FirstBank has announced the confirmation of Olayinka Thomas Ijabiyi as its substantive Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, marking a strategic leadership consolidation in its ongoing transformation and growth agenda. The appointment, which takes immediate effect, underscores the bank’s continued emphasis on strong corporate governance, brand strengthening, and enhanced stakeholder engagement across its operating markets. Ijabiyi, a seasoned marketing and communications expert with over 25 years of professional experience, has been acting in the role since December 2024 before his formal confirmation. He brings extensive expertise in brand transformation, corporate…
Read MoreLagos Socialite Ariket Gets 45-Year Sentence for Cocaine Trafficking After 9-Year Trial
A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on April 26, 2026, sentenced a Lagos-based socialite, Funmilola Arike Ogbuaya, popularly known as Ariket, to a cumulative 45 years’ imprisonment for her role in the unlawful exportation of cocaine to Saudi Arabia. Trial judge Dehinde Dipeolu found Ogbuaya guilty on three counts bordering on conspiracy, possession, and illegal exportation of 1.595 kilograms of cocaine. The court imposed 15 years on each count, but ordered that the sentences run concurrently, meaning the convict will serve 15 years in total. Significantly, the court…
Read More17-Year-Old UTME Candidate Thompson Adams Allegedly Killed by Schoolmates in Lagos
A 17-year-old Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) candidate, Thompson Adams, has been allegedly abducted and murdered by his former schoolmates in Ikorodu area of Lagos, in a case that has sparked outrage across the state. According to police authorities, the teenager had just completed his examination when he was contacted by individuals known to him. Trusting the familiarity, he reportedly agreed to meet them, unaware of the fatal plot. The suspects, identified as Ayomide Adebayo (21) and Sulaimon Quadri (23), allegedly lured Adams to a location where he was killed…
Read MoreEDUCATING NIGERIA, ONE COMMUNITY AT A TIME: INSIDE UNION BANK OF NIGERIA’S APPROACH TO CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY
Nigeria’s economic ambitions, whether higher productivity, a more competitive private sector, or stronger household resilience, all eventually run through the same bottleneck: the quality of the country’s human capital. For a bank, that fact carries a quiet implication. The customers, entrepreneurs, and employees of the next two decades are sitting in classrooms today, and many of those classrooms are under-resourced. It is in that context that Union Bank of Nigeria has built its corporate social responsibility agenda around one of its major pillars – education. The thinking is not that…
Read MorePolice Dismiss ASP Nuhu Usman, Others Over Extrajudicial Killing in Delta
The Nigeria Police Force has ordered the dismissal of ASP Nuhu Usman and several other officers over the extrajudicial killing of an unarmed civilian, Mene Ogidi, in Delta State. The decision followed disciplinary proceedings by the Force Disciplinary Committee and the Orderly Room Tribunal at the Force Headquarters, Abuja. Authorities confirmed that the dismissals remain subject to final approval by the Police Service Commission. Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, who addressed journalists on Wednesday, condemned the officers’ actions, describing them as a clear violation of Force Order 247 governing…
Read MoreFidelity Bank Extends “Give Her Power” Initiative to Ikorodu
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has extended its flagship women empowerment programme, “Give Her Power”, to Ikorodu, Lagos State, empowering over 30 women with vocational tools to support their businesses and improve household income. The Ikorodu outreach, which marks the third phase of the Initiative’s nationwide rollout, saw the distribution of 12 sewing machines, 15 grinding machines among other items, to beneficiaries drawn from Ikorodu Central, Ikorodu West, and Ikorodu North Local Government Areas. Speaking at the event, Fidelity Bank’s Regional Bank Head, Victoria Island, Mr. Nnamdi Edekobi, who…
Read MoreYusuf Buhari Declares 2027 House of Reps Bid for Daura Constituency on APC Platform
Yusuf Buhari, son of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has formally declared his intention to contest for a seat in the House of Representatives in the 2027 general elections. Yusuf Buhari announced his bid on Thursday in Daura, stating that he would run on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to represent the Daura/Sandamu/Mai’adua Federal Constituency. The declaration came shortly after he paid a visit to Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, on Wednesday to seek political backing for his ambition. Addressing party stakeholders and supporters during the meeting, Yusuf…
Read MoreEFCC Arrests Ex-Skye Bank Chairman Tunde Ayeni Over Alleged N36.54bn, $30m Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Tunde Ayeni, over alleged money laundering, misappropriation, and diversion of funds totalling N36.54 billion and $30 million. It was gathered that Ayeni was arrested in Abuja on Thursday and is currently being held at the EFCC’s detention facility as investigations intensify into the high-profile financial scandal. Sources familiar with the case disclosed that the arrest followed months of probe into the alleged diversion of funds obtained from Polaris Bank through multiple entities linked…
Read MoreLaffmattazz Partners with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for 2026 International Tour Expansion
Laffmattazz, one of Nigeria’s foremost comedy and live entertainment brands, is pleased to announce its official partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited for the highly anticipated Laffmattazz 2026 International Tour, themed “Next Chapter: A New Season of Laughter.” Now in its 15th year, Laffmattazz—the brainchild of renowned Nigerian comedian Gbenga Adeyinka (Gbenga Adeyinka 1st)—has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, celebrated for its seamless fusion of comedy, music, and live stage performances. The 2026 tour, which kicked off on Easter Sunday, April 5th, 2026 at the Jogor Centre, Ibadan, marks…
Read MoreMREIF is Better: FirstBank’s Mortgage Loan Is the Game-Changer for Home Ownership in Nigeria
Anyone who has tried to get a loan to buy a house in Nigeria knows the drill: endless forms, property valuation, and eventual down payment of a minimum 25% or more on the property. Sometimes, interest rates could go as high as 30% per annum, while the typical loan limit is N50 million. Now, FirstBank is making homeownership more attractive. FirstBank, in partnership with the Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), has introduced the MREIF Home Loan. MREIF loan is a game-changer, offering a single-digit interest rate of 9.75% per annum,…
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