Mr. Chika Nwosu, Managing Director of PalmPay, says fraud concerns, trust deficits, and limited integration are major challenges facing Nigeria’s digital payments ecosystem. He spoke on Friday at the Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON 3.0) in Lagos, themed “Fair Digital Payments as a Catalyst for Deepening Financial Inclusion in Nigeria.” Nwosu said that while digital payment platforms have improved, many Nigerians remain sceptical due to fears of fraud and transaction failures. He noted that before 2019, transaction failure rates exceeded 10 per cent, undermining public confidence in electronic payments. “The major challenge facing the sector today is trust. Digital payments are…
Author: Newsdesk
Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited has inaugurated six projects in oil spill-impacted communities in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State. The projects include a 12-classroom block in Agbonchia community, a 200-capacity town hall in Akpajo community, and ICT upgrades, backup power supply, and renovation works at Community Secondary School, Aleto. Others include the desilting of a four-kilometre drainage system in Aleto, as well as electricity upgrades and the installation of prepaid meters in Aleto and Okerewa communities. Speaking at the event in Agbonchia on Friday, the company’s Vice President for Relations and Sustainable Development, Dr. Igo Weli, said the…
No fewer than 30 traditional rulers across the southern part of Kwara State have fled their palaces following a sustained wave of kidnappings, killings, and violent attacks, reporters have learnt. Correspondents gathered from two credible community leaders that the affected monarchs are seeking refuge in urban centres, including Ilorin, Osogbo, Offa, and Lagos. Findings show that some of the affected traditional rulers are from Omugo, Afin, Oreke, Oreke Oke-Igbo, Olohuntele, Alabe, Ganmu Ailehri, Ologanmo, and Igbo Agbon communities. While some have been away for months, others have been absent for nearly a year. Their displacement, triggered by repeated attacks by…
An oncologist and Medical Director of Jacaranda Cancer Centre, Abeokuta, Dr. Kehinde Ololade, has said that cancer is not a spiritual attack but a disease that can affect anyone, regardless of status, gender, or ethnicity. Ololade stressed that early presentation remains crucial in combating the cancer scourge. He made this known on Thursday while speaking with journalists during a visit by the Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, led by its Chairman, Dr. Adetokunbo Vaughan. The oncologist described the visit as a sign of strong collaboration needed to tackle the growing burden of cancer…
Meta plans to cut a tenth of its workforce as it seeks productivity gains from remaining employees while investing heavily in artificial intelligence. The company will lay off about 8,000 employees and leave thousands of other positions unfilled next month, a source told AFP. The move comes as co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg prioritizes delivering “superintelligence” in a costly AI race against Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI. Reports also indicated that Microsoft is considering voluntary buyouts for some U.S. employees, a move affecting about 7% of staff eligible under a “years of employment plus age” rule, according to CNBC. Microsoft…
China’s artificial intelligence boom continues, highlighted by the release of a new large language model (LLM) by top startup DeepSeek on Friday, underscoring rapid progress despite U.S. export restrictions on advanced microchips. Legacy PlayersChinese internet giants Baidu, Alibaba, and Tencent are racing to invest in AI, leveraging vast user bases and cloud infrastructure. Baidu, sometimes called China’s Google, has championed AI for over a decade. Its “Ernie” tool was one of China’s first AI chatbots, but the company remains tied to its search and online marketing business. Alibaba is known for its open-source “Qwen” AI models, popular worldwide for their…
The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has appealed to the Abia State Government to commence the second phase of rehabilitation at its Permanent Orientation Camp in Umunna, Bende Local Government Area. The NYSC State Coordinator, Mr. Yunusa Tanimu, made the appeal on Friday during the opening ceremony of the 2026 Batch ‘A,’ Stream 2 Orientation Course for corps members deployed in the state. Tanimu reminded Governor Alex Otti of a previous pledge to upgrade facilities at the camp. He also said the camp clinic needed modernization and new equipment to meet the health needs of the growing number of corps…
The Federal Government has unveiled a child-centred National Development Plan (NDP) 2026–2030, placing children’s welfare at the heart of national planning, budgeting, and economic growth strategies. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Budget and Economic Planning, announced this at the FGN/United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) annual partners meeting in Abuja on Friday. Uzoka-Anite said the plan marks the first time in decades that children are central to Nigeria’s national development framework. With UNICEF’s support, the ministry has strengthened its capacity to deliver impactful outcomes for children nationwide. The minister highlighted progress following the Nutrition 774 Initiative and the revised…
Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has commended the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) for its contributions to rural healthcare through the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers (HIRD). Fubara made the remark during the swearing-in ceremony of the 2026 Batch A Stream II corps members deployed to the state in Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area, on Friday. He described the initiative as a significant intervention in community healthcare, positively impacting the lives of ordinary Nigerians. Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and accompanied by the Chairman of the NYSC State Governing Board, Dr. Dagogo Wokoma, Fubara expressed delight…
Prof. Adewale Obadare, CEO of Digital Encode, says weak cybersecurity frameworks are undermining financial inclusion and exposing Nigeria’s payment ecosystem to rising fraud risks. Obadare spoke on Friday in Lagos at the Payments Forum Nigeria (PAFON) 3.0 event, where industry stakeholders discussed challenges facing digital payments and financial innovation. He warned that innovation without strong cybersecurity and digital trust could erode gains in the financial sector and discourage adoption of digital payment platforms. According to him, most cyberattacks in Nigeria are not sophisticated but exploit basic vulnerabilities within payment infrastructure already exposed to the internet. “Eighty percent of attacks are…