Lagos, Nigeria, January 2026 – First Asset Management, a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc has recorded a significant milestone as its rating was upgraded to ‘AA’ from ‘AA-’ by DataPro, reflecting the firm’s strong fundamentals and sustained resilience in Nigeria’s Asset management landscape.The rating upgrade, issued in DataPro’s latest rating report, underscores First Asset Management’s diversified income base, high-quality investment portfolio, and experienced team, all of which continue to support the firm’s long-term stability, sound governance framework, and consistent performance.The improved rating highlights the organisation’s ability to maintain strong operational fundamentals while effectively navigating market cycles. It further reflects First Asset Management’s disciplined investment philosophy, prudent risk management practices, and commitment to delivering value-driven solutions to its clients.Speaking on the upgrade, Ike Onyia, Managing Director/CEO of First Asset Management, stated, “We are pleased with DataPro’s decision to upgrade our rating to ‘AA’. This recognition affirms the depth of our investment expertise, and the consistency of our governance and risk management processes. We remain focused on sustaining strong performance while delivering reliable investment outcomes for our clients.”In a related development, Agusto & Co. has upgraded the rating of the First Asset Money Market Fund to ‘Aa-(f)’ from ‘A+(f)’, further reinforcing the strength of First Asset Management’s product offering.According to Agusto & Co., the upgraded rating reflects the fund’s consistent low exposure to interest rates and liquidity risks, as well as the fund manager’s commendable professionalism and prudent investment approach. The rating affirms First Asset Money Market Fund’s position as a formidable investment vehicle for capital preservation and steady income generation.First Asset Management continues to maintain a strong position within Nigeria’s asset management industry, supported by its disciplined investment framework, experienced investment professionals, and a growing suite of products designed to meet the evolving needs of retail and institutional investors.DataPro and Agusto & Co. are both recognized leaders in ratings and investment research in Nigeria, with extensive experience providing independent assessments across multiple sectors. Their ratings are widely accepted as benchmarks for evaluating financial strength, risk management, and business sustainability.About First Asset ManagementFirst Asset Management is a leading Nigerian investment manager within the FirstHoldCo Group. The firm has evolved into a full service investment platform, offering integrated wealth and portfolio solutions across the Group.First Asset Management manages diversified strategies spanning fixed income, equities, alternatives, passive and quantitative products, in multiple currencies for a variety of individual, intermediary and institutional clients. Our approach prioritizes understanding client goals and risk profiles, supported by deep research, strong expertise and modern technology to deliver disciplined investment management and value driven insights. With over 15 years experience, First Asset Management has built a solid record of long term value creation and reliable partnership through evolving market conditions.

;

Kemi Omotosho, recently announced as MultiChoice Nigeria’s CEO, takes over the country’s most visible media business, one that is watched closely by consumers, regulators and competitors alike, writes…When MultiChoice Nigeria announced Kemi Omotosho as its new Chief Executive Officer last week Tuesday, it marked the close of one era and the beginning of another. She succeeds John Ugbe, whose tenure helped shape the company into the most visible player in the Nigerian media space. Omotosho now takes responsibility for steering that business forward, becoming the first woman to lead MultiChoice Nigeria in the process.Her appointment places her at the helm of one of the MultiChoice Group’s largest and most closely followed operations. MultiChoice Nigeria sits at the centre of pay television and digital media conversations in the country, watched closely by subscribers, regulators, competitors, and the creative industry it supports. Leading it is as much about managing expectations as it is about running a business. Much of Omotosho’s career has unfolded inside that kind of spotlight. Before this role, she served as Regional Director for Southern Africa at MultiChoice Group, overseeing a portfolio across seven countries. The job came with full responsibility for profit and loss and constant engagement with issues that define many African markets. These include currency volatility, inflation, regulation and changing habits of the consumer. It was a role that demanded attention to detail and discipline rather visibility.That regional assignment was built on years spent close to the commercial core of the business. Omotosho’s experience cuts across various sectors and disciplines. She previously led customer value management across more than 50 African markets for the Group and held senior roles in Nigeria. Earlier in her career, she worked at Airtel Nigeria, moving through a variety of functions. Across these roles runs a consistent focus on how revenue is generated, how customers behave, and where value is either strengthened or quietly lost.Her education and executive training reflect that practical orientation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from the University of Ilorin and later completed an Executive MBA at Lagos Business School. Over time, she has attended executive programmes at INSEAD, IESE Business School, Duke Corporate Education, and Harvard Business School, alongside leadership programmes within MultiChoice and Naspers. The emphasis throughout has been on governance, performance and decision making at scale.People who have worked with her often describe a leadership style that is direct and structured. Priorities are clearly set. Functions are expected to work together rather than in isolation. Decisions are taken with an eye on execution, not just analysis. The different departments and functional roles within the business are treated as parts of the same operating system, not competitors.That approach will be central to her work in Nigeria. In recent years, MultiChoice Nigeria has faced pressures familiar across the industry. Consumer purchasing power has weakened. Foreign exchange losses have reduced the real value of revenues. Operating costs have soared. Competition from global streaming platforms has intensified. Subscriber growth has slowed.As a result, attention has moved to ensuring value for money, keeping the customers at the heart of key decision making, and growing digital platforms without losing the core audience that still sustains the business. Omotosho arrives with recent experience in navigating exactly these issues, having overseen digital transitions and operational changes across multiple African markets. She steps into the role on a foundation built by Ugbe, whose years in leadership reshaped MultiChoice Nigeria in lasting ways. On his watch, GOtv was introduced, widening access to pay television. The Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA) created a major platform for recognising African film and television. Investment in local content increased, operations expanded nationwide and the creative sector benefited from sustained funding and visibility.Under Ugbe, the company grew to 11 branches across the country, expanded GOtv coverage to 52 cities, produced thousands of hours of local content and invested heavily in creative development. These achievements left behind a strong structure and, certainly, high expectations.Through a structured transition strategy, what Omotosho inherits is a large and complex organisation with established platforms, strong public visibility and significant influence. Her responsibility spans strategy, profit management, cash control, governance, regulatory relationships and performance across DStv, GOtv and digital services. The emphasis is likely to be on discipline, affordability, and customer retention rather than rapid expansion.Ugbe leaves behind a business defined by reach and presence. Omotosho steps in shaped by experience in markets where stability, careful choices and follow through mattered as much as ambition. The base is solid. The path ahead requires balance. How she manages that balance will shape the next phase of MultiChoice Nigeria and define how the business evolves in the years ahead.

The preliminary stage of InterswitchSPAK 7.0 Science Competition has been nothing short of electrifying. Through nine episodes, 81 of Nigeria’s brightest students drawn from Niger, Kaduna, Abuja, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers, Ogun, Ondo, Lagos and other states, demonstrated not just their knowledge, but also remarkable creativity, resilience, and sheer determination. Together, they turned the stage into a national celebration of brainpower, courage, and the boundless possibilities of STEM. Before the competition began, employee volunteers from Interswitch Group facilitated a mentorship session behind the scenes, to help participants relax and prepare for the challenge ahead. It was a moment that set the tone for what would become an unforgettable series of contests. Now the contest’s kicked off and the tension is palpable. At the foundation level, contestants have just 15 seconds to answer each of the 16 objective questions, with only the top five moving on to the advanced level. The next stage of the preliminaries, the advanced round, raises the stakes with 15 challenging questions across Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and General Studies. Every second matters, and the tension has kept both contestants and viewers on edge. So far, the episodes have been a rollercoaster of high-stakes drama and heartwarming victories. In one memorable exchange, the host, Hero Daniels, challenged a student to defend an answer he had provided, also drawing in the student’s teacher to share his input. The answer was eventually validated, and the hall erupted in relief and applause, celebrating the student’s confidence and a powerful display of confidence and teamwork. Episode eight was even more intriguing. Saint Riman, from Adedokun International Schools, Ogun State, aced all foundation-level questions but missed only one in the advanced round, earning him widespread admiration across audiences who witnessed the brilliant performance. Equally inspiring was the journey of Saint’s teammate, Noheemat Adejumo in episode two. Sparked by the “SPAK Hero of the Week,” segment, which profiled STEM professionals at the start of each episode, she drew motivation from the story of Dr. Adeola Olubamiji who inspired her determination to pursue Biomedical Engineering. She went on to make history as the first female semi-finalist of ISPAK 7.0. Her triumph emphasized the impact of representation and the power of role models. Beyond the spotlight, the human side of the competition shone through. Students who qualified for the semi-finals celebrated with their peers, teachers, and families present. While those whose journey ended at the preliminaries found comfort and encouragement from their teachers who turned each experience into a lesson in growth and learning. These behind-the-scenes moments, filled with camaraderie, encouragement, reflection, and shared pride revealed the heart of the competition that goes beyond the stage. As the curtain falls on the preliminaries, one truth is undeniable, the stage given viewers a glimpse of the intellectual prowess and resilience of Nigeria’s future leaders in science and technology. With 81 extraordinary students narrowing down to a smaller group of 27, anticipation for the semi-finals is sky-high. The journey continues, and if the preliminaries are anything to go by, the semi-finals promise even more thrilling displays of brilliance, grit, and inspiration. For these young superstars, the spotlight is only getting brighter. To watch the semi-finals, tune into DSTV Africa Magic Family Channel 154, by 6pm or AIT Network by 5:30pm on Sundays or catch the repeat broadcast on DSTV Africa Magic Family Channel 154 by 5 pm on Tuesdays. Also follow @InterswitchSPAK to watch on YouTube, Facebook, and X every Sunday at 6pm and on LinkedIn @InterswitchGroup at 5.30pm.