Mandilas Market, managing automobile imports and fashion retail. ‘When you’ve run a business in Mandilas, you learn creativity and problem-solving,’ he recalled. ‘That mindset of improvisation is now part of CRSPredictions – we grow by innovating.’

In 2024, while working as an Admin Officer in a Petroleum and Engineering company, Olamiji combined his analytical training with his passion for sports, giving rise to a platform now recognized as a leading name in Nigeria’s growing sports-tech ecosystem.

Beyond analysis, Olamiji envisions sports as a gateway to digital and data literacy. He sees football statistics as a relatable way to introduce young Africans to data science, probability, and critical thinking. ‘If you can understand football data, you can understand real-world analytics,’ he said. ‘It’s about interpreting information, spotting patterns, and making informed decisions.’

Through interactive content and social media engagement, CRSPredictions encourages fans to view sports as both entertainment and education. The company is also exploring partnerships that will embed data-learning modules within sports communities, empowering young Nigerians with logic-based skills.

In an online ecosystem dominated by speculation, CRSPredictions stands out for its ethical stance. The platform emphasizes accuracy, transparency, and integrity – values that have earned it a loyal user base. ‘Integrity builds longevity,’ Olamiji noted. ‘We don’t promise luck; we promise logic. Every analysis we publish is traceable to data and verified methods.’

This commitment to credibility has allowed CRSPredictions to grow organically, proving that innovation rooted in trust can flourish even without massive funding.

Looking ahead, Olamiji plans to expand the platform’s reach by developing a mobile app, integrating machine-learning algorithms, and introducing interactive dashboards that visualize sports data in real time. His long-term vision is to position CRSPredictions as Africa’s leading sports-intelligence platform – linking passion with precision and promoting responsible fan engagement across the continent.

‘Sports can teach us more than we think,’ he said. ‘It can teach patience, logic, and decision-making. Through CRSPredictions, we’re showing that the future of sports isn’t about luck – it’s about learning.’

In just two years, Olamiji Osifeso has built more than a digital platform; he has created a model for how young Africans can apply data to solve problems creatively. His journey from small ventures to a growing sports-tech enterprise embodies the ingenuity and resilience defining Africa’s new innovation wave.

Academic activities at the Federal University of Lafia (FULafia) have come to a complete standstill following total compliance by members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), FULafia chapter, with the ongoing two-week warning strike declared by the union’s national leadership.

Lecturers across faculties have ceased all academic engagements, leaving lecture halls and offices deserted.

Sunday Orinya, Chairman of ASUU FULafia, confirmed the development in an interview, stating that the decision to join the strike was unanimously adopted during a congress meeting held on Monday.

According to him, the union has formally notified the university management of its decision and is monitoring the situation to ensure full adherence across departments.

‘The strike is total. There will be no lecturing, accreditation, or supervision of students’ theses. All academic activities, whether for part-time or regular students, are suspended for the duration of the two-week warning strike,’ Orinya affirmed.

He noted that the FULafia chapter stands firmly behind the national leadership of ASUU in demanding the fulfilment of agreements reached with the federal government.

Orinya criticised the federal government for its continued failure to honour past agreements with ASUU, accusing authorities of negligence and disrespect.

He described the government’s ‘no work, no pay’ policy as a familiar tactic, adding that it would not deter the union from fighting for better conditions in the university system.

Transcorp Power Plc has released its unaudited financial results for the third-quarter (Q3) period ended September 30, 2025.

The company’s revenue grew by 38 percent year-on-year (YoY) to N308.5 billion in 2025, compared to N223.5 billion in Q3 2024. Profit Before Tax (PBT) climbed to N91.18 billion in Q3 2025, from N81.12 billion in Q3 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 12.4 percent.

Profit After Tax (PAT) rose to N68.42 billion in Q3 2025, from N58.4 billion in Q3 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 17 percent.

Transcorp Power Plc is one of Nigeria’s principal power generation companies and an electricity-generating subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), Nigeria’s leading, listed conglomerate, with strategic investments in the power, hospitality, and energy sectors.

Transcorp Power Plc said its Q3 performance was driven by an increase in average power generation, reflecting Transcorp Power’s continued investment in improving generation capacity and operational excellence.

Its gross profit increased to N119.7 billion, up from N96.5 billion in Q3 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 24percent, with a gross margin of 38.8 percent.

Emmanuel Nnorom, chairman Transcorp Power Plc said ‘Our performance in the third quarter, building on the positive momentum in the first half of the year, demonstrates Transcorp Power’s resilience and capacity to sustain profitability, despite economic challenges, supported by efficient operations strategies and prudent cost management’.

‘This sustained performance, in the face of economic headwinds will further strengthen investor confidence in our capacity to create shared value and maintain our growth trajectory,’ Nnorom said.

Peter Ikenga, MD/CEO, Transcorp Power Plc said, ‘The Q3 2025 results are underpinned by further growth in energy delivered to the grid, and emphasising our strategic approach, that ensures we deliver ever increasing value to our shareholders and stakeholders’. ‘These results illustrate our continuous drive to improve our business operations, eliminating waste and harnessing value. We are confident of finishing the year strong in fulfilment of our mission to improving lives and transforming Africa,’ Ikenga said.

Digitvant Microfinance Bank has been named the Digital Payment Disruptor of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, held on Saturday, October 11, 2025.

The award recognises Digitvant’s outstanding contribution to Nigeria’s evolving financial ecosystem and its unwavering commitment to making digital payments simpler, smarter, and more inclusive. It highlights the bank’s distinctive approach to using technology to drive empowerment while maintaining the human touch that defines its service culture.

Florence Ogunyamoju, managing director of Digitvant Microfinance Bank, described the recognition as both an honour and an affirmation of the brand’s purpose-driven innovation.

‘This award reaffirms our commitment to doing things differently,’ she said. ‘At Digitvant, we are not just building digital systems; we are building trust. Our focus is to create financial solutions that are simple, secure, and sustainable; solutions that work for the people and businesses that power Nigeria’s economy.’

Petra Akinti Onyegbule, group head of Corporate Communications and Branding, added a forward-looking reflection:

‘Even as we celebrated in the hall, my mind was five years ahead – on the global stage where Digitvant’s impact will continue to grow. We are going to empower more lives, empower more businesses, and we will do it while preserving the dignity of every customer. What sets us apart is not just what we do, but how we do it, which is with excellence, empathy, and purpose.’

With flagship products such as DigitvantPay and Market Monie, Digitvant continues to redefine access and inclusion, proving that digital transformation can coexist with dignity, trust, and sustainability.

As the bank celebrates this milestone, its vision remains clear: to keep pushing boundaries, deepening impact, and shaping the future of digital banking, one empowered customer at a time.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has set a target to register 545,000 children under one year in Lagos State before the end of 2025, as part of a nationwide campaign to ensure that no Nigerian child is left without a legal identity.

Speaking at the Birth Registration Multi-Sector Dialogue, in Lagos, on Monday, Celine Lafoucriere, chief of UNICEF Lagos field office, emphasized that birth registration remains the first line of protection for every child, without which children cannot access essential services such as healthcare, education, and social protection.

‘Without registration, children are invisible. They cannot access healthcare, education, or social services. Lagos State has made impressive progress with 94 percent of children under five already registered, but we must ensure that no child, especially in hard-to-reach and low-income communities, is left behind,’ Lafoucriere said.

According to Lafoucriere, Lagos is one of 15 priority states in UNICEF’s 2025 plan to register 3.69 million children nationwide. She revealed that the state received the highest allocation of over six million birth certificates from the National Population Commission (NPC) last month, an indication of the trust placed in Lagos’ registration systems and its capacity to deliver results.

‘The foundation has been laid. Training has been completed across all 20 local government areas, supplies including tablets have been distributed, and registration points are active. Lagos is ready, but success depends on everyone in this room,’ she said.

Lafoucriere urged ministries, traditional institutions, civil society, and the media to drive awareness and integration of birth registration into everyday services, stressing that collaboration among health, education, and social development sectors would be crucial to achieving the 2025 goal.

‘The Ministry of Health must integrate registration into immunization and maternal health services. Education authorities must ensure that birth certificates are required for school enrollment. Traditional and community leaders must champion registration as a civic duty, and the media must keep the message alive,’ she said.

She announced that the dialogue would produce a Lagos State Birth Registration Action Plan, a roadmap to strengthen community participation, drive demand at the grassroots, and identify pilot programs linking registration with immunization and child welfare services.

‘Today, we are moving beyond talk. We want concrete commitments, not just plans, that will be captured in a communique and implemented across sectors. The resources are here; the will is in this room,’ Lafoucriere added.

This work belongs to all of us. Let us leave here today with commitments, not just intentions, so that every child in Lagos can be counted, protected, and given the identity they deserve,’ Lafoucriere appealed.

Olayinka Oladunjoye, federal commissioner of the National Population Commission, Lagos, called on parents, community leaders, and local councils to intensify mobilisation efforts.

‘Without registration, there is no identity. And without identity, we can’t plan for them. Accurate data helps government determine how many schools, hospitals, or social facilities are needed in each community. That’s why birth registration is not just an administrative process, it is about proper planning for our children’s future,’ she said.

Oladunjoye applauded UNICEF, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), and civil society groups for their consistent collaboration, describing the initiative as a shared responsibility. ‘All our children must be registered and given certificates. We appreciate UNICEF for being a strong partner and for always standing by us,’ she added.

Despite Lagos’ progress, stakeholders acknowledged that several barriers continue to hinder universal registration.

Mrs. Olajumoke Otitoloju, welfare officer of the Child Protection Network (CPN) and project coordinator at Yanuora Children’s Care Foundation, said many families in informal settlements still lack awareness or face exploitation from unofficial agents. ‘Birth registration is the first legal proof of a child’s existence, yet millions of children in low-income areas remain unregistered. Some parents are charged illegally or issued fake certificates, which discourages genuine registration,’ she noted.

Otitoloju proposed practical solutions, including setting up birth registration desks in primary schools and requiring certificates during school enrollment and naming ceremonies. ‘If schools and religious institutions request birth certificates, parents will see it as part of civic responsibility, not an option. It is not just about giving a name, it is about giving an identity,’ she said.

The dialogue, themed ‘Every Child Counts: Accelerating Birth Registration in Lagos State,’ brought together key officials from the Ministries of Health, Education, Youth and Social Development, ALGON, civil society, and the media. Participants agreed to co-create a State Action Plan to improve awareness, integrate registration into health and education systems, and track progress toward universal coverage by year-end.

The Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) has rose to N373 billion as of October 13, 2025, with at least 536 community projects ongoing, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said.

The Commission in a statement signed by Eniola Akinkuotu, head, Media and Strategic Communications, NUPRC, explained that the total sum is comprised of N125billion and $168.9 million respectively.

The fund which was established by section 235 of the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, mandates oil companies operating in Nigeria to deposit 3 percent of their operating expenditures of the preceding financial year into a trust fund for the benefit of host communities where they operate.

The Commission also announced that it has facilitated the delivery of over 10 projects under the Obagi Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) in Rivers State, operated by TotalEnergies.

These projects were officially handed over to the communities hosting OML 58 during a two-day project commissioning and flag-off ceremony at Ogbogu Community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Speaking during the handover ceremony, Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC stated that the projects will address issues related to basic education, healthcare, employment, and more.

Representing Komolafe, John Roland Tonglagha, executive commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment, and Community, task the host communities to take ownership of the infrastructure and collaborate with upstream operators to grow the oil industry and deliver national prosperity.

He said, ‘This milestone marks a defining moment in the implementation of the HCDT provisions under Section 235 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and stands as a testament to the NUPRC’s commitment to delivering on its mandate.’

The Commission in the statement list the projects delivered to include: demolition and construction of two-storey building classroom blocks with 18 furnished standard classrooms size of 56 square metres UBEC standard at Ogbogu Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA; remodelled Ogbogu Cottage Hospital with 20 beds capacity and a new newly constructed diagnostic centre and revatalisation and infrastructure upgrade of 1200 capacity Ogbogu Ultra Modern Civic Centre in Ogbogu community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA.

Others are construction of 260 metres asphalt pavement at Obe Road, Oboburu Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA and fully constructed 320 metres reinforced concrete pavement at SDA Road, Oboburu Community in Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA.

The HCDT, the Commission said also delivered the construction of Amah Bottling Water Factory, Amah Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA, with a production capacity of 1500 bottles per hour and satchet water machine with a capacity of 2000 per hour; construction of admin and security buildings, procurement of Gas Skid Plant in Erema Community, Ogba Egbema Ndoni LGA; renovation, procurement and installation of student writing desk and other modern facilities at Akabuka South Primary School and renovation, procurement and installation of student writing desk and other modern facilities at Akabuka North Primary School.

These projects according to the Commission, were developed based on the needs and priorities defined by the communities themselves, in line with the Host Communities provisions of the PIA, 2021.

It explained that projects gives the communities a sense of ownership and is expected to reduce incidents of sabotage on oil facilities like pipeline vandalism, ensures the communities receive direct benefits from petroleum operations like social economic, educational development, empowerment of youth and overall reduction of restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

In his remarks, Benson Agadaga, Senate Committee Chairman on Oil and Gas Host Communities, noted that host communities are now reaping the dividends of the PIA’s successful implementation.

He emphasised that peace in the Niger Delta would help the Commission meet its production target of over two million barrels per day.

He said, ‘This is a challenge to other HCDTs to do the same because the little peace we are seeing today in the Niger Delta is because of the achievements of the PIA, and the host communities are no longer as hostile as before.’

Also speaking at the event, Matthieu Bouyer, Managing Director of TotalEnergies Upstream Companies in Nigeria, said the speed of the project delivery reflects the company’s commitment to sustainable economic development in host communities.

He said, ‘We are one of the first, if not the first, International Oil Companies to create and fund the Trust two years ago, which of course, is the Obagi HCDT. Within the community development plan, there are more than 500 projects currently identified, touching more than 60 communities.’

‘The Obagi HCDT as a shining example of what is possible when trust and policy are aligned. I am proud to support this project, which has created more than 1,000 jobs and will impact over 30,000 people,’ he added.

Data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) indicates that 6,831 Nigerian-born individuals acquired Canadian citizenship between January and June 2025, representing 25.9 per cent of all new citizens from the continent.

This figure is more than three times higher than any other African nation.

In total, 26,286 Africans were granted Canadian citizenship during the period, with Nigerians making up more than a quarter of that number, the highest among all African countries.

Morocco (1,835), Algeria (1,831), and Tunisia (1,538) followed closely, each contributing more than 5 per cent of the total, underscoring Canada’s growing appeal to French-speaking migrants from North Africa.

Countries such as Eritrea (1,283), Cameroon (1,276), Ethiopia (1,163), Egypt (1,158), and the Democratic Republic of Congo (1,081) also featured prominently, reflecting the diverse mix of economic, educational, and humanitarian motivations driving African migration to Canada. South Africa had 832 new citizens, representing 3.2 per cent of the total.

The figures point to both the scale and diversity of migration flows from across the continent, from West Africa’s economic migrants to North Africa’s francophone professionals and East Africa’s refugee diaspora.

The figures mirror a broader trend of African mobility towards countries offering stronger economic prospects, education opportunities, and political stability. For Nigeria, the exodus reflects both the success of Canada’s immigration-friendly policies and the persistent challenges at home, including limited job opportunities, currency instability, and rising insecurity which continue to push young professionals to seek better prospects abroad.

Canada’s flexible visa-to-residency pathways, favourable post-study work options, and active recruitment of skilled workers made it one of the most attractive destinations for African migrants.

Crackdown on immigration surge, exploitation

The latest figures highlight Canada’s enduring appeal to African migrants drawn by its education system, labour opportunities, and political stability. For many Nigerians, emigration to Canada is synonymous with social mobility, professional recognition, and long-term security, a reflection of both Canada’s historically open immigration stance and Nigeria’s ongoing economic headwinds.

However, this surge comes as the Canadian government moves to tighten its immigration policies in response to growing domestic pressure on housing shortages, strained public services, and integration challenges.

Justin Trudeau’s, Canada’s prime minister has faced criticism for what some Canadians describe as unsustainable immigration growth. While the country remains one of the world’s most immigrant-friendly nations, it is now seeking to moderate the pace of arrivals to ensure infrastructure and social systems can keep up.

Recently, Canada unveiled sweeping reforms to its immigration system, with the federal government announcing plans to reduce both temporary and permanent immigration levels over the next three years. The move is to stabilise population growth, ease pressure on housing and infrastructure, and curb abuses within the system.

Trudeau admitted that Canada’s population had grown at ‘baby boom speed’ in the last two years, largely driven by a surge in temporary residents, international students and foreign workers, who were admitted after the pandemic to fill critical labour shortages.

‘Our population has grown really fast, like baby boom fast,’ the prime minister said, explaining that while the influx helped Canada avoid a post-pandemic recession, it also exposed loopholes that have since been exploited by ‘bad actors like fake colleges and big chain corporations.’

According to him, the government’s mistake was allowing temporary migration to expand unchecked while focusing primarily on permanent immigration targets. ‘Historically, we only planned for permanent residents, but temporary immigration, which used to be small, grew rapidly after the pandemic. We needed workers fast, and we brought them in. It was the right call at the time.’

However, he acknowledged that the sudden boom in population, fuelled by short-term work and study permits, has strained housing, healthcare, and social systems. ‘Looking back, when the post-pandemic boom cooled, we could have acted quicker and turned off the taps faster,’ he admitted.

The new immigration plan is to pause population growth for the next two years, followed by a gradual increase from 2027 onwards. The minister said the government would now ‘lower the number of new immigrants coming into Canada, both temporary and permanent, while prioritising skilled permanent residents such as healthcare and construction workers.

‘We’re making the system work for Canadians and for newcomers, rather than for the big box stores, chain restaurants, and sham colleges that exploit it’, he said.

Tougher measures for international students, foreign workers, assymlum seekers

The government also pledged tougher oversight on international education and work permits. Officials cited instances of fraudulent institutions charging foreign students tens of thousands of dollars more for the same degree, and employers using temporary work schemes to get around hiring Canadian workers.

According to Trudeau, the reforms will also address asylum abuse, as temporary residents whose visas expire and attempt to use the asylum system as a shortcut to stay in Canada will have their claims rigorously reviewed, and have unsuccessful applicants repatriated.

Although provinces like Ontario are experiencing chronic labour shortages especially in manufacturing and healthcare, Trudeau insisted that the new policies will give Canadian communities ‘breathing room’.

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has urged the service chiefs to be more ruthless with terrorists killing innocent citizens in the country.

Oyintiloye said the killings in some parts of the north and other parts of the country needed to stop, although the security agencies were doing their possible best to deal with the situation.

The APC chieftain made the remarks while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo.

Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), expressed concern over the rise in the spate of killings by suspected bandits in Kwara, Borno, Zamfara, and Niger State.

According to him, the heads of security agencies must take the bull by the horns and go hard on those involved in the killings and their sponsors.

The former lawmaker said Nigerians were living in fear and anxiety across the country despite the efforts of the security agencies to bring the situation under control.

He, subsequently, urged the service chiefs not to rest on their oars until they succeeded in winning the war against terrorist groups in the country.

Oyintiloye also advised the service chiefs to look inwards and fish out those who might be working against their relentless efforts to crush the activities of terrorists in the country completely.

‘There is no doubt that the service chiefs are doing their best against these terrorists, but they need to be more ruthless with them.

‘I will also urge them to look inward and fish out those who might be working against their efforts at the war front.

‘This is important and necessary to restore public confidence in the security agencies and restore peace and security in the country.

‘People are tired, and many of them are living in fear of the unknown due to the activities of those perpetrating violent crimes in the country,’ he said.

The party chieftain also highlighted the need for the service chiefs to involve local security networks in intelligence gathering to tackle the menace.

Oyintiloye said people, especially stakeholders living in different communities, must be engaged in intelligence gathering, noting that this would go a long way in preventing terrorist activities and their attacks.

He further said that the security agencies should also target the financial backbone of terrorist groups in the country to complement their efforts.

The lawmaker, however, commended President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly for providing the needed support and budgetary allocation for the security agencies to reduce violent crimes in the country.

Oyintiloye noted that with the cooperation of all stakeholders, acts of faith, patriotism, honesty, and the positive mindset of Nigerians, the country would defeat the menace of insecurity in due course.

Golden Penny Foods Ltd, the provider of superior quality African brands that inspire consumers every day, and the iconic brand of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), is set to mark 65 years of Feeding and Enriching Lives, Every Day.

As part of this celebration, the brand is launching a Buy and Win promotion, offering 4 billion worth of prizes to its loyal consumers.

The pan-Nigeria Golden Penny Buy and Win promo campaign, which will run for 10 weeks from September 22nd, 2025, allows consumers to enter with multiple entries to win instant airtime and ultimately, cash prizes, Golden Penny products, household items, kitchen makeovers, and cars. Instant airtime can be earned by using the unique PIN on the promo packs. Weekly draws will be held every Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. for the duration of the promo.

Mr. Devlin Hainsworth, the Managing Director, Food Division, eulogized the company’s commitment to celebrate with the consumers as their loyalty for over six decades is the very foundation is business sustenance.

‘The Golden Penny Foods brand is the people’s brand, a household brand that transcends over two generations while still maintaining the production of nutritious and superior quality loved brands. Through the National Consumer Promotion, we are celebrating and rewarding our consumers for 65 years of loyalty, affinity, and patronage.’

To participate in the promo, consumers would need to purchase special promo packs of Golden Penny products (10 packs of Golden Penny Noodles, 3 packs of Golden Penny Semovita, and 3 packs of Golden Penny Pasta), which would be submitted at designated redemption centres across the country, for which they will receive a code confirming their entry.

Also emphasizing that the 65th Anniversary Buy and Win Promo is designed to appreciate and reward Golden Penny Food’s loyal consumers, and reinforce the brand’s commitment to strengthening the bond it has built with Nigerian families over six decades, Mr. Ilyas O. Kazeem, The Director for Marketing, Golden Penny Foods Ltd noted, ‘Golden Penny has been nourishing Nigerians for 65 years, and what better way to celebrate than with the people who have brought us this far,

hence the Buy and Win promo.

The Promo speaks to our commitment to truly enriching people’s lives. We are giving Nigerians 4 billion reasons to smile. Every prize is our way of saying thank you for walking with us all these years.’

Winners will emerge every week and can redeem their prizes at the redemption centres closest to them using their entry codes and a valid identification card. More information about the promo can be found on the brand’s website (https://www.fmnfoods.com/) as well as their social media pages.

About Golden Penny Foods

Golden Penny Foods Ltd is a leading food company and a provider of superior quality African brands that inspire consumers every day. As an iconic brand of FMN, a diversified Pan-African food and agro-allied company that feeds and enriches the lives of its consumers every day, Golden Penny Foods Ltd is committed to providing its consumers with superior quality African Brands designed to satisfy their nutritional needs.

The company is consistently providing affordable nutrition to its consumers – a commitment that earned it the iconic name ‘Golden Penny’, which was the smallest unit of Nigeria’s currency, an indication that anybody could afford the Company’s products while quality is still guaranteed. Through market leadership in process and product innovation, it is imperative for FMN, through the Golden Penny Foods Company, to offer consumers healthy, quality, and tasty nutrition that complements local delicacies.

Through the Golden Penny Foods brand, various stakeholders can access their daily nutrition of choice through the Company’s portfolio of loved brands. From this home of good food emanate excellent nutritional products like diverse flour brands, ball foods (Semovita), pasta, noodles, sweeteners, edible oil, and fats, Choco Spreads, breakfast cereal, and other endearing foods. With over 17 modern and best-in-class manufacturing facilities across 12 states, and production capabilities across grain milling, edible oil, sugar refining, agro-inputs, and animal nutrition and proteins.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Borno State has formally notified the Borno State Independent Electoral Commission (BOSIEC) of its readiness to participate in the forthcoming local government elections slated for 25th December, 2025.

Bello Ayuba, the State Chairman of the party, announced this at weekend in Maiduguri, saying the early communication was made four months ahead to ensure full compliance with electoral guidelines and allow adequate preparation by members across the state.

Ayuba explained that the APC State Working Committee had constituted four key committees – Sale of Forms, Screening, Appeal, and Reconciliation – to oversee the election process.

He noted that the Sale of Forms Committee had already been inaugurated, and nomination forms were offered free of charge to all party members aspiring for chairmanship and councillorship positions.

‘The sale of forms, which opened about two weeks ago, closes today,’ Ayuba said. ‘The Screening Committee will immediately begin verifying all documents submitted by aspirants, and this process will last about one week before the conduct of primaries.’

The chairman assured that the party is committed to transparent and credible primaries across the 27 local government areas. Even where only one aspirant indicates interest in a position, he said, committees would still be constituted to affirm the candidate’s popularity and acceptability among members.

He stressed that the APC remains dedicated to internal democracy and will ensure fair competition ahead of the polls. Committees would also be established at various levels to ensure smooth primaries leading to the emergence of candidates for all chairmanship and councillorship positions across the state’s 27 LGAs and 312 wards.

On the cost of nomination forms, Ayuba revealed that Borno APC pegged the fees at moderate rates compared to other states such as Kaduna and Yobe.

In Borno, councillorship forms cost ?500,000, while chairmanship forms cost ?2 million. To promote inclusion, women and persons with disabilities are to pay half the price – ?250,000 for councillorship and ?1 million for chairmanship forms.

Ayuba dismissed speculations that certain aspirants had been ‘anointed’ ahead of the primaries, insisting that the process remains open, fair, and transparent.

‘The APC in Borno is fair to all. No one has been denied access to nomination forms, and every aspirant is treated equally. We are supporting candidates who are popular and acceptable to the people because our goal is to win elections fairly.’

He reiterated that the party considers all aspirants as valued members and will continue to ensure a level playing field for everyone participating in the local government elections.