Business
Wema Bank Celebrates International Women’s Day 2025 …Hosts HeForShe Awards, Big Sister Programme Graduation, and More
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s leading innovator and creator of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, celebrated International Women’s Day 2025 with a grand event on March 11 at its Lagos Head Office.

(L-R) Lead, Deal Matchmaking at Impact Investors Foundation (IIF), Tochi Ginigeme; MD/CEO of Wema Bank PLC, Moruf Oseni; Chairman, Board of Directors, Wema Bank PLC, Dr. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola; Director, Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), Pan-Atlantic University, Dr. Nneka Okekearu; and CEO of Hervest, Solape Akinpelu, at the Wema Bank International Women’s Day event in Lagos today.
The Wema Bank International Women’s Day 2025 Event convened iconic women from diverse fields and industries to dissect the topic “Harnessing Innovation & Technology To Accelerate Financial Inclusion for Women”. Deriving from the global IWD 2025 theme “Accelerate Action”, the Wema Bank International Women’s Day 2025 event highlighted the need for implementing an innovative approach to promoting financial inclusion for all women and forging long term sustainability for women empowerment.
Among the major highlights of the Wema Bank International Women’s Day 2025 event were the Women Network’s graduation ceremony of the Big Sister Programme Cohort 2; special performances across music and poetry; the HeForShe 2025 Awards where outstanding male employees of Wema Bank who have made outstanding strides in accelerating action towards women empowerment, were awarded to encourage more men to become pro-women; and a panel session featuring distinguished women who have been instrumental in accelerating action for women empowerment.
Moderated by Media Personality and TV Presenter, Olive Emodi, the session featured three panelists including Dr. Nneka Okekearu, the Director of the Entreprise Development Centre of Pan-Atlantic University, Solape Akinpelu, CEO of Harvest and Tochi Ginigeme, Lead Deal Matchmaking at Impact Investors Foundation; all of whom provided invaluable insights and visionary contributions to the perceptive discussion on addressing roadblocks and leveraging innovation for women empowerment.
This grand event panned out excellently, receiving commendation from women across Nigeria.Attesting to Wema Bank’s commitment to women empowerment Chairman, Dr. Mrs. Oluwayemisi Olorunshola, the Chairman of Wema Bank, highlighted the Bank’s role in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) towards the global advancement of gender equality. According to her, ““The theme of this year’s International Women’s Day is “Accelerate Action”, and as the first female Chairman of Wema Bank, my career is a testament to the impact that can be generated and the change that can be achieved, when individuals and corporations take decisive steps to accelerate action for women empowerment.
The goal of the 5th Sustainable Development Goal, ‘Gender Equality’, is to build a world where woman can thrive without discrimination and oppression, and we must all do the work to contribute to the achievement of this goal”.
Emphasising the deep-rooted nature of Wema Bank’s commitment to empowerment, Mr. Moruf Oseni (FCIB), Wema Bank’s MD/CEO commented, “This mission of empowering lives is one that is deeply rooted in our identity as Wema Bank. From inception in 1945 to present, we have carried on the mission of empowering our people. A lot has changed in the last 8 decades but one thing that has remained constant is our commitment to inclusion, empowerment and support for women.
As a Bank, we recognise the gender equality gap that exists globally, and we understand the need for a tailored approach to addressing this challenge. This is why we launched our women-focused proposition, SARA by Wema, in 2019, and why we continue to take intentional steps towards empowering women”.
“Since the launch of SARA, we have banked over 400,000 unbanked women, disbursed over N75 billion in low-interest loans and over $20,000 in grants, created over 900 jobs for women, provided market access for 3,000 women, connecting them with over 135,000 customers and generating over $4 million in sales; and these are just to mention a few. Why have we been so intentional in the gender space? Because “Accelerating Action”, for us at Wema Bank, is beyond lip service.
We walk the talk when it comes to women empowerment and today, we are gathered here to not only celebrate the exceptional impact we have made in empowering women for 8 decades, but more importantly, raising the right conversations and driving the right actions as we look ahead to a future of much greater possibilities. Wema Bank has supported women since 1945 and we celebrate our 80 years anniversary come May 2nd, 2025, we are more driven than ever to continue empowering women and building a future where women thrive, where equity is the norm, and where equality and empowerment are not just ideals but realities”.
Wema Bank has proven itself to be a gender inclusion and equality driven organisation, going above and beyond to empower women from all walks of life to thrive, and contributing to the advancement of the global movement for gender equality.
As Wema Bank counts down to 80 years, the world joins in to celebrate Nigeria’s oldest indigenous and most resilient bank, pioneering innovative impact in the African banking industry since 1945 and beyond 2025.
Business
BINATONE Announces Special One Month Black Friday Deals!
Global Appliances Nigeria Limited, manufacturers of Binatone products has, announced an exciting Black Friday deals.
The company’s Managing Director, Mr Prasun Banerjee, said the offer cut across Its Full Range of Smart Home Appliances.
“Binatone, one of Africa’s most trusted appliance brands for over 52 years, is delighted to announce its Black Friday Mega Sales offering amazing discounts across all key supermarkets and leading electronic stores nationwide” Mr Banerjee said in a statement.
The promotion will be from November 6th to december 6th, 2026.
During this period, Mr Banerjee said customers will have a full month to enjoy unbeatable prices on a wide range of Binatone products.
“From energy solutions to kitchen essentials, Binatone will bring exceptional value and innovation to every Nigerian home this festive season,” he added.
According to him, this year’s Black Friday promotions will feature exciting offers across multiple categories stressing that Shoppers can enjoy great discounts on stand fans equipped with mosquito-repellent and air-freshness features, including the newly introduced AD 1601 AC/DC Fan, which can be linked to a solar panel for clean, free air.
“The rechargeable fan range, available in three models with replaceable lithium-ion batteries, recharges in just four hours and provides up to ten hours of cooling—enough to last the whole night,” Mr Banerjee added.
For kitchen lovers, he said the KC6000 Yam Pounder/Fufu Maker promises quick, hygienic, and effortless meal preparation while the air-fryer series, available in three models, requires just a teaspoon of oil to make crispy, tasty, and healthy fries.
“Binatone’s cool-touch kettles, models CEJ 1799 and CEJ 1700T, come with elegant digital displays and are designed for safety and convenience, he added.
To protect valuable home appliances, he disclosed that Binatone’s power range offers stabilizers in 2 KVA and 5 KVA capacities and surge-voltage protectors in 13 A30 A ratings—ideal for air conditioners.
“The company’s newly launched Power Stations, available in 1.8 KVA and 2.4 KVA variants, provide portable, plug-and-play power with solar-charging capability, ensuring reliable backup power for homes, small offices, and outdoor use”
He disclosed that customers will also find irresistible discounts on Binatone’s dry and steam irons, garment steamers, and microwave ovens thar are perfect for everyday household needs.
“The breakfast-essentials range features pop-up toasters, sandwich makers, and juicers designed to make mornings easier,” he stated. He announced that the high-powered blender collection includes durable, unbreakable jugs capable of smoothly blending hard nuts and beans.
“Additionally, Binatone has introduced the Tefal Cookware Range, offering premium non-stick pots and pans for healthy cooking, along with Freeplay solar-powered lanterns and torches, ensuring every home remains bright and energy-efficient
“Binatone’s Black Friday celebration is our way of thanking loyal customers for their trust over the years,” Mr Banerjee added.
“We are bringing quality, affordability, and innovation together, thus making this season the perfect time to upgrade your home.
”All Binatone products comes with a two-year warranty, giving customers additional peace of mind and assurance of lasting quality.
“Don’t miss these amazing Black Friday offers, available for a limited time at all major supermarkets, electronic stores, and online platforms across,” he stated.
Business
Wema Bank’s Top 21 Hackaholics 7.0 Grand Finale Finalists Emerge
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, has unveiled the Top 21 finalists for Hackaholics 7.0, who will compete at the grand finale scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Lagos. Themed Festival of the Future, the grand finale will bring together innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and key players in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for an immersive celebration of ideas, technology and the possibilities shaping the future.
The Top 21 finalists are: Dynalimb, Harthiq, Acceede, Vhorde, URI, Trarrk, SocialSign, RaverPay, All-Arbitrates, CitizensGage, Craft-Planet, FOID, PayByPalm, Niteonn, Nexa-AI, Neural-Forge, MamaAlert, JolliFlow, Becca, CropiQ and Middleman.
Hackaholics is Wema Bank’s youth and start-up-focused initiative, designed to provide young innovators with a platform to transform creative, technology-driven ideas into practical solutions to real-world challenges and gain a competitive edge in the global technology and digital space. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has recorded over 21,000 applicants, engaged more than 50,000 participants, supported over 10,000 startups across three countries and developed more than 100 solutions from scratch.
The 7th edition, which commenced on July 1, 2026, attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch-centre locations: Uyo, Kano, YabaTech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos. Following the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various centres, with the Top 21 selected through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process.
The Hackaholics 7.0 grand finale week will feature a three-day programme of strategic engagement and innovation-focused activities. On Wednesday, November 4, the finalists will participate in the Pre-Pitch, where they will present refined versions of their solutions. This will be followed by the Ecosystem Tour on Thursday, November 5, powered by Wema Bank, offering participants the opportunity to visit leading institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the final competition. The programme will culminate in the grand finale on Friday, November 6, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by identifying emerging talent, creating opportunities for young innovators and supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges. The initiative reinforces the Bank’s role in empowering the next generation of innovators and building an ecosystem where ideas can thrive and possibilities become reality.
Business
Sanusi Warns FG Against Spending Without Restraint
Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has implied that the Federal government may not be able to achieve it’s economic reform dream if it maintains it’s present expenditure rate, declaring that Nigeria could not pursue fiscal consolidation while continuing to spend without restraint.
Speaking virtually to the audience at the Oxford Global Think Tank Leadership Conference, organised by the Oxford Global Think Tank, on Tuesday, the monarch said reform must go beyond removing fuel subsidies and liberalising the exchange rate, describing it as a comprehensive package that needed to address many other areas.
He said government needed to make clear spending priorities, choosing between roads, electricity, agriculture, and technology based on available resources.
The Emir also raised concerns about the size of government expenditure, saying Nigeria could not pursue fiscal consolidation while continuing to spend without restraint.
He said the World Bank had pointed out that in the first half of this year Nigeria’s debt service consumed 124 per cent of federal government revenue.
Sanusi warned that the country needed to urgently address the sustainability of its debt and pursue structural reforms that had not yet been made.
The former CBN boss said every $10 billion spent on roads was $10 billion taken away from electricity and agriculture, stressing the need for deliberate choices.
Sanusi acknowledged that Tinubu’s economic reforms had produced measurable progress, citing improvements in GDP growth, inflation, and foreign reserves.
He said GDP growth has risen from an average of 0.9 per cent under the previous administration to 4.5 per cent, describing the change as progress that deserved recognition.
“I think moving from an average growth rate of 0.9 per cent to 4.5 per cent is progress. Moving from inflation of over 30 per cent to 14.5 per cent is progress.”
“Moving from the point where in 2023 the central bank’s reserves were maybe negative to where we are now having reserves of $55 billion is progress.”
He, however, stressed that issues such as poverty, hunger, maternal mortality, malnutrition, education and healthcare remained serious concerns that the reforms has not yet addressed.
Sanusi said the government should have designed social safety net policies to soften the impact of reforms on vulnerable Nigerians from the beginning.
The former CBN boss also advised the government to tolerate constructive criticism,warning the Federal Government against treating every comment about it’s workings as an attack on President Bola Tinubu.
“It’s not every time people talk about poverty or talk about difficulty that they’re just enemies of the government or making an attack on the president. That is not how to respond to economic distress,” he said.
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