Business
Fidelity Bank Affirms Commitment to Data Protection and Strong Corporate Governance
Leading financial institution in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc, has assured its customers of unwavering commitment to upholding the highest level of ethical standards in all dealings with customer data.
The assurance comes amid allegations by the Nigerian Data Protection Agency (NDPA) against the bank relating to data breach.
While reiterating its commitment to strong corporate governance, Fidelity Bank, in a statement signed by its Divisional Head, Brand & Communications, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, maintained that it has conducted its services with highest ethical standards by ensuring full compliance with extant laws on data protection.
Giving a breakdown of its dealings with the NDPC since it received a letter of the alleged data breach, the bank stated that “on April 30th, 2023, we received a notice of investigation from the Nigerian Data Protection Agency (NDPA), now the Nigerian Data Protection Commission (NDPC). The investigation was in respect of a complaint from [name has been withheld to protect the identity of the complainant] who claimed that [name withheld] details were used to open an account in the bank without [name withheld] consent.
“Based on this notice, we conducted an internal investigation into the circumstances around the claim and discovered as follows:
“An account opening request was received online in the name of [name withheld], and an email was sent to the email address attached to the request informing them about this.
“In compliance with our Data Protection policy, accounts created online without full documentation are not allowed to be operational and are closed after 30 days if the outstanding documents are not provided to authenticate the identity of the person seeking to open the account.
“In compliance with our data protection laws, the account was not allowed to be operational as the passport photograph and BVN were not provided.
“The account was immediately placed on “Post No Debit” status as the applicant was expected to complete the account opening process by providing the outstanding documents for verification within 30 days. This was not done, and the account was eventually closed.
“On May 2nd, 2023, we responded to the NDPC that the bank did not violate any law because there was no data breach and that the account opening process was not completed. On our part, we carried out due diligence by immediately blocking the account and subsequently closing the account when we did not receive the outstanding documents.
“At no point in the process was the account ever operational.
“On July 7th, 2023, we were invited for a Pre-Action meeting with NDPC. During the meeting, we restated our position as earlier communicated to them in our letter dated May 2nd.
“However, despite our explanation and evidence provided to support our claim, the agency informed us that they had reached a conclusion to impose a penalty on the bank.
“On 5th December of 2023, we got a letter from NDPC demanding we pay a ‘remedial fee’ of N250 million within 21 days.
“We immediately commenced another round of engagements with the Commission as we were convinced. We had not breached any extant law or regulation.
“While discussions were still ongoing with the NDPC, we received another letter on the 20th of August demanding that we now pay N555.8m naira.
“As a responsible financial organization with a history of strong corporate governance standards, we remain committed to the due process of the law, and we wish to assure all our customers of our unwavering commitment to upholding the highest level of ethical standards in all our dealings with customer data.
“Our commitment to strong corporate governance has earned us local and international recognition, including the prestigious CG+ award. This is the highest rank under the Corporate Governance Rating System (CGRS) of the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX), which evaluates listed companies against established best practices and standards.
“As a bank, we remain in discussions with the NDPC over an amicable resolution to this matter.”
Business
FBNQuest Merchant Bank Confirms New Ownership Structure, Sets Stage for Future Growth
Lagos, Nigeria – December 2025 – FBNQuest Merchant Bank has confirmed the successful completion of its ownership transition, following its divestment from First HoldCo Plc and acquisition by EverQuest Acquisition LLP, a new investor consortium led by Custodian Investment Plc.The Acting Managing Director, Afolabi Olorode, stated:“This marks a defining milestone in the Bank’s journey, one that reflects our consistent performance, institutional strength, and long-term potential. As we move forward under new ownership, our focus remains unchanged: delivering exceptional value to stakeholders, deepening market leadership, and building a sustainable institution for the future. We are grateful to all who have been part of this journey and remain focused on creating long-term value for our clients and stakeholders. The Bank remains fully operational, and all client relationships, services, and leadership structures continue uninterrupted.We thank our stakeholders for their continued trust and look forward to the next chapter of growth.
Business
Ecobank Partners with Yaba Art Museum to Launch the Lagos Pop-Up Museum
Lagos, November 2, 2025 – Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the leading Pan-African banking group, in partnership with the Yaba Art Museum (YAM) of Yaba College of Technology, has announced the launch of the Lagos Pop-Up Museum — a dynamic cultural and artistic experience set to run for three months at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Victoria Island, Lagos. The exhibition opens on November 8, 2025, and will continue until February 10, 2026.
The Lagos Pop-Up Museum is conceived as a vibrant, citywide art and cultural advocacy platform. It will bring together artists, students, and the public through a blend of interactive exhibitions, workshops, performances, talks, innovation labs, and community engagement programs. Visitors can look forward to an inspiring mix of creativity, learning, and collaboration that celebrates both Lagos’ dynamism and Africa’s evolving cultural identity.
Speaking about the initiative, Bolaji Lawal, Managing Director/Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, said the project reflects the bank’s belief in the power of culture to unite people and drive innovation.
“Through platforms like EPAC, we continue to nurture collaboration, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange which are all key to building a thriving creative economy in Africa. This partnership with YAM reinforces our CSR values around education, innovation, sustainability, and African identity. It reflects our commitment to social impact, youth empowerment, and pan-African creativity,” Lawal said.
He noted that the collaboration embodies a shared vision to amplify creative voices, preserve cultural heritage, and inspire innovation, placing both institutions at the intersection of finance, education, and social development.
“Beyond promoting our Pan-African values, we want to make art and culture more accessible by helping people connect, learn, and express themselves through creativity,” he added.
In his remarks, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, Rector of Yaba College of Technology, described the project as an extension of the Museum’s well-known “Gown to Town” initiative, which connects academic creativity with the wider community.
“This project invites Lagos residents, creatives, policymakers, collectors, entrepreneurs, and everyday citizens to engage with contemporary culture,” he said. “It will be delivered in collaboration with Yabatech departments and a wide network of partners and cultural organizations, collectives, tech incubators, youth hubs, schools, international institutions, and alumni groups.”
Dr. Abdul added that the Lagos Pop-Up Museum represents a new era of inclusive, community-driven museum practice in Nigeria as one that uses art as a platform for social imagination, research, and civic dialogue.
The three-month activation will feature a rich lineup of experiences in a mutating sphere, from archival exhibits and heritage engagement and highlights on restitution, to maker-labs, a myriad of showcases, wellness activities, mixed disciplinary workshops, children’s sessions, screenings, performance art presentations, discussion sessions and more.
Exhibition highlights include:
- Homecoming – A visual journey responding to Nigerian artefacts repatriated from Europe and the Americas and the important work towards reclaiming national and indigenous heritage.
- Adoption – A civic-action space of Art donations and sales in support of youth development supporting tuition and emerging creatives that embrace the spirit of paying it forward.
- Drum Up – A celebration of the archive as a catalyst for development and collective memory, and intergenerational dialogues on a road towards the pan -African memory pool of FESTAC ‘77
- Deep Blue – Immersive works exploring water in its fantasy, mystery, science, and environmental consciousness, responsibility and our planetary significance inspired by Lagos’ waterways and coastal life.
Over its duration, the Ecobank Pan African Centre will transform into a vibrant hub of creativity and connection, expanding public access to contemporary art, creative education, and cultural engagement.
Business
Nestlé Nigeria 2025 Nine Months Results: Growth, Momentum and Sustainedprofitability
Nestlé Nigeria PLC has announced strong financial results in its 9-Month report, driven by
high growth. Key highlights for January to September 2025 Results :
Revenue Growth: Nestlé Nigeria PLC saw a robust 33% increase in revenue, totaling
N884.5 billion compared to 9M of 2024.
Operating Profit: The operating profit grew to N181.3 billion, a 63.6% increase from N110.8
billion in 9M of 2024.
Profit Before Tax: The profit before tax reached N127.9 billion, in contrast to the loss of –
N255.4 billion in the same period of 2024.
Profit After Tax: The profit after tax amounted to N72.5 billion, compared to a loss of –
N184.3 billion in 9M 2024.
Equity Position: The equity position improved by N72.5 billion.
Early payment of USD 20 million inter-group forex debt in Q3 2025
Summary of the results : Jan-Sept 2025
Jan-Sept 2025 Jan-Sept 2024
Revenue 884,536,899 665,289,761
Cost of Sales (557,661,594) (458,977,837)
Gross Profit 326,875,305 206,311,924
Results from operating activities 181,343,663 110,843,852
Finance income 1,785,024 2,930,478
Finance costs (55,173,305) (369,158,960)
Net finance costs (53,388,282) (366,228,482)
Profit /(loss) before income tax 127,955,382 (255,384,629)
Income tax (expense)/credit (55,473,301) 71,113,867
Profit /(loss) for the period 72,482,081 (184,270,762)
In his remarks on the results, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, Managing Director and CEO of Nestlé
Nigeria PLC, stated, “The results for the nine months signify the sustainability of our return
to profitability since the fourth quarter of 2024. The topline growth of 33% during this period,
along with a profit after tax of N72.5 billion, clearly illustrate that our dedication to
operational excellence and our robust fundamentals are producing the desired outcomes.”
Looking ahead, he emphasized, “we remain focused on enhancing our margin
management initiatives, accelerating transformation of our business, while investing in
programs that create sustainable value for all our stakeholders, starting from our
employees, consumers and extending to our communities and partners across our value
chain.”
Nestlé Nigeria’s nine months 2025 results underscore the company’s resilience and
operational effectiveness, positioning it for continued success in navigating challenges and
seizing future opportunities.
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