MAGGI has unveiled rising music sensation Qing Madi as the face of its latest campaign, “Me & MAGGI, So Good Together,” marking a bold step in the brand’s journey to deepen its connection with a new generation of Nigerians.The unveiling, held at Nestlé Nigeria’s Head Office in Lagos, signals an evolution in how MAGGI shows up in the lives of younger consumers, not just as a trusted kitchen staple, but as part of the moments, emotions, and shared experiences that define today’s culture.Today’s generation doesn’t just eat, they create, remix, and share. From quick meals to content moments, food has become a powerful form of self-expression, and Gen Z continues to redefine it as culture. For MAGGI, this evolution is both familiar and exciting.Building on the success of its “Taste of Christmas” campaign which blended food, music, and emotion, MAGGI continues to evolve its storytelling to reflect how people connect today: through shared experiences that feel real, personal, and culturally relevant.Speaking at the unveiling, Funmi Osineye, Category Manager, Culinary/MAGGI, Nestlé Nigeria, said: “Food is evolving, and so are the ways people connect with it. Today, it’s not just about cooking; it’s about expression, vibes, and identity. A new generation is turning everyday meals into moments they create, remix, and share. MAGGI has always been part of that journey; from our parents’ kitchens to our own quick meals, and now as part of the culture shaping everyday creativity. As we tell this new story, it was important to partner with a voice that truly represents this generation. Qing Madi brings that authenticity, her world, her sound, and her connection with young people make her a natural fit for MAGGI today.”At the heart of the campaign is a simple idea: the best moments often happen in the most familiar places, around food, with people who matter. Through “Me & MAGGI: So Good Together,” the brand captures these moments in a way that is relatable, expressive, and culturally resonant.Sharing her excitement about the collaboration, Qing Madi said: “This partnership means a lot to me, not just personally, but for my generation. We’re expressing ourselves in new ways, even through things like food and cooking, not because we have to, but because we enjoy it. Being part of a campaign like this and seeing a brand like MAGGI create space for that, feels really special. I’m excited to be part of something that reflects who we are and how we connect today.”To bring the campaign to life, the unveiling event was designed as an intimate watch party, a relaxed, at-home experience inspired by Qing Madi’s world. Guests, including close friends, media and lifestyle influencers, stepped into a space where food, music, and culture came together seamlessly.The experience featured three immersive zones; a Content Tunnel, a Music and Culture Lounge, and a Photo Studio, each designed to reflect how young people create, connect, and share moments today.With this campaign, MAGGI continues to build on its legacy while embracing new expressions of culture, ensuring it remains a brand that resonates across generations, familiar, yet evolving with the times.

L-R; Rafiat Onitiri, Chief Host, Association of Professional Women Bankers Nigeria; Oremeyi Akah, Chief Customer Officer, Interswitch Group; and Funmi Ekundayo, MD, STL Trustees as Interswitch receives the Digital Finance Excellence Award at the Association of Professional Women Bankers Marquee Event held at Civic Centre, Lagos.

Interswitch, one of Africa’s leading integrated payments and digital commerce companies, has been honoured with the Digital Finance Excellence Award by the Association of Professional Women Bankers Nigeria (APWBN). The award was presented at the prestigious APWBN Marquee Event held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. The event, themed ‘Redefining Power – Women Shaping the Future of Finance,’ brought together top industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore the evolving role of women in driving financial transformation. Representing Interswitch at the event, Oremeyi Akah, Chief Customer Experience Officer, received the award on behalf of the company and participated as a panelist, contributing valuable insights on customer-centric innovation, digital transformation, and the importance of inclusive leadership in shaping the future of finance. Speaking on the recognition, Cherry Eromosele, the Executive Vice President, Group Marketing and Communications at Interswitch said:“This award is a testament to Interswitch’s unwavering commitment to advancing digital finance and delivering impactful, customer-focused solutions across Africa. We are particularly honoured to be recognised by APWBN, an organisation championing the advancement of women in the banking and financial services sector. At Interswitch, we believe that inclusion and innovation go hand in hand in building a sustainable financial ecosystem.” The Digital Finance Excellence Award recognises organisations that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation, and impact in leveraging technology to transform financial services and drive financial inclusion. This recognition further reinforces Interswitch’s position as a trailblazer in digital finance and its commitment to driving growth, innovation, and inclusion across the continent. The APWBN Marquee Event 2026 featured an impressive lineup of distinguished speakers and industry leaders who shared perspectives on the future of finance in a rapidly evolving global economy and the evolving role of women in shaping the future of finance, with a strong focus on innovation, leadership, and inclusion. Speaking during the panel session, Oremeyi Akah highlighted the importance of customer-centric innovation in building resilient financial ecosystems and emphasised the critical role women continue to play in driving transformation across the sector. Interswitch continues to play a pivotal role in Africa’s digital payments landscape, providing secure, reliable, and innovative solutions that empower individuals, businesses, and governments.

Verve International, Africa’s leading card scheme and token brand—and a subsidiary of Interswitch Group—successfully hosted the 2026 edition of Verve Biz Unwind at the prestigious Radisson Blu Anchorage Hotel, convening key stakeholders across the financial services ecosystem for high-level industry engagement.

The event brought together issuer banks, fintech innovators, merchants, payment processors, and strategic partners for a curated forum focused on strategic dialogue, ecosystem alignment, and the evolving future of digital payments in Africa. Designed as an intimate yet impact-driven platform, Verve Biz Unwind continues to serve as a catalyst for meaningful conversations shaping the continent’s rapidly transforming payments landscape.

This year’s edition emphasized the importance of strengthening industry collaboration amid significant shifts in digital commerce. With the accelerating adoption of contactless transactions, embedded finance models, open banking frameworks, and real-time payment capabilities, the need for coordinated innovation and resilient infrastructure has become increasingly urgent. Verve Biz Unwind provided stakeholders with a valuable opportunity to exchange insights, address shared challenges, and identify collaborative pathways toward sustainable, long-term growth.

A defining highlight of the event was the official unveiling of Verve Tokenization, a next-generation security solution engineered to enhance transaction integrity, accelerate digital commerce adoption, and future-proof Africa’s payments ecosystem.

A defining highlight of the event was the official unveiling of Verve Tokenization, a next-generation security solution engineered to strengthen transaction integrity, accelerate digital commerce adoption, and future-proof Africa’s payments ecosystem.

Verve Tokenization replaces sensitive cardholder data with secure, device-bound digital tokens, ensuring that every transaction generates a unique cryptogram. By eliminating the need to expose actual card details during transactions, the solution significantly reduces the risk of fraud and data breaches, while enabling seamless and consistent payment experiences across multiple digital channels.

Speaking on this year’s edition, Paul Ohakim, Vice President, Issuing & Acquiring (Africa) at Verve International, underscored the critical role of collaboration in shaping the continent’s payments future. He noted that as digital commerce accelerates, driven by contactless innovations, embedded finance models, open banking frameworks, and rising demand for real-time transactions, no single institution can independently define or sustain the next phase of industry evolution.

He emphasized that Verve Biz Unwind was intentionally designed to foster stronger alignment among traditional financial institutions, fintech innovators, merchants, and payment processors in delivering secure, seamless, and inclusive payment experiences at scale. According to him, strategic partnerships remain fundamental to achieving long-term progress and effectively responding to the evolving needs of consumers and businesses across Africa.

“As digital commerce accelerates, no single institution can shape the future of payments alone,” he said. “Stronger collaboration between banks, fintechs, merchants, and processors is essential to delivering secure, seamless, and inclusive payment experiences across Africa.”

He further noted that tokenization represents far more than a backend technology upgrade; it signals a structural shift in how payments are secured, experienced, and monetized.               “By enabling interoperability across wallets, banking apps, e-commerce checkouts, and contactless infrastructure, Verve Tokenization empowers a single Verve card to operate securely across multiple digital environments without compromising user convenience.”

Beyond networking, the event reaffirmed Verve International’s long-standing commitment to deepening ecosystem partnerships and advancing collective progress across the payments value chain. Through structured engagements and forward-looking discussions, participants aligned on a shared roadmap focused on elevating security standards, strengthening interoperability, and delivering customer-centric payment solutions at scale.

As Africa’s digital economy continues to expand and consumer expectations evolve toward faster, safer, and more intuitive experiences, Verve International remains steadfast in its mission to modernize the continent’s payment infrastructure securely, intelligently, and collaboratively, while enabling partners to unlock sustainable growth and long-term value.