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Nigeria Unexpectedly Exits Recession

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Nigeria’s economy unexpectedly came out of a recession in the fourth quarter as growth in agriculture and telecommunications offset a sharp drop in oil production.

Gross domestic product grew 0.11% in the three months through December from a year earlier, compared with a decline of 3.6% in the third quarter, the Abuja-based National Bureau of Statistics said on its website on Thursday. The median estimate of five economists in a Bloomberg survey was for a quarterly decline of 1.86%. The economy contracted 1.92% for the full year, the most since at least 1991, according to International Monetary Fund data.

Nigeria's economy returned to growth after two quarters of contraction

The surprise rebound means Africa’s largest economy may recover faster than expected as the oil price and output increase this year. It could also point to the growing importance of the non-crude sector.

Oil production fell to 1.56 million barrels a day in the fourth quarter from 1.67 million barrels in the previous three months. While crude contributes less than 10% to the country’s GDP, it accounts for nearly all foreign-exchange earnings and half of government revenue in the continent’s biggest producer of the commodity.

The non-oil economy expanded by 1.7% from a year earlier, the strongest rate in four quarters, with agriculture growing 3.4% and telecommunications increasing 17.6%.

A stronger recovery could ease pressure on the central bank to stoke activity, paving the way for a renewed focus on its price stability mandate. That means the monetary policy committee could start raising interest rates again to fight inflation that’s been above the target band of 6% to 9% for more than five years. The panel eased by 200 basis points in 2020.

The government’s forecast for growth of 3% this year is double that of the IMF. The lender has warned a slow roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines could threaten the economy’s recovery.

“The fact that we have seen a recovery in non-oil GDP growth is positive,” said Razia Khan, chief economist for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered Bank. “However, the headwinds associated with the second wave of Covid-19 may still be considerable.”

Source: Bloomberg

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Naira Gains Against Dollar, Trades at N1,453/$1

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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.

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Global Money Week: MoneyMaster PSB Trains Students on Savings Culture

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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.

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Fidelity Bank Shares 3000 Food Packs Among Residents of Zamfara Community

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Leading Financial Institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed over 3000 food items to vulnerable households and less privileged families in Gusau, Zamfara State.

The donation is a gesture under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Initiative created to reach out to vulnerable persons and reduce the effect of hunger in the society.
Speaking at the event, the bank’s Regional Head, North West 2, Muhammad Ahijo, noted that “The Fidelity Food Bank Initiative is aimed at alleviating the hardship experienced by many in the face of current economic challenges in the country.
His words “At Fidelity Bank, we recognize the importance of supporting and empowering communities to grow and prosper and we believe that by investing in the well-being of the communities where we operate, we contribute to the creation of a better society for all.”
“We firmly believe that by addressing the root causes of poverty and alleviating hunger, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need. And in light of this, Fidelity Bank has donated 3,000 food packs to vulnerable families in the state, to help them get through these tough times.” He stated.
Applauding the initiative by Fidelity Bank, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Mukhtar Lugga, noted that “We are grateful for the kind gesture from Fidelity Bank in providing support to vulnerable households and less privileged families in our community. This is coming at a time when people cannot afford a meal before and during the holy month of Ramadan”.
On his part, the Accountant General of Zamfara State, Alhaji Ali-Akilu Muhammad, thanked Fidelity Bank for its generosity and urged other banks operating in the state to emulate the Fidelity Bank gesture by providing succor to the less privileged families in the state.
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