Business
Fidelity Bank NIYEEDEP Partner to Empower 6million Youths

Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced its selection as one of the partner banks for the Nigeria Youth Economics Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme (NIYEEDEP)”.
NIYEEDEP (Nigerian Youth Economic Engagement and De-Radicalization Programme), is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, in collaboration with the Nigerian Senate, through its committee on Sports Development. The primary aim of the initiative is to empower Nigerian Youths for economic growth and Development, nation-building, poverty alleviation and security.
Situating the NIYEEDEP partnership within the Bank’s strategy, Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc explained, “We are delighted to partner with the Federal Government on this noble cause especially as it aligns with brand ethos of helping individuals to grow, inspiring businesses to thrive, and empowering economies to prosper. We believe that Nigeria’s youthful population is a blessing and initiatives like this will go a long way in unlocking the value in our teeming young population”.
Open to Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 35 years, NIYEEDEP is designed to create 6 million jobs focused on key sectors like agriculture, technology, and renewable energy.
Interested participants are required to visit https://bit.ly/Fidelity-NIYEEDEP to open a Fidelity Bank account to be able to access the programme.
“There are limited spaces for participants in the initiative, so I enjoin everyone to hurry to our website or the nearest Fidelity Bank branch to get started. Do remember to provide correct details so that we can provide necessary updates as the programme kicks off,” said Ede.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank serving over 8.5 million customers through its 255 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as through digital banking channels. The bank has garnered multiple local and international awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
Business
Naira Gains over Dollar for Three Straight Days in Parallel FX Market

The Naira recorded three consecutive days of appreciation against the dollar in the parallel foreign exchange market, ending the week on a high note on Friday.
According to Abubakar Alhasan, a Bureau de Change operator in Wuse Zone 4, Abuja, the Naira strengthened to N1,565 per dollar on Friday, up from N1,570 on Thursday.
On a day-to-day basis, the Naira gained N5 against the dollar compared to the N1,570 traded on Thursday.
In the last three days, the Naira has gained N15 against the dollar in the black market.
In contrast, in the official market, the Naira continued to depreciate as of Thursday, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The apex bank’s exchange rate data showed that the Naira fell to N1,507.88 per dollar on Thursday from N1,504.30 on Wednesday.
Overall, exchange rate movements across FX markets showed that the Naira ended the week with mixed sentiments of losses and gains against other foreign currencies.
Business
MoneyMaster Enriches Service Delivery with New Agency Software

Payment service bank, MoneyMaster PSB, has announced the integration of a new agent banking software with powerful and secured features to enhance its agency banking offerings and encourage financial inclusion.
The new agency banking software extensively supports a variety of agency banking services, such as paying bills, instantly reversing unsuccessful transactions, paying for lottery and betting, checking customers’ balances, linking cards to point-of-sale systems, and retrieving transaction histories from other channels.
The basic banking platform of MMPSB has been connected with the new software to enhance the experience of agents, clients, and other value chain stakeholders in their daily transactions.
The bank disclosed that the new software was implemented “to provide a seamless banking experience to customers using our POS terminals across the country. Customers can now enjoy a wide range of banking transactions from a single point while improving revenue streams for Agents.
MoneyMaster has now joined the league of leading financial institutions with state-of-the-art technology for POS terminal operations thanks to the implementation of the new software. The bank was among the first to promote USSD banking among the financially excluded population after obtaining its payment service banking license. Later on, it added internet and mobile banking apps to its list of banking channels.
In addition to supporting customers with creative, customer-focused solutions to improve their banking experience, Moneymaster PSB is dedicated to advancing financial inclusion among the unbanked and underbanked population. Because of the smooth payments made on its point-of-sale terminals. the Lagos State government last year chose MoneyMaster as a payment partner for the Ounje Eko food discount store in order to collect payments on its market days.
Business
CBN Reviews ATM Fees, Imposes N100-600 Charges for N20k Withdrawal

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a withdrawal charge of between N100 and N600 for every N20,000 worth of interbank ATM withdrawals.
The new policy eliminates the three free monthly withdrawals that customers enjoy on interbank ATM withdrawals.
According to a CBN circular, FPR/DIR/GEN/CIR/001/002 with title, ‘Review of Automated Teller Machine Transaction Fee,’ dated February 10, 2025, the new fees would take effect March 1, 2025.
The apex bank said: “In response to rising costs and the need to improve the efficiency of Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services in the banking industry, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reviewed the ATM transaction fees prescribed in Section 10.7 of the extant CBN Guide to Charges by Banks, Other Financial and Non-Bank Financial Institutions, 2020 (the Guide)”.
The CBN said customers withdrawing at the ATM of their financial institution in Nigeria would not be charged.
“Withdrawal from another institution’s ATM in Nigeria (Not-On-Us): On-site ATMs (within bank premises): A fee of N100 per N20,000 withdrawal will apply,” the apex bank further directed.
For Off-site ATMs (outside bank premises), the apex bank said a charge of N100 plus a surcharge of not more than N500 for every N20,000 withdrawal would be applicable.
It said that international withdrawals would be based on the exact amount imposed by the international acquirer.
The CBN added: “This review is expected to accelerate the deployment of ATMs and ensure that appropriate charges are applied by financial institutions to consumers of the service.
“Accordingly, banks and other financial institutions are advised to apply the following fees with effect from March 1, 2025.”