Business
Nestlé MILO Partners Real Warri Pickin, Aproko Doctor to Empower Children
MILO, a nutritious brand of Nestlé Nigeria, is partnering with two social media influencers to empower Nigerian children towards the acquisition of invaluable lifeskills that are not prevalent in classroom environments.
The Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mrs Victoria Uwadoka, in a statement, said the partnership will involve inspiring parents to increase the participation of their children in sporting activities.
Read the statement in details:
In a nation that prioritizes academic learning and achievements, Nestlé MILO® believes that sport teaches children invaluable life-skills that traditional classroom learning alone cannot.
MILO® is therefore pleased to announce a strategic collaboration with two Nigerian social media personalities, Anita Asuoha, a health and fitness enthusiast, widely recognized as Real Warri Pikin, and Egemba Chinonso Fidelis, a practicing Medical Doctor and Nutritionist, known as Aproko Doctor, to inspire parents to increase the participation of their children in sporting activities.
This partnership demonstrates the commitment of the brand to play a vital role in shaping children’s character and values, in addition to providing nutritious energy through the MILO® beverages.
At the formal announcement of the partnership at the company’s Head office in Lagos, the Category Manager, Beverages, Nestlé Nigeria PLC, Ifeanyi Orabuche said, “MILO® is deeply committed to empowering children through sports. We are therefore delighted to announce our collaboration with Anita Asuoha popularly known as Real Warri Pikin and Dr Chinonso Egemba also known as Aproko Doctor, to amplify the reach and impact of our initiatives aimed at helping children cultivate healthy lifestyles from a young age. We recognize the immense value that these personalities bring to our shared passion for promoting healthy lifestyles.”
Anita Asuoha said, “This partnership is a homecoming for me as MILO has been a brand in my everyday life. Working with a brand I grew up with adds a warm touch, making this not just business, but also a personal journey, a blend that is a true blessing not only for me, but also for those I care about.”
On his part, Egemba Fidelis said, “On the path to a healthier Africa, the importance of health education and positive behavioral change cannot be overemphasized. I am excited about the cooperation with Nestlé MILO as we join hands with parents across Nigeria to raise healthier and happier children. Equipping them to win daily will help to make the world a better place.”
With a legacy spanning over seven decades, MILO® plays a pivotal role in nurturing champions globally, providing a nourishing addition to the breakfasts of approximately 8 million children daily.
In 2023 alone, MILO® School Sports Development program reached around 4 million children across Nigeria.
The Brand believes that sport instills essential values like grit, determination, and teamwork, contributing to the development of life skills essential for success in all facets of life.
MILO is putting more efforts behind encouraging greater participation of girls and children with special abilities in sporting activities, ensuring equal opportunities for all.
It is MILO’s firm belief that the partnerships will provide a viable platform for inspiring millions of parents across Nigeria to nourish their kids’ journey to success with the nutritious MILO energy and the inspiration to grow with sports.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has reduced its premium motor spirit price in Abuja.
Some motorists in Abuja confirmed the new fuel price adjustment at some NNPC retail outlets.
Reports quoted Abdullahi Hashim, a resident of Kubwa, Abuja, to have said: “I observed the drop in the fuel price to N935 per litre on Saturday morning. It is a welcome development.”
“I think I first saw this new price adjustment in Town, Wuse Zone 4 area, on Friday. NNPC filling station at Kubwa Expressway is just reflecting it,” Bukola Adewole also said.
The development comes after Dangote Refinery announced in its ex-depot petrol price to N835 per litre from N865.
The 650,000 barrels per day refinery had announced that its partners, such as MRS and AP filling stations, are expected to sell petrol between N890 and N920 per litre, depending on the location.
Meanwhile, MRS filling stations in Abuja have not been dispensing petrol since Wednesday, April 16, 2025, when Dangote Refinery announced a slash in ex-depot petrol price.
Technology and digital solutions services provider, Globacom, on Tuesday opened a retail shop in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. The opening of the retail shop is meant to bring Glo products and services closer to the people of the area.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Ikechukwu Onuekwusi, Globacom’s Retail Sales Chief for Oyo Division, stated that the commissioning of the retail and customer service shop was in keeping with Globacom’s goal of expanding its platforms to enable customers access its extensive array of products and services.
Said he: “As you are aware, our approach to customer service is underpinned by innovation and total inclusiveness. This is why we are consistently seeking innovative channels to make available our array of services to them”.
He disclosed that the newly commissioned facility also stocks high-end and reasonably priced devices, smartphones, and other accessories. He also assured customers in and around Ogbomoso of quick and satisfactory resolutions of all issues ranging from SIM replacement and registration to recovery of over-scratched cards, refilling, unblocking of phones and laptop configurations for internet services, among other services.
Globacom promised that courteous, well-trained, and customer-friendly staff have been deployed to the new shop to offer first-rate services and handle client complaints in addition to meeting their needs for products and services.
Honorable Timothy Oyedokun, the Chairman of Ogbomoso South Local Government, praised Globacom for always providing Nigerians with various forms of relief. He also commended Globacom for being a proud Nigerian company.
“Since I have known Globacom, it has not changed in its resolve to serve the people of this nation. This shows that the management holds the wellbeing of the people in high esteem”, he noted.
Equally, Mrs. Olufunke Olaniyi, the Local Government Secretary, Ogbomoso North Local Government, who spoke on behalf of the Chairman, Hon. George Gbadegesin Ogunlade, noted that the Glo “network belongs to us, so I want to encourage all sons and daughters to patronize Globacom”.
Business
UBA Expands Operations to Saudi Arabia, France, to Focus on Digital Transformation, Others in 2025
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has outlined its roadmap for the 2025 financial year, with a strong focus on innovation, digital transformation, physical and financial strength as well as its global reach.
On the back of its full-year financial performance for the year 2024, which was released to stakeholders on Tuesday, the bank disclosed plans to accelerate growth through strategic investments in technology, enhanced risk management frameworks, and capital efficiency.
UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, who was speaking to its global investors during the Full year 2024 Investors Conference Call, which held at the UBA Head Office on Thursday, explained that the performance reflected broad-based growth across its core businesses, surpassing previous records and reinforcing its status as a leading global financial institution.
At the end of the 2024 full-year, the bank delivered an exceptional financial performance as the results showed an impressive rise in the bank’s profit after tax which went up by 26.14 percent to close the year at N766.6 billion up from N607.7 billion recorded at the end of the 2023 fiscal year.
Its Gross earnings also grew significantly from N2.07tn recorded at the end of the 2023 financial year to N3.187tn in the period under consideration, representing a 53 percent growth.
Despite the highly challenging global economic and business environment, UBA recorded a profit before tax of N803.72 billion representing a 6 percent increase from N757.68 billion recorded at the end of the 2023 financial year.
Consequently, UBA Group Shareholders’ Funds rose from N2.030 trillion as at December 2023 to close the 2024 financial year at N3.419 trillion, achieving an impressive growth of 68.39 percent.
As a result of the impressive performance the bank proposed a final dividend of N3.00 kobo for every ordinary share of 50 kobo, for the financial year ended December 31, 2024.
Alawuba told the investors at the meeting that the bank is set to further surpass its growth projection through strategic investments in technology, enhanced risk management frameworks, and disciplined capital efficiency.
“We will continue to push the frontiers of innovation and technology adoption to build sustainable value for shareholders by making strategic investments in technology. Our team of committed and motivated workforce will continue to work assiduously to sustain our performance and propel the bank in delivering high-impact, customer-centric product offerings,” Alawuba stated.
He disclosed that the bank is on course to sustain the momentum that it has achieved in the past years, adding that “We shall remain focused on best-in-class risk management strategies in navigating emerging market uncertainties while ensuring financial strength, full regulatory compliance, and long-term sustainability.”
This performance underscores UBA’s ability to generate sustainable revenue growth through core operations, including increased loan book growth, deposit mobilization, and transaction banking.
While disclosing the Bank’s finalisation of its planned expansions to France and Saudi Arabia, he said that the Bank’s ex-Nigeria (Rest of Africa & International) operations have expanded significantly over the past five years, now contributing 51.7% of Group revenue, up from 31% in 2019, “delivering diversification benefits and further boosting long-term shareholder value. This will continue to grow, as we further explore strategic markets that align with our overall vision.”
UBA’s Executive Director, Finance & Risk Management, Ugo Nwaghodoh, said the bank recorded triple digit growth in net interest income, resulting in remarkable improvement in net interest margin from 6.83 percent in 2023 to 9.14 percent, while also recording strong double-digit growth in fee and commission income lines of 91.66 percent.
He explained that as the bank navigates evolving risks, its management remains focused on responsible growth, delivering customer-focused value propositions, whilst ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements in all jurisdictions.
United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group wide and serving over 45 million customers globally. Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.
