Business
Korodo, Mama Diaspora, Idimogu, Disu Headline Trek Africa’s 2021 Entrepreneurship Conference
Riding on President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR)’s assertion that ‘Great Nations are built by Enterprising People who turn their Hands to anything that circumstances dictate’, the 5th edition of Trek Africa Entrepreneurship Conference 2021 is set to hold on Tuesday 25th May, 2021. The annual TAEC is a gathering of aspiring and emerging entrepreneurs, high profile businessmen, policy makers, youths leaders, innovative thinkers, government agencies, and captains of industries from diverse sector of the National economy with the aim of creating a better life for the teeming youths of Nigeria who are either seeking employment or aiming to start or upscale their business enterprise.
This year, the Chairman/CEO Silicon Valley Nigerian Economic Development (SV-NED) Inc., HRH Queen Mother Amina Temitope Ajayi F.I.I.M (a.k.a. Mama Diaspora); Vice Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Lagos State Chapter, Alh. Tokunbo Korodo; Chairman/CEO, Eagle Paints Nig Ltd, Chief Taofik Akinola Disu; and Chairman House Committee on Job Creation and Employment, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Emeka Idimogu will be leading an array of esteemed speakers at the entrepreneurship conference. Also expected to speak at the conference include Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Kehinde Ali-Macaulay. Others are Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda; Mrs. Doris Alex, General Manager, Accretive Technology; Hajia Juwarat Abdulsalam, Founder and President of JEAF Foundation; Comrade Ojikutu Adeniyi Ahmed (President, CAPDAN); Hon. Oluseye Olofin; and Mrs. Bridget Okonofua.
Speaking with Newsmen on Tuesday, the Project Coordinator for TAEC 2021, Mr. Oki Samson stated that ‘A Brand New World, A Digital World’ is the theme of this year’s conference. The topic was chosen to spotlight the importance of digital technology in today’s world, ‘If anyone ever thought that the 21st century world is only moving on the periphery of digital technology, the game-changer called coronavirus pandemic which occurred late 2019 into 2020 – only 20 years into the new century – should finally convince such a person that the world is now fully plunged into the era of digital technology. The pandemic is far from being over but humanity is forging on still’, Oki Samson noted.
The conference thought how 7.9 billion people, according to United Nations estimates of April 2021, of the world survive 2020? How was this critical mass able to transact business, attend school, and receive government protocol among other human activities if not without digital technology?
‘Digital technology played a momentous role. Not that the physical mode of operation have ceased or will cease but the digital mode of operations has launched humanity into a brand new world. This offers wider access, relative ease, greater comfort, and superior flexibility.’
Looking at 2021 and beyond, how is the world of digital technology projected to influence various sectors of Nigeria’s economy including the SMEs, education, agriculture value chain, banking, industry and economy, domestic and border security among others? These and many more will be broached in this year’s edition of the Trek Africa Entrepreneurship Conference (TAEC) 2021.
The Project Coordinator, Mr. Oki calls on entrepreneurs, innovators, producers, and corporate organizations to take advantage of this 1-day entrepreneurship event to showcase their products and services to the audience. The location is NERDC Conference Center, NERDC Rd., (adjacent Fela Shrine), Agidingbi, Alausa-Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos. All COVID-19 protocols will be strictly observed with the use of noise mask, thus, the organizers encourage all and sundry to visit the official website; www.trekafrica.net for the event to register their intention to attend the conference.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the launch of the Verve Flash Promo, a special initiative rewarding customers with free Verve cards.
The campaign, which commenced on 6 October 2025, and will run until 30 January 2026, is exclusively targeted at FirstBank customers whose ATM cards have expired.
The free cards will be issued daily to 131 customers on a first-come, first-served basis across the Bank’s branches, nationwide. FirstBank’s unwavering commitment to convenience, accessibility, and customer satisfaction.
Speaking on the rewards to FirstBank customers, Chuma Ezirim, the Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, said: “The Verve Flash Promo is not just about rewarding customers with free verve debit cards; it is about celebrating our legacy of 131 years of trust, resilience, and innovation in the Nigerian financial services industry. At FirstBank, we remain committed to providing customer-centric solutions that enable secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences. Partnering with Verve International on these initiatives, including the Verve Good Life promo, underscores our shared vision of deepening financial inclusion while rewarding our loyal customers for their continuous patronage.”
Also commenting, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Verve International, noted:
“Through strategic collaborations like this with FirstBank, we continue to demonstrate Verve’s commitment to enhancing access to seamless payment solutions for every Nigerian. The Verve Flash Promo not only rewards loyal customers but also reinforces our vision of making everyday transactions more rewarding, secure, and convenient. As we extend the Good Life Promo, we remain steadfast in our goal of deepening financial inclusion while delivering real value to Verve cardholders across the country.”
Meanwhile, the ongoing Verve Good Life promo, designed to reward Verve debit card holders for using their cards at specific merchant points, has been extended to 30 November 2025.
During the period, Verve Card holders enjoy 10% cashback at The Place Restaurant, Quickteller, Buypower, Filmhouse, AlliExpress, Addide Supermarkets, and Chowdeck app every Thursday to Sunday.
Verve cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback on the Google Play Store any day of the week throughout the Good Life Promo, which runs until 30 November 2025. Moreso, every transaction made with a Verve card whether on ATMs, POS terminals, or online platforms automatically earns customers a chance to win up to ₦1,000,000.
Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, Globacom, has announced enhancement of its data bundles to give subscribers more data volume at the same affordable prices.
The upgrade reinforces the company’s commitment to providing superior value and exceptional customer satisfaction.
The upgraded Glo Data Bundles are enhanced versions of the existing daily, weekly, and monthly plans, giving subscribers more data at no additional cost.
These improvements offer users greater freedom and convenience to enjoy their favourite online activities from streaming and gaming to social media, video calls, and more.
For daily users, the ₦100 plan has been upgraded from 105MB to 125MB, giving light internet users even more data to browse, chat, and stream short videos conveniently.
The weekly bundles have also received notable boosts, such as the ₦1,500 plan, which now offers 6GB instead of 5.9GB, enabling subscribers to stay connected longer.
Heavy data consumers will also enjoy remarkable value on the monthly plans. The ₦2,000 bundle now gives 6.25GB, while the ₦10,000 package has been enhanced from 38GB to 42GB, allowing users to do more from video streaming and large file downloads to remote work and virtual meetings.
Students are not left out, as the Campus Booster Plan has been upgraded with higher data allowances, ensuring seamless access to academic resources and social networks while on campus.
Globacom noted that the revised bundles are available to all Glo customers prepaid, postpaid, and hybrid and can be activated by dialing *312#, using the Glo Café app (available on Android and iOS), or visiting hsi.glo.com.
The company added that subscribers can use, share, or gift data through *312# or the Glo Café app. Customers will also continue to receive data usage alerts at 75% and 100% consumption levels to help monitor usage effectively.
Unused data is automatically rolled over upon renewal before expiry or when a new plan is purchased within the grace period (ranging from one to seven days, depending on the plan).
Globacom reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerians with reliable and affordable data access, urging customers to take advantage of the revised data bundles that combine affordability, quality, and more browsing power ensuring every Glo subscriber enjoys more data without paying more.
Fidelity Bank Plc has congratulated Air Peace on the successful launch of its maiden direct flight from Lagos to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a testament to the power of indigenous partnerships.
The commendation was delivered by Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director of Fidelity Bank, during a special event held in Lagos to celebrate the airline’s expansion into the European market.
“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a win for Nigeria,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “It reflects the strength of home-grown businesses and the impact of strategic financial support in enabling national champions to thrive on the global stage.”
Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that Fidelity Bank has played a pivotal role in Air Peace’s growth, providing early financial backing and advisory services that helped the airline become the largest carrier in West Africa. The bank continues to support Air Peace through payment processing and other financial services
The launch of the London route marks a new chapter for Air Peace, which now joins a select group of African airlines operating direct flights to Heathrow.
The development is expected to boost tourism, trade, and connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to excellence and service.
“This partnership has been instrumental in our journey,” Onyema said. “We are proud to fly the Nigerian flag across international skies.”
Industry stakeholders present at the event praised the collaboration between the two companies as a model for sustainable business growth and national development.
