Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has reaffirmed its commitment to service excellence and innovation as it joined the global celebration of Customer Service Week 2025, recording strong gains in customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The week-long event, which runs from October 6 to 10, has ‘Mission: Possible’ as theme and highlights the bank’s resolve to transform everyday challenges into opportunities through creativity, technology, and teamwork.

Describing the occasion, the bank’s Managing Director, Yemisi Edun said: ‘At FCMB, every day is an opportunity to provide excellent service. This week, we are proud to celebrate our customers and employees, whose dedication continues to drive our success.’

Executive Director, Corporate Services and Service Management, Felicia Obozuwa, reiterated the bank’s dedication in creating real value through customer experience and innovation.

‘In a fast-changing world, we are proud to deliver solutions that truly add value. Customer Service Week is another chance to thank our customers for their loyalty and our employees for their dedication,’ Obozuwa said.

As part of the celebrations, FCMB executives, including the Managing Director, took on customer-facing roles across various branches. They engaged directly with clients, listened to their feedback, and presented special gifts to customers. The bank also recognised children with Kiddies’ Accounts and rewarded its top 50 customers for their enduring loyalty and contribution to the bank’s growth.

To further appreciate its wider customer base, the bank rewarded more than 100,000 customers who purchased airtime and data through the FCMB Mobile App and 329# USSD code with a 10 percent bonus during a three-day campaign. In addition, select branches were fitted with refreshment booths to make in-branch visits more pleasant and interactive.

Employees also played a central role in the celebrations. Activities such as peer-to-peer recognition sessions, a Bankers Game Show, and a Theme Song Contest were organised to foster teamwork, celebrate excellence, and strengthen internal culture. The week’s events will culminate in a hybrid staff gathering, connecting employees physically and virtually across the country.

In line with this commitment, FCMB reported significant improvements in its Net Promoter Score (NPS) – a key measure of customer satisfaction and loyalty. The bank’s NPS, the management noted, rose to 74 per cent as of August 2025, surpassing the industry average, while its digital banking NPS also improved from 71 per cent to 75 per cent, reflecting stronger customer confidence in its digital platforms.

Now in its 41st year globally, Customer Service Week celebrates the role of service excellence in driving sustainable business growth. For FCMB, the event underscores its ongoing strategy to blend innovation, empathy, and digital transformation to strengthen relationships with customers, enhance satisfaction, and sustain business performance.

A digital marketplace for services, HAGO Africa, has launched operations in Nigeria, making it easier, safer, and faster for customers to find trusted service providers, from everyday artisans to top-tier professionals.

The platform connects customers to verified vendors in their city, combining location-based search, an escrow payment system, and in-app chat to deliver convenience and accountability that traditional referrals rarely guarantee.

Founder and CEO of HAGO Africa, Samuel Imoisili, said: ‘Our mission is simple: to build trust where it’s been missing. For years, customers have struggled with unreliable vendors, while skilled professionals have struggled to prove their credibility.

HAGO changes that by making every connection transparent, secure, and built on accountability.’

Unlike informal word-of-mouth networks, HAGO Africa allows customers to search, book, chat with, and pay service providers in minutes, all within one app.

Vendors benefit from increased visibility, access to more customers, and tools that encourage professional standards such as prompt communication, transparent pricing, and reliable delivery.

Imoisili who is a rising voice in Africa’s tech-driven service economy, added: ‘Service delivery in Africa has always been a matter of trust. We built HAGO to close that gap. By empowering both customers and vendors, we’re raising the bar for the entire service economy.’

HAGO Africa’s launch in Nigeria underscores the company’s commitment to transforming how Africans access and offer services, whether it’s hiring a plumber, booking a chef for a private dinner, finding a therapist, or engaging a product designer.

Rotary Club of Anthony Golden District 9112 has donated pregnancy and delivery kits to expecant women at Mende Primary Healthcare Centre, Maryland, Lagos.

The club also gave out bags, uniforms, socks and writing materials to pupils of Anthony Modle Nursery and Primary School in Anthony.

The back-to-school project featured tree planting to support pupils and the school authority.

President, Fikayo Ogundairo, said the gesture was in line with Rotary activities to provide service, promote integrity and ethical standards, and advance understanding, goodwill, and peace.

He noted that the donation was to give back to the community, apply the ideal of service in human life, improve life of expectant mothers as well as pupils.

‘Rotarians undertake to improve the quality of life in their community. Particular emphasis is given to helping children, needy families, the aged, the handicapped, and those most in need of assistance’.

Ogundairo said besides donating pregnancy kits, Rotary provides community health by organising free medical outreaches, training health workers, empowering communities to prevent diseases like malaria and polio, improving maternal and child health, and partnering health ministries and hospitals to deliver screenings, vaccinations, and vital healthcare supplies to vulnerable populations in Nigeria and beyond.

He said Rotary organises health days and outreaches, offering services like blood pressure tests, diabetes screenings, and hepatitis vaccinations to underserved communities.”

Smartphones today are more than just gadgets – they’re our cameras, our entertainment centers, our workstations, and sometimes even our survival tools when the day gets long. With the launch of the REDMI 15, Xiaomi is proving once again that cutting-edge tech doesn’t need to come with a heavy price tag. Instead, it should deliver power, performance, and practicality that fits perfectly into everyday life.

So, what exactly makes the REDMI 15 stand out in Nigeria’s highly competitive smartphone market? Here are six things you absolutely need to know about this new device.

1. A Battery That Refuses to Quit

We’ve all had those days when our phone’s battery dies in the middle of something important. That’s a headache REDMI 15 is here to solve. With its massive 7000mAh (typ) battery, this phone is built for marathon use. Whether it’s endless WhatsApp chats, hours of YouTube, or a long day of work and play, REDMI 15 keeps going.

Paired with 33W fast charging, even when the battery does run low, you won’t be stuck waiting for hours. Just a short recharge gets you right back on track.

2. A Big Screen Made for Big Moments

The REDMI 15 is equipped with an immersive 6.9-inch FHD+ display, which means everything from movies to mobile gaming looks better. The size makes it perfect for those who use their phone as a primary entertainment device – and for those who enjoy split-screen multitasking, the extra space really comes in handy.

Whether you’re watching Netflix, scrolling Instagram, or video calling loved ones, the REDMI 15’s display makes the experience brighter, bolder, and more engaging.

3. Reliable Power Under the Hood

At the heart of the REDMI 15 is the Snapdragon 685 processor. While it may not be a flagship chipset, it’s a strong and efficient performer for daily use. From running multiple apps smoothly to handling casual gaming, the Snapdragon 685 ensures you get a reliable and lag-free experience.

Pair that with RAM options of 6GB+128GB or 8GB+256GB, and you’ve got plenty of space for apps, photos, videos, and everything else you need on the go.

4. Capture Every Angle with the 50MP AI Dual Camera

The REDMI 15 comes with a 50MP AI dual camera system that makes mobile photography simple yet stunning. Whether you’re snapping photos of Lagos street life, family gatherings, or that perfect food shot for Instagram, the REDMI 15 has you covered.

AI optimization helps balance lighting, color, and detail, ensuring your pictures are clear and vibrant without needing professional editing. It’s the kind of camera that lets anyone become the storyteller of their own life.

5. Designed with Style in Mind

Smartphones are an extension of personal style, and the REDMI 15 doesn’t disappoint. Available in Midnight Black, Titan Gray, and Sandy Purple, it’s sleek and modern without being over the top.

Despite packing a huge battery, the REDMI 15 manages to feel comfortable in hand – showing Xiaomi’s commitment to design balance between power and portability.

6. A Price That Puts Power Within Reach

One of the strongest reasons Nigerians will love the REDMI 15 is its affordable pricing. For a device with such a massive battery, a huge display, and reliable performance, the REDMI 15 starts at just:

?186,400 for 6GB+128GB

?212,900 for 8GB+256GB

This makes it one of the best value-for-money smartphones in its category. It’s clear that Xiaomi designed REDMI 15 not just to impress on paper, but to be truly accessible to everyday users.

Availability and Where to Buy?

The REDMI 15 is now available in Nigeria through all authorized Xiaomi stores, including Finet, Raya, 3C Hub, Slot, and more. Prefer online shopping? Visit Jumia.com to purchase your favorite Xiaomi products with just a few clicks! Stay tuned for more exciting updates and promotions by following Xiaomi Nigeria on Facebook, Instagram, X, and TikTok.

Chairman of Akoko Northeast Local Government Area of Ondo State, Mohammad Olawale Mutiu, has distributed over 5,000 educational materials to secondary schools across the council area.

Mutiu said the initiative was part of his administration’s commitment to supporting the education sector.

Items distributed were bags, books, reuseable bottles and pen.

Describing education as bedrock of development, Mutiu said investment in students would help them secure their future and contribute positively to the growth of the community and the state at large.

He said that plans were underway to renovate dilapidated classrooms in some of the schools and to provide additional facilities that would create a more conducive environment for learning.

According to him, education remains the most powerful tool to fight poverty and insecurity, hence the need for all stakeholders to support government’s efforts in strengthening the sector.

Schools that benefitted were the Agboriki Comprehensive High School, College Ikare Secondary School, and AUD Secondary School. Others included Osele Comprehensive High School, Comprehensive Secondary School Ikare, and Ise Akoko High School.

Founder of Eduminds Africa, Miss Motunrayo Oyedele, said the gesture was geared towards making education more attractive to students while also assisting parents by reducing the financial burden of buying books for their children.

Community leaders present at the distribution ceremony applauded the council chairman for his foresight and called on other public office holders to emulate the initiative.

Rangers International FC of Enugu continued their impressive run in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with a 2-0 victory over Abia Warriors in a keenly contested Oriental derby played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium on Tuesday.

Goals from Chigozie Iwundu and Godwin Obaje in the 15th and 33rd minutes sealed the win for the Flying Antelopes, who have now climbed to fifth place on the log with 11 points from seven matches.

Despite the loss, Abia Warriors remain in fourth position with 12 points.

In another NPFL fixture decided in Kano, Rabiu Ali’s 23rd -minute goal handed Kano Pillars a narrow 1-0 win over Kwara United at the Sani Abacha Stadium.

The result moved Pillars up to 16th place with seven points, while Kwara United sit just above them in 13th position with eight points.

The Rivers State University in Port Harcourt is set to host the second edition of the international conference/workshop of the Development Communication Research Association of Nigeria (DECRAN).

DECRAN’s Convener and President, Dr. Blessing N. Chinweobo-Onuoha, announced this in a statement yesterday by the Director of Media and Publicity, Dr. Chekwube Nzomiwu.

The statement said the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, will also be the chief host of the conference slated for November 19 to 21, while the Dean in the Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Prof. Richard N. Amadi, will be the host.

The statement added: ‘The Head, Department of Development Communication Studies, Rivers State University, Dr. Itieke-Idamieba Harry, is the co-host, while Dr. Sarah C. Joe chairs the Local Organising Committee (LOC).

‘Prof. Godwin B. Okon of the Department of Development Communication Studies, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt, is the keynote speaker, while Prof. Christopher Ochonogor of the Department of Journalism and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt, will serve as the lead paper presenter.

‘The theme of the conference is: Digital inclusion and the Frontiers of Development Communication, while the sub-themes cover Development Communication and Digital Innovation, Education and Learning, Arts, Humanities and Cultural Communication, as well as Social Sciences and Governance.

‘The topics to be discussed include Artificial Intelligence, Big Data and the Future of Development Messaging, Digital Inclusion and Communication Access in Rural Communities, Information and Communication Technologies for Development: Trends and Impacts, and Community Media, Podcasting and Citizen Journalism.

‘Also to be discussed are: Mobile Health and Behaviour Change Strategies, Combating Health Misinformation in Digital Spaces, Human Centred Design in Health Promotion Campaigns, Indigenous Communication and Health Education, Telehealth, Trust and Communication Ethics, Digital Learning Platforms and Access to Quality Education, Storytelling and Creative Arts in Development Narratives, Communication, Policy Advocacy and Democratic Participation, among others.’

Chinweobo-Onuoha stated that the conference would be open to all academics and professionals, regardless of their discipline.

She added: ‘There will be brainstorming sessions on the chosen topics at the conference. Our association (DECRAN) stands as a pioneering force in the realm of communication research in the country, having produced two journals since our maiden international conference hosted by the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), in November last year.’

According to the programme of events, the opening ceremony/plenary session will be held on November 20, to be followed by the annual general meeting on November 21.

This year’s conference is being organised by DECRAN in collaboration with the Department of Development Communication Studies, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.

After six years of rigorous research, scientists at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) have revealed that although most herbal medicines circulating in Nigeria are safe for consumption, their effectiveness in treating diseases remains largely unproven. The findings, unveiled last week during a media briefing by the Centre for Research in Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine at NIMR, Yaba, highlight a growing gap between the popularity of herbal products and the scientific evidence supporting their therapeutic claims.

According to Dr. Oluwagbemiga Olanrewaju Aina, Deputy Director of Research in the Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition at NIMR, the conclusion emerged from a comprehensive safety and efficacy evaluation of 46 herbal formulations conducted since 2019. ‘All the 46 herbal products evaluated over the last six years were found to be safe in toxicity studies using animal models. However, none of them passed efficacy tests,’ Aina disclosed.

The tested formulations-ranging from painkillers and anti-malarials to anti-COVID and cancer remedies-were subjected to acute and sub-acute toxicity studies, confirming that they posed no harm at standard dosages. Some of the products examined included Kampe Bitters, Divine Herbal Eye Medicine, Yusram Colon Cleanser, COVID Organics Herbal Tea from Madagascar, and Vernonia Antiviral Herb. While none of the products demonstrated harmful effects, Aina cautioned that safety alone does not equate to effectiveness. ‘Just because a product doesn’t harm you doesn’t mean it works,’ he warned. ‘There is a growing trend of herbalists making unverified claims-and, in some cases, adulterating their preparations with conventional drugs.’

Aina, who is also an Associate Professor of Pharmacology at the Eko University of Medicine and Health Sciences, noted that the Centre played a key role during the COVID-19 pandemic by evaluating several herbal and pharmaceutical formulations, including Virucidine, Ivermectin, and protein-based immune therapies. However, none of the trials demonstrated statistically significant clinical benefits over standard treatments.

He urged herbal medicine producers to go beyond anecdotal evidence by conducting efficacy studies and identifying the active ingredients in their formulations. ‘We advise producers of herbal medicines to isolate and characterise active ingredients in their preparations. More importantly, they must demonstrate that these ingredients work-not just that they don’t kill,’ he said. Aina also called for greater investment in research infrastructure, better access to laboratory equipment, and the establishment of standardis ed animal facilities to support preclinical studies. Beyond its herbal research, the Centre has in the past six years evaluated 46 herbal medicinal products, conducted multiple preclinical and clinical trials, and trained over 500 industrial trainees, 150 project students, 50 interns, and 80 PhD students. It also played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s COVID-19 response and maintains collaborations with several universities locally and abroad.

Despite these achievements, Aina noted ongoing challenges, including limited funding, inadequate laboratory infrastructure, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, which remains an active focus of his broader research. He concluded by reaffirming the importance of integrating traditional knowledge with modern science. ‘Traditional medicine remains a vital part of African healthcare culture,’ he said. ‘But science must validate tradition-not replace it. Herbal therapy has its place, but it must be backed by evidence. That is the only way forward.’

Former Special Duties Minister and Deputy Chairman of the National Convention Committee, Tanimu Turaki said the 2025 elective National Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) will be the best ever convention to be organised by any political party in the country.

Turaki spoke just as National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba said the Ibadan convention was critical to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria, which he said explains the enthusiasm and the interest being shown Nigerians across board.

Speaking at the inaugural of the Security sub-committee for the convention, the former Minister said the leadership of the party and the National Convention Planning Committee will leave any stone unturned in ensuring that whatever that can be done is done to make the convention worth the while.

He said ‘The success of the Convention is 85% contingent on what members of this committee will do in Ibadan. Security is key. Security is fundamental.

‘We are hopeful that at the end of the day, will come up with a convention that other political parties will see as a benchmark for holding their own conventions’.

Chairman of the Committee and Governor of Taraba state, Agbu Kefas said the job of the committee will be to ensure a hutch free convention by gathering intelligence and working hand in hand with the security agencies.

Speaking through Senator Austin Akobundu, he said the committee will ensure that the convention devoid of incursions from undesirable elements that will like to physically truncate the exercise.

Addressing journalists, Ologunagba said Nigerians were excited and are eager to know what the party is doing, adding that ‘we eager to ensure that we put ourselves together as a party, because that is the only way that we can guarantee the sustenance of democracy.

‘Since 1999, Nigerians can make a determination about where to stay. We had 16 years of unbroken governance by the PDP. Where we had what I always refer to and many Nigerians believed that to be the glorious era in development and hope in this country.

‘Before that time, before 1999. It was difficult for this country to have recognition worldwide. We were like a paral state when the PDP came on board and set the country back on the path of development. We paid off our debts. We had double-digit GDP growth. We had inflation contained. We have policies that are invested in people in their human capital development.

‘We had economy that was number one in Africa and by the time the PDP left government in 2015, we had over a $600 billion economy. Nigeria was then the number one destination for foreign capital investment and all of that has been rolled back in the last 10 years or so.’

The House of Representatives of the State of South Carolina in the United States has honoured the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, with African Leadership Public Service Excellence Award for Solid Minerals Development and Sectoral Reform.

The U.S. lawmakers said the award was in recognition of his exemplary contributions to governance, public service, and reforms in Nigeria’s solid minerals sector.

The honour was conferred on him during the African Leadership Public Service Excellence Awards, organised by Africa Leadership Magazine at the Proshansky Auditorium, City University of New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, said Dr. Rosalyn Henderson-Myers, a member of the parliament who presented the award, applauded the minister’s transformational leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s mining industry for global competitiveness.

The statement noted that the organisers of the award also announced that the South Carolina legislature had passed a formal motion of recognition, signed by the Speaker, G. Murrel-Smith Jr., and Clerk, Charles Reid, acknowledging Alake’s distinguished record as a journalist, strategist, and public administrator.

Presenting the award, Henderson-Myers said: ‘We, the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, commend you on your contributions to Nigerian politics and wish you success in all your future endeavours ‘

In the citation presented by Aaron T. Manaigo, former Republican State Senator from New York, the lawmaker chronicled Alake’s four-decade journey across journalism, politics, and public administration.

‘Dr. Alake began his professional journey as a writer and columnist before serving as Adviser on Information to the late Chief M.K.O. Abiola.

He later worked with the pro-democracy movements that birthed Nigeria’s Fourth Republic and served as the Special Adviser on Information to then-Governor Bola Tinubu, now President of Nigeria Today, as Minister, he has redefined leadership in the solid minerals sector,’ Manaigo said.

Receiving the award, Alake thanked the organisers and the South Carolina legislature for the recognition, promising not to lower the standards of governance and accountability that earned him the honour.

‘This recognition further strengthens our resolve to continue transforming Nigeria’s solid minerals sector through transparency, innovation, and value addition,’ he said.