NEWS
Oshodi High School Secures Second Runner-up Position in Sahara STEAMers Regional Competition
In a groundbreaking display of innovation, Team Young Genius from Oshodi High School, Lagos, Nigeria has emerged as the second runner-up of Sahara STEAMers Grand Demo Competition 2.0. The competition, now in its second year, is organized by the Sahara Group Foundation, the social sustainability vehicle for Sahara Group Limited, in collaboration with STEMCafe. This year’s programme, aimed at fostering innovation, creativity, and excellence in STEAM education among secondary school students in Africa, directly impacted over 200 students across the continent. The programme, designed to provide participants access to deep-dive classroom learning, equipped the participating students with the practical knowledge and skills required to generate innovative solutions for real-world problems. Therefore, helping to create a pipeline of young, confident social innovators across Africa. The top three teams to emerge from the respective National Demo Competitions in 2023 went on to represent their respective countries in the Grand Demo Day Competition. All 12 teams presented ingenious prototype designs of their solutions spanning various sectors, including agriculture, energy, waste management, health, and transportation, before a panel of judges. The Grand Demo Competition showdown was indeed a keenly contested competition among teams hailing from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. Emerging as this year’s regional champions was Team Imperial Tech from Rise and Shine Secondary School, Uganda, with their innovation of a Soil Moisture Detector, a farm-friendly solution aimed at preventing over-cultivation and promoting soil quality and increased productivity. In second position was Team Smart Blind Walking Stick from St Georges Girls Secondary School, Nairobi, Kenya, who developed cutting-edge solution to assist visually impaired individuals in their movement. Securing the third position in the competition was Team Young Genius from Oshodi High School, Lagos, Nigeria, comprised of Francis Kingdavid, Njima Chibuike, Adewale Fathia, Chibuisi Goodluck, and Ukoh Success. The team’s outstanding achievement is attributed to their groundbreaking project—an innovative Domestic Drainage System meticulously designed to address the pervasive issue of drainage blockage in our society. Their forward-thinking solution not only demonstrates their commitment to environmental cleanliness, but also positions them as critical thinkers in devising practical, impactful solutions for the challenges faced by our communities. Speaking at the Grand Demo Competition, Ejiro Gray, Director of the Sahara Group Foundation, expressed immense delight at the students’ commitment and determination throughout the stages of the programme. Reflecting on the nine-month programme, she highlighted its success in inspiring creativity and critical thinking skills among students, fostering a new wave of problem solvers for Africa. Gray commended the winning teams and urged all participants to apply the skills acquired from the programme to the benefit of their communities and society at large. She extended her gratitude to the participating students, teachers, school administrators, as well as the implementing partner STEMCafe and other stakeholders for their invaluable contributions to the programme’s success. Also speaking at the event, Chinyelu Akpa, Business Development Manager, STEM Café highlighted the profound significance of the Sahara STEAMers programme to our society. She emphasised the crucial role played by the partnership with the Sahara Group Foundation as the sponsoring partner, stating that it is collaborations like this that help to create significant impact in the lives of these students. She added that “programmes like this offer young minds a gateway to a world of possibilities and inspires them to envision a future where their creativity and innovation can make a transformative difference”. As the curtains draw on the Sahara STEAMers Grand Demo Competition 2.0, the impact of this transformative initiative echoes beyond the competition arena. The inspiring innovation witnessed at this event underscores the programme’s pivotal role in nurturing a generation ready to tackle Africa’s challenges with ingenuity and resilience. This accomplishment resonates not only as a testament to the potential within our youth, but as a beacon illuminating the path towards a future where innovation thrives for the betterment of our communities and the continent at large. The Sahara Group Foundation and Asharami Synergy, Kenya, remain steadfast in their commitment to advancing programmes that propel Africa into a future characterised by innovation, sustainability, and inclusivity. Through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives like Sahara STEAMers, we will continue to help pave the way for a brighter tomorrow, where the brilliance of African youth shines as a driving force for positive change and progress. ———————————————————–END—————————————————————— About Sahara Group Foundation Sahara Group Foundation is Sahara Group’s vehicle for social sustainability with a focus on promoting access to energy and sustainable environments, ultimately helping to build sustainable societies. The Sahara Group Foundation anchors its volunteering work through its Personal and Corporate Social Responsibility (PCSR) initiatives that give employees platforms to make a difference through various projects. About Sahara Group Sahara Group is a leading international energy and infrastructure conglomerate with operations in over 42 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Sahara Group is a dynamic and transformative leader in various energy sub-sectors via its power (generation and distribution), downstream, midstream, upstream and infrastructure.
NEWS
ONEDOSH Raises $3M Pre-Seed to Build the Global Stablecoin Payment Rails
Money should move without borders. It doesn’t, yet.OneDosh has closed a $3M pre-seed to build the stablecoin-powered payment infrastructure the global economy has been waiting for.Founded in February 2025 byJackson Ukuevo—Co-Founder & CEO Godwin Okoye — Co-Founder Babatunde Osinowo – Co-FounderOneDosh wasn’t built from theory. It was built from friction, blocked cards, frozen accounts, slow cross-border transfers, and currency constraints experienced firsthand by the founding team while living and traveling globally. The conclusion was clear: the problem isn’t demand. It’s infrastructure.Today, OneDosh is live in the United States and Nigeria, two of the most active remittance and stablecoin corridors in the world.Users can move money from the U.S. to Nigeria, store value in stablecoins, and spend globally using stablecoin-powered cards on Apple Pay and Google Pay, anywhere Visa is accepted.But this is just the beginning.Under the hood, OneDosh is building foundational stablecoin rails, infrastructure that connects wallets, cards, and countries into a single, programmable infrastructure. As stablecoins become the default settlement tool for global payments, these rails become inevitable.The OneDosh team brings experience with executing innovative solutions, with experience at organizations like Zero Hash, Plaid, and Amazon, spanning compliance, payments, andlarge-scaleproductdevelopementThis pre-seed accelerates corridor expansion, deepens liquidity partnerships, and enables senior hires, positioning OneDosh at the intersection of stablecoins, global spending, and real-world payments.The opportunity is not speculative. The behavior already exists.The rails are being laid now.Borderless money isn’t a vision anymore. It’s happening, and OneDosh is building it.
NEWS
MultiChoice Names Omotosho CEO as Ugbe Retires
MultiChoice Nigeria, a Canal + company, has announced a leadership transition, as Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, retires after a distinguished tenure. He will be succeeded by Kemi Omotosho, who will be appointed Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria, effective January 2026.Ugbe steps down after nearly fifteen years at the helm, during which he steered the business through significant industry and market shifts, strengthening operational foundations and long-term resilience.Omotosho brings over 20 years of leadership experience across media, telecommunications, and digital businesses in Nigeria and Sub-Saharan Africa. She has held several senior roles within the MultiChoice Group, including Executive Head of Customer Value Management in Nigeria and Group Executive Head of Customer Value Management for Rest of Africa, providing functional leadership across more than 50 markets. Most recently, she served as Regional Director for Southern Africa, with full P&L responsibility for a seven-country portfolio.With a proven record of leading complex organisations, driving disciplined growth and building high-performing teams, Omotosho will lead MultiChoice Nigeria’s strategy, operations and stakeholder engagement, building on the foundations laid by her predecessor.Speaking on her appointment, Omotosho said, “It is a privilege to be entrusted with the leadership of MultiChoice Nigeria at this important moment. Nigeria remains one of the Group’s most strategic and dynamic markets. I look forward to working with our teams and partners to deepen our relationship with consumers, champion local storytelling and the creative economy as well build a future-ready organisation that delivers sustainable value.”The company said Ugbe’s retirement and Omotosho’s appointment follow a structured and orderly transition, ensuring continuity and stability.
NEWS
Fidelity Bank Champions Tree Planting Initiative at Elegushi Beach
In line with its commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has partnered with Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative, to plant trees at Elegushi Beach, Lekki, Lagos.
The intervention was implemented as part of the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP). It was funded and administered by the newly inducted employees, referred to as the Vault Class, who selected this initiative for their community impact project. The bank provided matching financial support to ensure the project’s successful execution.
Speaking during the event, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, highlighted the bank’s resolve to consistently champion initiatives that preserve the environment and reduce the impact of climate change.
“Environmental preservation is a key CSR pillar for us at Fidelity Bank. We believe that protecting the earth is a shared responsibility. That is why this initiative is not a one-time activity, but part of our ongoing efforts to promote sustainable best practices,” Nwagboh said. “We are committed to ensuring that our environment, including marine habitats, remains protected from pollution and degradation.”
In addition to planting trees, the Fidelity Bank team conducted a beach clean-up exercise to remove waste materials from the shoreline and surrounding marine areas. Nwagboh further noted that the bank continues to support environmental conservation through various initiatives nationwide and remains a proud partner of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).
“Tree planting is an integral part of our climate action and resilience plan, and our goal is to consistently expand our environment-friendly operations.” Nwagboh added. “We are delighted for this partnership with Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative. It is one we intend to nurture, as we believe there’s more to be done to protect our environment.”
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Chinedu Mogbo, Founder of Greenfingers Wildlife Initiative, commended Fidelity Bank for its proactive commitment to environmental sustainability. He emphasized that the partnership aligns with the NGO’s mission to foster safer, cleaner environments for both humans and wildlife.
“Our partnership with Fidelity Bank is driven by a shared mission to create a safer, greener environment for both humans and wildlife. Beyond enhancing environmental safety, planting trees contributes to beautifying our surroundings and restoring balance to nature.” Mogbo stated.
The exercise marks another significant step in Fidelity Bank’s environmental CSR efforts aimed at promoting sustainable living across communities, combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and conserving aquatic ecosystems.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
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