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Interswitch Group Inks New Partnership with National Social Security Fund in Uganda to Expand Social Security Coverage and Drive Financial Inclusion…

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The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Uganda has announced a partnership with Interswitch Group, one of Africa’s leading digital payment and e-commerce companies, to extend social security services to more Ugandans through Quickteller, one of Interswitch’s flagship consumer financial and agency banking service platforms. The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) Uganda is a multi-trillion Fund mandated by the Government through the NSSF Act, as amended, to provide social security services to all eligible employees in Uganda and regulated by the Uganda Retirement Benefits Regulatory Authority, while the Minister of Gender, Labour & Social Development, and the Minister of Finance, Planning & Economic Development are responsible for policy oversight. The Fund manages assets worth over UGX 25 trillion, invested in Fixed Income, Equities, and Real Estate assets within the East Africa region. The partnership launched in Kampala aims to onboard over 100,000 new voluntary savers onto the Fund’s SmartLife Flexi product through Interswitch’s countrywide Quickteller Agent Network, which comprises 20,000 teller agents. The NSSF SmartLife Flexi is a flexible, goal-driven savings plan designed to help Ugandans achieve their financial goals with the freedom to choose savings period and frequency while earning a competitive monthly return, accrued daily. Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, NSSF Managing Director, Patrick Ayota, said the partnership will accelerate the Fund’s drive to expand social security coverage in both the formal and informal sectors, in line with the Fund’s expanded mandate. “One of the key pillars of our new 10-year strategic direction, informed by our mandate to provide social security services to all eligible Ugandans, is to increase national social security coverage to 50% of Uganda’s workforce by 2035, representing over 15 million people,” Ayota said. He added that, “We have in the past partnered with telecoms and commercial banks, which enabled us to avail all our services on USSD, mobile and online, and provided convenience for remittances of contributions. However, there remains a large number of people who prefer a human interface, yet our 21 branches might not be within their proximity. Quickteller agents are the bridge to the informal economy.”He noted that the partnership responds to the continued need to simplify savings and payments amid the country’s growing cash economy. According to the Bank of Uganda’s June 2025 report, the value of cash currency in circulation increased from Shs8.21 trillion in FY2023/24 to Shs8.98 trillion by June 2025, a 9% rise, even as digital transactions continued to rise. “This partnership will ease how our members and new savers onboard onto SmartLife Flexi and make contributions to their accounts using digital payment channels they already trust, such as Quickteller. It’s about meeting Ugandans where they are, digitally and physically,” Ayota explained. He revealed that customers can now enroll and register for SmartLife Flexi free of charge at any nearby Quickteller agent. The minimum initial deposit is Shs10,000, and members can make subsequent contributions conveniently at affordable Quickteller transaction rates. In addition, employers can also remit their mandatory contributions through the same network of Quickteller agents, making the process faster and more accessible.Interswitch Country General Manager, Moris Seguya, said the collaboration reinforces the company’s mission to simplify and deepen financial inclusion. “This partnership is pivotal to our primary objectives at Interswitch Group. We are driven by the need to see every Ugandan access financial services easily and affordably. With over 20,000 agents spread across the country, Quickteller is strategically placed to serve everyone, especially Ugandans in the informal sector,” Seguya said. “Today, about 80% of our population is employed in the informal sector, where benefits to do with savings are limited. Partnering with NSSF allows us to ensure that Smartlife customers, especially those in the informal sector, can deposit their savings at the Quickteller agents within their neighbourhood, making saving easy and convenient. In addition, our systems, which are reviewed by the regulator, Bank of Uganda, regularly, are secure and robust to ensure the safety of our customers’ transactions,” he added. Flavia Namutamba, a Quickteller agent located in Kampala, said that the partnership will provide a solution to some of their customers who do not have easy access to formal banking services, bringing them into the fold of a modern financial services system. “Some people always inquire whether they can register or send money to their NSSF accounts through Quickteller since we are located nearer to them. This solution helps us bridge this gap in the market,” she said. In June 2025, the company officially launched Interswitch PensionRemit, a fully automated platform designed to help employers comply with the recently introduced Pension Contribution Remittance System in Nigeria. The new system, mandated by the National Pension Commission and the Pension Fund Operators Association of Nigeria, took effect on June 1, 2025. With this latest milestone in East Africa, Interswitch continues to consolidate its integral role as a driver of social sector value-creation in Africa, and as a trusted transaction solutions partner across multiple countries, combining innovation, scale, continental reach, security, and deep market expertise, to enable governments, communities, businesses and individuals to unlock value across different spheres of endeavour, in line with its mission to facilitate transactions solutions that drive prosperity across the continent. Interswitch is a leading technology-driven company focused on the digitization of payments and commerce across Africa. Founded in Nigeria in 2002, Interswitch disrupted the traditional cash-based payments value chain in Nigeria by supporting the introduction of electronic payments processing and switching services, also launching Verve, Africa’s premier and leading domestic EMV-standard chip and pin payments card scheme. Today, Interswitch is a leading player with critical mass across Africa’s developing financial ecosystem and is active across the payments value chain, providing a full suite of omni-channel payment solutions. Interswitch’s vision is to make payments a seamless part of everyday life in Africa, and its mission is to create transaction solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper across Africa. Interswitch’s broad network and robust payments platform have been instrumental to the development of the Nigerian payments ecosystem and provide Interswitch with the infrastructure to expand across Africa.

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Coalition Delivers Nationwide Environmental Action Across 12 Locations on World Environment Day 2026

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Nestlé Nigeria, working alongside coalition partners, has completed the 2026 World Environment Day community sensitization and clean-up campaign across 12 locations nationwide, bringing together volunteers, communities and stakeholders in coordinated action to support environmental stewardship and responsible waste management.Speaking on the initiative, Victoria Uwadoka, Lead Corporate Communications, Corporate Affairs and Sustainability, Nestlé Nigeria, said: “Environmental progress is most sustainable when communities see themselves as active participants rather than observers. What encouraged us most this year was not only the volume of waste recovered, but the willingness of volunteers, partners and community members to work together towards a shared goal. Lasting environmental progress depends on that sense of collective ownership, and it is often through small actions taken together that meaningful change begins.”Through the efforts of 424 volunteers across the 12 locations, a total of 4,507.8kg of solid waste and 48.2kg of recyclable waste was recovered, according to reports from the African Clean-Up Initiative (ACI) and the Recyclers Association of Nigeria (RAN). The recovered waste was channelled through appropriate recycling and disposal pathways, contributing to cleaner public spaces and supporting broader efforts to reduce waste leakage into the environment.The nationwide activation was driven by Nestlé Cares volunteers, the company’s employee volunteering programme, alongside volunteers from the 15 organisations participating in the coalition unveiled ahead of World Environment Day. Across Lagos, Abuja, Agbara, Jos, Kano, Enugu, Awka, Ota, Abaji, Sagamu, Port Harcourt and Ibadan, volunteers worked alongside community members in structured clean-up and sensitization activities designed to strengthen environmental awareness and encourage responsible waste management practices.The initiative was delivered through a coordinated multi-stakeholder framework, bringing together government institutions, regulators, industry platforms, development partners and recyclers to support implementation and ensure alignment with national environmental priorities.At the Abuja activation, the Honourable Minister of Environment was represented by the Director of the Pollution Control and Environmental Health Department, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Adeola Omotunde who noted: “Addressing environmental challenges requires consistent action at all levels. Initiatives such as this demonstrate how government, private sector and communities can work together to drive responsible environmental practices and deliver real impact.”The representative of the Country Manager of the National Plastics Action Partnership (NPAP), Mrs. Esther Chibueyin Fagbo, said: “Nigeria’s plastic pollution challenge requires bold, collaborative action, and this initiative demonstrates the value of bringing together communities, partners and the private sector around a shared goal. We are proud to have supported this effort and look forward to continuing our collaboration to advance circular economy solutions that create environmental and economic value.”As Nestlé Nigeria continues to work with partners, communities and stakeholders to create shared value, the initiative demonstrates how collective action can contribute to cleaner environments, stronger waste recovery systems and more sustainable communities. The company remains committed to supporting collaborative approaches that help advance circular economy outcomes across Nigeria.

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MILO Recovers over 1 Million Wrappers Through Elevate Recycling Initiative

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More than 60,000 children across 100 primary schools in Lagos State recovered over 1 million used MILO wrappers through the MILO Elevate Recycling Initiative to mark World Environment Day 2026. The Initiative combined sustainability education with a school-based recycling competition. In addition to the collection of used wrappers, the children received lessons on responsible waste management and practical exposure to recycling and circularity principles. For 26 years, MILO has contributed to youth development through grassroots sports programmes. Through the Elevate Recycling Initiative, the brand is extending its commitment to nurturing future champions beyond the values of sports, by helping children develop environmental awareness and positive sustainability habits. Speaking at the awards ceremony on World Environment Day, Gilbert Tweneboah-Koduah, Category Manager, MILO, Nestlé Nigeria Plc, said, “At MILO, we believe that nurturing children includes helping them build the values, habits and mindset needed to thrive and make a positive contribution to society. Through the Elevate Recycling Initiative, we are encouraging children to understand that small everyday actions can create meaningful environmental impact. Just as we have inspired generations of future sports champions, we are proud to contribute to raising future climate champions.”Commenting on the initiative, Stephen Avoseh, Deputy Director of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), said, “Implementing this initiative through schools creates an opportunity for children to learn about environmental responsibility and share these lessons with their families and communities. Schools play an important role in building lasting awareness and positive environmental habits.”The behavioural impact of the initiative was also evident among participating pupils. Treasure John told us that the programme deepened her understanding of how improper waste disposal contributes to environmental pollution and flooding, while encouraging her to adopt more responsible waste management habits.In a practical demonstration of how materials that might otherwise be considered as waste can be recovered and given a new purpose, the Rotaract District 9112 led an upcycling project that transformed the recovered wrappers into 1,013 items including school bags, lunch bags and pencil cases. These items were donated to participating schools and awarded to top-performing pupils. The success of the Elevate Recycling Initiative reinforces MILO’s conviction that deepening environmental education and encouraging responsible waste management practices among children and communities can support a circular economy. It also contributes to Nestlé Nigeria’s broader sustainability and circularity agenda to build the awareness, values and behaviours needed to achieve and protect a cleaner and more sustainable future.

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TomTom Continues to Back the Music Talents through its Youth Focus Initiatives

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Every year, World Music Day serves as a reminder of the powerful role music plays in shaping culture, identity, and human connection. In Nigeria, especially, music has become more than entertainment. It is how young people express themselves, tell their stories, build communities, and increasingly, create opportunities for globalrelevance.From Afrobeats becoming an international force to local sounds influencing popculture conversations across the world, Nigeria’s music industry has evolved into one of the country’s strongest cultural exports. But behind the success stories andchart-topping moments is a growing need to properly support the next generation of talents who will carry the industry forward.For years, TomTom has maintained a strong connection with Nigeria’s youth culture and entertainment scene, growing beyond a household menthol candy brand into one that naturally exists within music and pop culture conversations. From major concerts and live music experiences to youth-focused creative initiatives like; Trace the City, and the MTV Base Cypher, the brand has consistently shown up in spacesthat matter to young Nigerians.In recent time, that relationship with culture is evolving into something more intentional through initiatives like Breathe Academy, the Breathe For It Summit, andthe Breathe Through It Verse Challenge, platforms designed to support, inspire, and empower emerging music talents.As Nigeria’s music industry continues to gain global recognition, there is also growing awareness around the importance of mentorship, education, and access for emerging talents. While talent is abundant, many young creatives still struggle with understanding the business side of music and navigating the realities of an increasingly competitive industry.This is part of what makes initiatives like Breathe Academy relevant.TomTom’s online learning platform created to help aspiring artists and creatives better understand both the craft and business of music. At a time when many young talents are trying to navigate an increasingly competitive industry, access to practical knowledge and mentorship has become just as important as talent itself.Through curated learning sessions, industry-led conversations, and expert insights,participants gain exposure to areas like branding, music distribution, content creation, marketing, audience building, and career development. The platform is helping simplify industry knowledge in a way that feels practical, relatable, and accessible for young creatives trying to find their footing.Ahead of World Music Day, TomTom continues to strengthen its position as a Brant that understands and contributes to Nigeria’s music culture not only through entertainment experiences, but also by helping create opportunities for the next generation of artists, creators, and music entrepreneurs to grow and succeed

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