Lagos, Nigeria – March 5, 2026 — Verve International, Africa’s leading payment card brand, has announced its membership of two major global payment standards bodies, the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) and the NEXO Standards community, reinforcing its commitment to world-class security, interoperability, and future-ready payment infrastructure.

The PCI Security Standards Council is the global governing body responsible for setting and overseeing security standards that protect cardholder data across the entire payment ecosystem, including card schemes, banks, processors, merchants, and solution providers. Its standards help ensure that all entities involved in storing, processing, or transmitting card data meet strict security requirements, reducing exposure to fraud, data breaches, regulatory penalties, and operational risk.

By joining PCI SSC, Verve aligns more closely with globally recognised best practices for payment security and gains the opportunity to actively contribute African perspectives to ongoing discussions shaping the future of card data protection worldwide.

Verve has also joined the NEXO Standards community, home to some of the most influential global standards for payment acceptance. NEXO delivers modern, universal, and interoperable messaging standards that enable banks, processors, and payment terminals to communicate in a clear, consistent, and feature-rich manner.

This membership supports Verve’s continued efforts to simplify integrations, improve interoperability across markets, and accelerate innovation in payment acceptance, particularly as digital and cross-border transactions expand across Africa and beyond.

Speaking on the development, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Verve International, said:

“Security, trust, and seamless interoperability remain central to Verve’s mission. Joining the PCI Security Standards Council and the NEXO Standards community strengthens our alignment with global best practices and enhances our ability to deliver secure, scalable, and future-ready payment solutions for our partners and cardholders across Africa and beyond.”

Membership of both PCI SSC and NEXO Standards underscores Verve’s broader strategy to modernise payment infrastructure, reduce technical barriers for issuers, acquirers, and merchants, and support smarter, more secure payment experiences across the continent.

With these affiliations, Verve continues to deepen its role within the global payments ecosystem, contributing to the evolution of standards that underpin secure, reliable, and interoperable digital commerce worldwide.

In a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the legal profession in Zamfara State and empowering its youth, the Zamfara State Scholarship Board has successfully obtained Executive approval for a vital intervention. This program is specifically designed for students who have earned admission to the Nigerian Law School, a prominent institution for legal training in the country. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Governor Dauda Lawal, the Zamfara State Government has officially authorized the full sponsorship of registration fees for twenty-five (25) indigene students who have been accepted into the Nigerian Law School for the 2024/2025 academic session.

This financial sponsorship is a crucial element of the administration’s broader strategy to democratize access to high-quality education, ensuring that aspiring legal professionals are not held back by financial constraints. By covering the registration costs, the government aims to facilitate a smooth transition for these students from academic pursuits to professional legal practice, allowing them to engage fully in their studies without the distraction of financial burdens.

The approval reflects the administration’s firm belief that investing in human capital is essential for the sustainable development and growth of Zamfara State. The government recognizes that a strong legal framework and a cadre of skilled legal practitioners are vital for ensuring good governance, stimulating economic rejuvenation, and advancing social justice. This commitment to legal education is integral to fostering a society founded on the rule of law and equitable justice.

“This initiative goes beyond simply covering fees; it represents a strategic investment in the intellectual and professional capital of Zamfara,” stated a spokesperson for the Scholarship Board. “Governor Lawal is deeply committed to nurturing a generation of legal professionals who will not only achieve their personal career goals but will also actively contribute to the legal and socioeconomic transformation of our state.”

To uphold the principles of equity and meritocracy, the selection of the twenty-five benefitting students was carried out through a rigorous and transparent vetting process. This process utilized a comprehensive criteria matrix, ensuring inclusiveness and prioritizing students from diverse backgrounds, particularly those hailing from historically marginalized communities. This approach underscores the government’s dedication to promoting social equity and inclusion in educational opportunities.

The financial support provided by the government is anticipated to significantly lessen the financial burden faced by these students and their families, enabling them to concentrate fully on their academic rigor and responsibilities at the Law School campuses located in various cities including Abuja, Enugu, and Bayelsa.

This educational sponsorship initiative is part of a larger series of reforms being undertaken by the Dauda Lawal administration, all aimed at revitalizing the educational sector in the state. It signals a clear shift from passive governance to proactive, results-oriented investment in the future of Zamfara’s youth, thereby fostering an environment where talent and ambition can flourish.

The Zamfara State Government remains unwavering in its commitment to provide a conducive environment for academic excellence and professional development, ensuring that all indigene students have the opportunity to pursue their dreams without the constraints of financial hardship. This initiative is not just an investment in education but a commitment to building a brighter future for Zamfara State and its citizens.

Photo caption:
L-R: District Head, Kyangakwai, Alhaji Suleiman Musa; Former Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Mr Isma’ila Abdulmumuni Kamba; District Head, Kamba (Sarkin Shikon Kamba), Mamuda Zarummai; Council Secretary, Dandi Local Government, Kebbi State, Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammad; and Regional Bank Head, North-West Zone 2, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Muhammad Lawal-Ahijo; at the official commissioning of the new Fidelity Bank Plc branch in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area, Kebbi State recently.

Residents of Kamba in Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State have welcomed the opening of a new branch of Fidelity Bank Plc, describing it as a major milestone that will ease long-standing financial and logistics challenges faced by farmers, small-scale traders and individuals in the community.

The Chairman of Dandi Local Government Council, Dr. Mansur Isah-Kamba, described the branch as a welcome relief after years of limited access to formal banking services. Represented by the Council Secretary, Alhaji Abdulkadir Muhammad, Isah-Kamba noted that residents – including over 83 traditional rulers on the local government payroll—previously travelled long distances to Birnin Kebbi for routine banking transactions.

“With the opening of this branch in our locality, the stress, cost and time associated with banking outside the community will be significantly reduced,” he said. He also commended Fidelity Bank for its foresight and commitment to supporting farmers and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs).

On his part, the Sarkin Shikon of Kamba, Alhaji Mahmoud Zarumai-Fana, described farming as the primary occupation in the area will help improve commercial activities.

“Our people are predominantly farmers. Access to financial services will help them improve productivity and livelihoods. Farmers need support such as pumping machines, fertilisers, and pesticides, and proximity to banking services will make it easier to save, access loans, and participate in agricultural intervention programmes,” he said.

Speaking at the official inauguration ceremony, Regional Bank Head, North‑West Region, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Muhammad Lawal‑Ahijo, highlighted the bank’s commitment to expanding financial access and supporting economic growth across Nigeria.

“Our decision to establish this branch is rooted in our belief that every community deserves access to reliable financial services that enable people to grow, businesses to thrive, and local economies to prosper. Kamba is a thriving agricultural community, and the decision to open a branch here is a strategic investment in the future of its farmers, traders, and households. While the infrastructure is for the bank, this branch belongs to the community. We encourage residents to take ownership by fully utilising the services available.” Lawal-Ahijo said.

He further noted the bank’s overall dedication to empowering informal sector workers and small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), adding, “Our goal is to bring banking closer to the people and support farmers, SMEs and households with accessible financial services that drive sustainable growth.”

In his remarks, a member of the Kebbi State House of Assembly representing Dandi Constituency, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman-Fana, said the new branch marked a significant step toward strengthening financial inclusion in rural communities.

“This is a milestone for our constituency. Financial inclusion is critical to rural development, and farmers, traders, and youths must take advantage of this opportunity to grow their businesses and improve their economic well-being,” he said.

Residents also expressed delight about the impact the new branch will have on their daily lives. A petty trader, Mrs. Hassana Abubakar, said she previously had to close her shop whenever she travelled to Birnin Kebbi for banking transactions.

“Now I can do my banking here without losing a whole day’s business. This will help my shop grow,” she said.

The opening of the Fidelity Bank branch in Kamba underscores the bank’s ongoing commitment to advancing financial inclusion, supporting rural economies and empowering farmers and small businesses across Nigeria.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 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.