Business
FirstBank’s XploreFirst Promo Rewards 18 Customers with N2.7m
First Bank of Nigeria Limited has splashed scholarships worth N2.7 million on 18 customers under its XploreFirst promo initiative to boost savings culture and promote financial inclusion among students.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the winners were drawn from the six geopolitical zones and Lagos at the final/ grand raffle of XploreFirst promo on Friday in Lagos.
The winners emerged through an electronic draw handled by Tequila on behalf of the bank and supervised by KPMG, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Lagos State Lottery Board and Consumer Protection Commission (CPC).
At the event, Mr Chuma Ezirim, FirstBank Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products, said: “XploreFirst is a FirstBank savings account variant designed specifically for students between the age range of 18 to 29.’’
Ezirim said that a minimum amount of N1, 000 was required to open the account and account holders are to maintain a minimum balance of N200 to run the account.
He said that the XploreFirst promo was one of the special benefits of the account.
According to him, the 18 winners that emerged at the final draw will be offered yearly scholarships of N150,000 each.
Ezirim said that the initiative was targeted at youths, especially those in tertiary institutions and informal sector, to enhance savings culture and drive financial inclusion across the country.
“Customers are offered yearly scholarships of N150,000 as incentives to maintain a certain amount of deposit, in this case, N10,000 in their account over a 30-day period to qualify for the monthly draws and giveaways.
“Customers who successfully maintain the set balance over the six months period are eligible to win the jackpot of N150,000, the grand finale prize,’’ he said.
Ezirim noted that the initiative would be sustained by the ban k in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) financial inclusion mandate.
Also speaking, Mr Olufemi Odumuboni, the bank’s Head, Youth/Women Banking, said the promo dynamics was centered at making people to engage in financial discipline.
Odumuboni said that winners were selected based on certain principles that made them eligible to qualify for the draw.
He explained that apart from the N2.7 million set aside for the yearly scholarships, the bank had splashed about N900, 000 to customers who emerged winners at the various monthly draws for data purchase for their mobile phones.
“Winners from the monthly draw selected from the bank’s six geopolitical zones are entitled to N5, 000 each which they are encouraged to use for data purchase for their mobile phones,” Odumuboni stated.
Ms Susie Onwuka of CPC, commended the bank for ensuring transparency throughout the promotion process.
Onwuka said the bank had deployed modern technology in the promo process to eliminate bias, noting that, the agency was happy with the process and the bank.
“Promotions should be registered to show transparency and ensure fairness to the consumers,” she said.
Onwuka said the regulatory body would follow up with the winners to ensure they were rewarded accordingly.
NAN reports that some of the scholarship winners included Mr Offiong Micheal, Mr Ezugba Chukwuebuka, Mr Olorunfemi Oluwatunmise, Mr Adekale Adenike and Ms Agbakwuru Dorcas.
By Chinyere Joel- Nwokeoma (NAN)
Business
Naira Gains Against Dollar, Trades at N1,453/$1
The Naira continued its appreciation at the official market on Thursday, March 21, 2024 to close at N1,453.28/$1, according to data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).
This represents an appreciation of N39.33 when compared to the N1,492.61/$1 it closed on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
The intraday high was N1,598/$1, while the intraday low was N1,300/$1, representing a wide spread of N298/$1.
Similarly, the Naira appreciated against the dollar at the parallel window to trade at N1,500/$1, this represents an appreciation of N20.00 as against the N1,520 /$1 it traded the previous day.
The Naira also appreciated slightly against the British Pound to trade at N2,000/£1 as against the previous trading day’s price of N2,020/£1 representing a gain of N20 for the local currency.
The Canadian dollar, however, closed flat against the naira to trade at N1,270/CA$1 same as the N1,270/CA$1 it traded the previous day representing a decline of N20 in the local currency.
The Naira gained N30 against the Euro to trade at N1,670/€1 as against the previous closing price of N1,700/€1.
Business
Global Money Week: MoneyMaster PSB Trains Students on Savings Culture
2024 Global Money Week: MoneyMaster PSB trains students on savings culture
MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank Limited (MMPSB), Nigeria’s leading payment service bank, is poised to train 5,000 students on the need to embrace savings and investment culture in commemoration of the 2024 Global Money Week.
Tagged “Catch them Young” experiential campaign, the programme aims to have the students drawn from schools in Nigeria participating in the week-long financial literacy training in the bank’s coordinating centres across 10 participating states of the Federation.
In the same vein, MMPSB will equally engage teachers and enlighten them on basic knowledge of savings and investment for future purposes.
The 2024 Global Money Week with the theme “Protect your money, secure your future,” is billed for March 18 to 24, 2024.
MMPSB disclosed in a press release that it was committed to the provision of top-notch banking services to its customers at all times, including payment services through wallets, savings, individual and business accounts, as well as provision of a platform for customers to buy airtime/data, pay bills and subscribe to cable television, amongst others.
“As part of the week-long celebration, MoneyMaster PSB will also be releasing thought leadership videos on safety and security on how banking customers can protect themselves. These videos will be shared to its customers via direct email and also on its social media handles for the benefit of the general public,” the bank further said.
Global Money Week is an annual event which creates global awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours pivotal to making sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being.
This year’s edition is focused on safe money management, and the importance of adopting a responsible and informed approach to personal finance, by being aware of potential risks in the financial sector and protecting one’s hard-earned money.
Business
Fidelity Bank Shares 3000 Food Packs Among Residents of Zamfara Community
Leading Financial Institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed over 3000 food items to vulnerable households and less privileged families in Gusau, Zamfara State.