The naira appreciated against the United States dollar on the first trading day of February 2026, closing at N1,384.5/$ at the official foreign exchange market. Data published on Monday on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) website showed the local currency strengthening modestly from N1,391/$ recorded on the final trading day of January 2026, signalling a firmer start to the new month. Year-on-year, the naira also traded significantly stronger than on the first trading day of February 2025, when it closed at about N1,500/$ at the official market amid heightened volatility. ALSO READ Naira ends January at N1,391/$ as FX…
Author: Abdoulaye Kay
The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, has released 13,710 long-pending certificates for graduates of its Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes. In a statement issued Monday in Kaduna, Yusha’u Ahmed, Head of NTI’s Public Relations and Protocol Unit, said affected graduates should visit NTI offices in their respective states with the required documents and follow approved procedures for collection. He added that certificates for Bachelor’s Degree Programmes (BDPs) will be available from next week. A breakdown from the Institute’s Academic Records Division shows that 6,954 PGDE certificates for the 2013–2016 sessions, in affiliation with…
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has launched its first investment in Nigeria—and its first in the sub-Saharan African financial sector—by extending a $100 million (€85 million) trade finance facility to Access Bank. The facility, provided under the EBRD’s Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), is designed to support Access Bank’s trade finance operations, diversify its correspondent banking relationships, and strengthen trade links between Nigeria and other EBRD countries of operation. The trade finance limit will be used to issue guarantees in favour of foreign commercial banks and provide cash advances for trade-related loans to local companies, covering pre-export, post-import…
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has called for a shift from crisis-driven private sector donations to structured, long-term co-investment to strengthen Nigeria’s health security. NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, said recurring outbreaks such as Lassa fever, cholera, diphtheria and mpox expose vulnerabilities that disrupt productivity, supply chains and investor confidence, making health security an economic imperative. He noted that government and donors alone can no longer sustainably fund preparedness, especially amid shrinking aid and rising disease risks linked to urbanisation, climate shocks and mobility. With the private sector contributing nearly 90 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP,…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has released a comprehensive report assessing the nation’s fintech landscape, highlighting key priorities to sustain innovation, strengthen system integrity, and drive the next phase of digital financial growth. According to a statement made available to ASHENEWS on Monday, the report evaluates the scale and maturity of Nigeria’s fintech ecosystem, noting the country’s leadership in real-time payments and the structural factors behind recent growth. It also positions fintech as a complementary force within the financial system, expanding access, efficiency, and reach while safeguarding stability and resilience. ALSO READ Naira ends January at N1,391/$ as FX…
Former Justice Minister and AGF, Abubakar Malami, SAN, has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to set aside an interim forfeiture order on three of his 57 properties listed by the EFCC for alleged unlawful acquisition. The properties include: Plot 157, Lamido Crescent, Nasarawa GRA, Kano; a bedroom duplex and boys’ quarters at No. 12, Yalinga Street, Wuse II, Abuja; and the ADC Kadi Malami Foundation Building, held in trust for his late father’s estate. Malami, represented by Joseph Daudu, SAN, said the EFCC obtained the order through misrepresentation and suppression of facts. He argued the assets were lawfully…
Google, in partnership with African research institutions, has launched WAXAL, a project aimed at expanding African participation in artificial intelligence development. WAXAL is a large-scale, open speech dataset designed to support research and inclusive voice-enabled AI systems across Africa. Head of Google Research Africa, Aisha Walcott-Bryant, said the initiative would empower African communities by enabling access to locally relevant AI tools. She said the project would allow students, researchers and entrepreneurs to build voice-based technologies in their own languages. According to her, the dataset supports innovation capable of reaching more than 100 million people across the continent. Walcott-Bryant said African…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is set to release a comprehensive fintech survey report on Monday, February 2, offering rare insight into the depth and direction of the regulator’s engagement with Nigeria’s fast-growing digital finance sector. The nationwide survey, conducted among fintech operators and complemented by stakeholder workshops and policy roundtables held in 2025, was referenced by CBN Governor Yemi Cardoso at a recent Bankers’ Committee meeting as part of the apex bank’s push for responsible innovation. Speaking on the process, Cardoso said outcomes from the Strategic Fintech Dialogue at the IMF Fall Meetings, which brought together policymakers, innovators…
The Naira closed January 2026 on a firmer note in the official foreign exchange market, settling at N1,391 to the dollar, an improvement from N1,431/$ at the start of the month. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) show that the currency traded mostly below the N1,425/$ threshold throughout January, pointing to relative stability supported by improved market liquidity. The performance extends gains recorded at the close of 2025, signalling a cautiously positive start to 2026 for Nigeria’s currency. On a month-on-month basis, the naira strengthened from N1,429/$ on December 31, 2025, representing a 7.4 per cent appreciation from…
The naira recorded a week-on-week appreciation, closing at ₦1,391 per dollar in the official foreign exchange market, supported by improved liquidity conditions and a rise in Nigeria’s external reserves. Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed a mixed but generally positive performance for the local currency over the trading week, with steady gains reversing losses recorded in the previous period. The naira strengthened consistently in the official market as demand–supply dynamics showed signs of stabilisation. It closed at ₦1,391/$ on Friday, slightly weaker than ₦1,385/$ on Thursday, but significantly stronger every week. During Friday’s session, the currency traded…