The Tragic Saturday @school - ITREALMS

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Today, this Weekends@ITREALMS, Remmy Nweke brings to mind the importance of having a good school environment that is secure and safe, especially in memory of late children of school age at Paiko and Nigeria at large.

Preamble:

It was supposed to be a typical Saturday morning at UK Bello Memorial Primary School in Paiko, Niger State, Nigeria. But instead, it turned into a tragedy that would leave the community shaken.

Inspenonline summit'25 to unearth 'good retirement amid economic headwinds' - ITREALMS

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Exposure on solutions to attainment of good retirement amid current economic headwinds, will be the focus in the forthcoming 2025 Inspenonline Retirement Summit, reports ITREALMS.

The event theme: Attaining Good Retirement Amid Economic Headwinds' and the second edition in the series, will hold on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA House, Plot A2, Hakeem Balogun Street, Central Business District, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, starting by 9:00AM prompt.

Is CBN pushing Nigerians back to banking halls? Asks Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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Public institutions in Nigeria have a knack for policy inconsistency. They can aggressively pursue a course of action one moment and, the very next, introduce measures that directly contradict their stated objectives. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is currently at the centre of one such paradox.

Everyone alive in the last couple of years witnessed the CBN champion financial inclusion, digital banking and cashless transactions. It actively encouraged banks to expand their digital footprint, increase adoption of digital payments and decongest the banking halls. Nigerians responded positively. People embraced digital banking, relying on ATMs, mobile transfers and POS terminals instead of entering the banking halls.

ECOWAS @50: Golden jubilee of regional integration, growth and impactful media - Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS

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Despite cheering 50 years of making notable progress in promoting regional integration, connectivity and economic growth, ECOWAS faces unprecedented challenges; Withdrawals of some members, sanctions, and security threats test the bloc's resolve, amidst impactful media coverage, writes REMMY NWEKE in this edition of Telecoms Clinic@ITREALMS.

Prologue:

As the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) celebrates its 50th anniversary, the bloc's citizens, including OluGbenga, are reflecting on its remarkable journey of regional integration and growth.

Dangote Group pays N402.3bn tax to FG - ITREALMS

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The Pan African Conglomerate Dangote Industries Limited, (Dangote Group), and its subsidiaries has disclosed that it paid over N402 billion in taxes in 2024, making it the highest taxpayer in the country.

Dangote’s Chief Branding and Communication Officer, Anthony Chiejina, declared during a meeting with some senior media executives who visited him in his Lagos Office that Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) and its subsidiaries, namely, Dangote Cement, NASCON, Dangote Packaging Limited among others, remitted a total of N402.319billion for the out-gone year as taxes as responsible business enterprises.

INEC gets ready for Anambra governorship election, primaries to commence on March 20 - ITREALMS

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The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun to oil its machineries for the forthcoming Anambra State governorship elections slated for Saturday, November 8, 2025, even as the party primaries will start from Thursday, March 20, this year, reports ITREALMS.

The National Commissioner & Chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Mr Sam Olumekun, disclosed this after the weekly meeting of the Commission, today, Thursday in Abuja.

Darey.io revolutionizes tech hub with AI-powered platform, set for launch - ITREALMS

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In a bid to democratize access to technology skills, Darey.io is geared towards revolutionising technology hub in the continent with proactive solutions powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI), reports ITREALMS.

Speaking to ITREALMS at a pre-launch press conference in Yaba, Lagos on Wednesday, the Founding Chief Executive Officer of Darey.io, Mr Dare Olufunmilayo, said they are innovative online learning platform that leverages AI to advance personalized learning experiences.

Firstbank unveils state-of-the art eco-friendly headquarters - ITREALMS

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The FirstBank, the premier bank in West Africa and a leading financial inclusion service provider, Wednesday marked a significant milestone with the groundbreaking ceremony for its new green-certified Iconic Head Office Building in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.

This ambitious project 40-story building project set to be the tallest building in Nigeria, will be an engineering and environmental delight due to its technologically advanced, eco-friendly and sophisticated construction which would set a new standard for the financial services sector in Africa.

The groundbreaking ceremony signifies the beginning of a transformative journey that reinforces FirstBank's commitment to excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. The new headquarters is designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a green-certified building that reduces operational costs and positions FirstBank as a leader in sustainable banking practices.

According to Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO, FirstBank Group, "We are proud to mark this significant milestone in our journey towards excellence. Our new Head Office is envisioned as a world-class structure that represents our dedication to innovation, customer satisfaction, and sustainability. We believe that this development will play a crucial role in fostering economic growth and development across Africa, creating long-term value for all our stakeholders."

With a legacy spanning over 130 years, FirstBank has consistently demonstrated its commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and sustainable business practices. The Bank has a robust international presence, operating subsidiaries in nine countries across three continents.

Femi Otedola, Chairman, FirstHoldCo, added, "Today's gathering highlights the importance of collaboration and support from various sectors in bringing our ambitious plans for the new headquarters to life. We appreciate the unrelenting support from our customers and stakeholders as we work together to turn this vision into reality."

The groundbreaking ceremony will be attended by prominent dignitaries, including the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, Senators and Lawmakers, State Governors, Federal Ministers and Captains of industry . This event marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter in FirstBank's storied history, solidifying its role as a leader in the African financial industry.

How MTN’s financial woes highlight challenges of doing business in Nigeria by Elvis Eromosele - ITREALMS

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Doing business in Nigeria is tough. While we say this all the time, nothing makes it more real than the release of annual financial reports. Take MTN Nigeria’s latest report, it shows the bruising realities faced by businesses in the country today.

Take a look at the numbers. MTN Nigeria generated a staggering ₦3. 36 trillion in revenue in the year ended December 31, 2024, up 36.03 per cent from N2.47 trillion in 2023. Yet, it is regarded as a bad year, because it reported a loss of N400.4 billion after tax for the financial year. This was due to a net foreign exchange loss of N925.36 billion from ₦740.43 billion in 2023.

Onwuaso family mourns passage of beloved matriarch, Mrs. Grace Akwugo Onwuaso - ITREALMS

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The family of late Chief Raphael Onyechi Onwuaso, Ezeafuluanya of Umudioka village, Awka in Anambra State, has announced the burial of their matriarch, late Mrs Grace Akwugo Onwuaso.

Mrs Onwuaso, aka SINGAR, who died on December 18, 2024, at the age of 86, would be laid to rest on March 6, 2025.