Author: Nationalmonitor

…Oronna Festival Where Culture Meets Development In the bustling town of Ilaro, the Oronna Festival has long been more than just a celebration of heritage. Each year, the people gather to honor Oronna, the legendary warrior-hero whose courage shaped their history. But in recent times, the festival has begun to take on a new meaning — one of unity, tourism, and economic growth. At the 32nd edition of the festival, Senator Adeola Olamilekan Yayi stood before the crowd, his words weaving together culture and progress. He spoke passionately about how festivals like Oronna could serve as catalysts for community development…

Nigeria must design a tax system that is broad-based, technology-enabled and trusted by citizens as the country’s revenue challenge is not merely about the numbers but structure, mindset and execution, Zacch Adedeji, chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), has said. Adedeji, who spoke while delivering the maiden edition of Distinguished Lecture Series of the University of Ilesa, Osun State, on Friday, explained that revenue diversification is no longer a policy preference but a national imperative. Speaking on the topic Economic Resilience in an Era of Dwindling Revenue, Adedeji said it was important to restructure the productive base of…

Mediacraft Associates, a leading integrated marketing communications and PR agency, has announced that Amina Omoike, Senior Manager and Group Head of Media Services, has been nominated for the prestigious 2025 Industry Changemakers Awards. She is being recognised as one of The Industry Top 50 Women in 2025. The grand unveiling is scheduled to take place on Friday, December 12, 2025, in Lagos.Selected from various fields including business, entrepreneurship, IMC, sustainability, finance, tourism, culture and governance; Amina was recognized for her exceptional leadership, dedication, passion and impact in the PR / Media industry.John Ehiguese, CEO Mediacraft Associates, said: “We are thrilled…

L-R: Dr. Harrison Nnaji (PhD), Chief Information Security Officer, FirstBank; Oremeyi Akah, Chief Customer Officer, Interswitch; Ajibade Laolu-Adewale, Chief Partnering &Ecosystems Officer, Wema Bank/Chairman, Committee of e-Business Industry Heads (CeBIH); Celestina Appeal, GH, Card Business & Solutions, Zenith Bank; Griffith Ehebha, EVP, Group Risk & Information Security, Interswitch during the Interswitch TechConnect 5.0 recently held at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. TechConnect 5.0 series concluded on a high note in Lagos as Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, hosted the grand finale of its multi-city innovation and engagement platform. The event convened regulators, financial institutions, fintech innovators, and…

The African Marketplace Dubai 2025 officially opened at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Dubai, bringing together about 200 export-ready brands, creators, and SMEs from Africa and the Caribbean for a four-day exhibition focused on trade, culture, and enterprise. Exhibitors from Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Rwanda, the UAE, the UK, and the US are showcasing products across fashion, beauty, wellness, agriculture, technology, art, and lifestyle, reinforcing the region’s growing influence in global trade and creativity. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Founder of the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy and convener of the marketplace, said, “Dubai represents the world,…

President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote and his team, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia. The visit underscores the Dangote Group’s continued commitment to supporting Zambia’s national development agenda. Since its establishment in Zambia, the Dangote Group has demonstrated strong confidence in the host economy. Dangote Cement Zambia Limited (DCZL) represents the single largest investment in the country’s manufacturing sector, with an outlay exceeding USD 500 million. Commissioned in 2015, the 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) integrated cement plant in Ndola includes a 30…

Ogun State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA) has faulted the Federal Government’s decision to suspend the proposed implementation of the 15 percent import duty on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel imports, saying the move could slow down the nation’s progress toward energy independence and weaken investor confidence in the refining sector. Reacting to the announcement by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) that the tariff was “no longer in view,” OGUNCCIMA’s President, Lion Niyi Oshiyemi, described the suspension as a setback to Nigeria’s economic reform drive and a missed opportunity to protect local…

The National Council on Agriculture and Food Security (NCAFS), Nigeria’s apex policy-making and coordinating body for the agricultural sector, convened its annual summit with a renewed commitment to achieving national food sovereignty and security in Kaduna this week. The Council, comprising federal and state ministries of agriculture, development partners, research institutions, and private sector stakeholders, continues to drive strategic initiatives aimed at reducing reliance on food imports and ensuring universal access to safe and nutritious food for all Nigerians. As part of the summit’s official activities, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Senator Abubakar Kyari; the Honourable Minister of State for…

OSMD Network – (Oyo Si Ma Dun) – an Ibadan based not for profit organization dedicated to youth empowerment has announced the commencement of the OSMD Unity Cup Football Tournament which will take place between 15th November and 13th December 2025. The tournament which is designed to foster unity, youth engagement, and grassroots sports development across Oyo State will feature football teams representing each of the 33 Local Government Areas of Oyo State within the 8 geo-political zones (Ibadan 1, 2 and 3, Oke Ogun 1 and 2, Oyo, Ibarapa and Ogbomoso). Following the draws which took place on Monday…

Fidelity Bank Plc has announced its audited financial results for the half-year ended 30 June 2025, demonstrating resilience and sustained growth across key performance indicators. Highlights of the financial results which was uploaded on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) portal on Thursday, 13 November 2025 shows that the bank delivered robust results across key financial metrics including Gross Earnings, which stood at ₦748.7 billion, up from ₦512.9 billion in H1 2024; Interest Income, which rose to ₦557.9 billion, compared to ₦357.9 billion in H1 2024; and Total Deposits, which grew to ₦7.20 trillion, from ₦6.94 trillion in H1 2024. Similarly, the…