Connect with us


BUSINESS

Ecobank Launches Ellevate, Set To Empower Over 40 Million Women In Business

Published

on

Ecobank Nigeria has launched “Ellevate”, a gender-based proposition for women-owned businesses to reduce gender inequality in entrepreneurship and aid equal representation for women in the formal business sector.

The Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan said the Ellevate product introduced to the nation’s financial landscape on Wednesday, is targeted at empowering at least 40 million women-owned or women-managed businesses in the country.

This he reiterated is part of Ecobank’s Group objective as the leading pan-African financial institution to drive financial integration and contribute to the economic development of the continent by deepening engagement with women-owned businesses.

He said; “Ellevate is designed by Ecobank to empower women-owned and women-managed businesses in Nigeria and indeed across all our Africa footprints, leveraging various unique financial and non-financial benefits. Ellevate promises an end-to-end partnership in which they could gain access to financial services specially tailored for them, these include loans at special terms and other mouthwatering discounts.”

“They will also get fixed deposit investments at special premium rates, zero account maintenance fee, continuous financial education and capacity building under our AUDA-NEPAD academy and other special arrangements. They will have access to networking and recognition under our business clubs as well as access to markets, leveraging our various e-commerce solutions”.

Further, the Ecobank Nigeria Managing Director reiterated that the businesses under Ellevate will also have; “Access to Ecobank’s unique digital payments and collections solutions like Omnilite for payments, EcobankpayNQR for contactless local and cross-border collections, modern POS channels, and various lifestyle benefits including campaigns and promotions to drive their business growth and personal well-being.”

He said “the Ellevate proposition is a total package addressing the broad needs of women-owned businesses in Nigeria including businesses that produce for women.

In his comment, the special guest of honour, Managing Director, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Mr Tony Okpanachi, represented by Mr. Bonaventure Okhaimo, Chief Operating Officer, lauded the Ecobank for introducing the product, stating that it would go a long way to assisting the target group.

He disclosed that DBN was doing a lot to uplift small businesses in the country, stressing that it was ready to partner with reputable financial institutions such as Ecobank in that regard.

Founder of Ruff n Tumble, Nike Ogunlesi, who was a panelist at the event, advised women business owners to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by Ecobank through Ellevate to develop their businesses.

She called on women entrepreneurs to be resilient and know the role customers, people, finance, community, and technology play in business growth. On her part, Innovations and Partnerships Advisor at Nigeria for Women Project, Tolulope Babajide, said; “With Ellevate, Ecobank truly understands the needs of women-owned businesses. She spoke on scalability, sustainability, and expansion of MSMEs.”

Other speakers at the event including the Founder, Health Africa, Fola Laoye; the Founder, Braveline Growth Partners, Taba Peterside, all lauded Ecobank for initiating such a product, stating that it would benefit women businesses and lift many families out of poverty.

BIG STORY

Dangote To Transport Refined Products By Sea — Official

Published

on

Dangote Group has announced plans to transport refined petroleum products by sea.

This information was shared in a statement on Sunday by Fatima Wali-Abdurrahman, Senior Adviser to the Group President on Special Projects and Strategic Relations.

She highlighted the construction of a jetty in the Lekki Free Zone to facilitate bulk cargo handling during the refinery’s development.

“Today, we are exporting our products to many African countries through the seaport. We also plan to ease the pressure on the roads from the refinery by transporting finished petroleum products to other ports along the Nigerian coast by sea, for further distribution to the hinterland,” she said.

The initiative aims to alleviate road network pressure while enabling exports to other African nations.

The statement also mentioned that the Dangote Group, a key sponsor of the trade fair organized by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry, drew a large crowd interested in learning about its new oil refinery, which has recently begun discharging petroleum products.

Attendees also explored the company’s various business units, including Dangote Fertiliser, Dangote Sugar, NASCON (Dangote Salt), and Dangote Cement.

Wali-Abdurrahman stated that participants were eager to learn about opportunities within the company.

The statement quoted participant Peter Ibrahim as saying, “I am here at the Dangote booth to find out what business and job opportunities are available at the Dangote Refinery. We know the company must have created several opportunities.”

Cement dealer Sale Sagir added, “Let me be honest. I came to this trade fair because of the Dangote Group.

I sell cement, but now I have come to find out what it takes to be a distributor of other products, especially the Dangote Petroleum products.”

Wali-Abdurrahman also mentioned the company’s investment in Compressed Natural Gas, stating, “To reduce our carbon footprint and costs, over the past decade, we have converted about a third of our fleet. This is an ongoing process, till we convert the entire fleet.”

The ACCI President, Chief Emeka Obegolu, commended the Dangote Group for its significant role in Nigeria’s industrialization.

Represented by Vice President Legal, Aisha Abdullahi, he remarked on the company’s “unwavering commitment to Nigeria’s development,” adding that “the taxes paid by the group have contributed significantly to national revenue, funding infrastructure projects and social programs that benefitmillions of Nigerians.”

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Old English Supermarket Opens In Ibadan, Expands South-West Presence

Published

on

OldEnglish Superstores & Bakery has officially opened a new outlet in Bodija, Ibadan, further extending its reach across South-West Nigeria.

The firm is known for its high-quality bakery products and affordable groceries. Old English Supermarket has become a household name, providing unbeatable prices and a top-tier shopping experience.

The newly launched Bodija branch located at 39 Oshuntokun Avenue, Bodija Estate, adds to the brand’s rapidly expanding network of outlets in the region. Offering a broad range of products, from their signature bread to fresh produce and essential household items, the supermarket is designed to meet the diverse needs of Ibadan’s growing population.

During the opening ceremony, Akogun Lanre Alfred, the visionary entrepreneur behind Old English, shared his excitement about the new venture. “We are thrilled to bring Old English to the vibrant city of Ibadan. Our mission has always been to provide affordable, high-quality goods to families, and this new outlet is another step toward achieving that goal,” he said. “We are committed to ensuring that our customers experience convenience, affordability, and exceptional service in every location we open.”

With five successful outlets already operating in Lagos and Ogun states, the Bodija branch represents a key part of Old English’s ongoing expansion plan. Alfred added, “Our goal is to become the largest retailer in Nigeria and Africa. We want to help families save money while offering them access to fresh, nutritious food and high-quality goods at low prices.”

The company’s success stems from its customer-centric approach, combining visionary enterprise with diligent service. By adopting a mass distribution model that incorporates the input of stakeholders at every level, Old English has been able to seamlessly integrate accountability with commercial success.

As the supermarket chain continues to grow, Old English is determined to maintain its high standards of quality and customer satisfaction. The expansion in Ibadan, along with other outlets planned for the future, reflects the brand’s dedication to making premium goods and services easily accessible to all.

For Ibadan residents, the new Old English Supermarket in Bodija is a welcome addition, offering a reliable and affordable shopping option that aligns with the needs of the community.

“We’re here to make life easier for families,” Alfred emphasized. “By saving them money on groceries and other essentials, we’re giving them more room to live better. That’s what Old English is all about.

Continue Reading

BIG STORY

Federal Government To Supply 12m Barrels Crude To Dangote Refinery In October

Published

on

The Federal Government and Dangote Refinery have sealed a deal for the supply of 12 million barrels of crude oil to the facility in October.

This agreement falls under the innovative “Crude Oil for Naira” partnership between the Dangote Group and the Nigerian government.

Aliko Dangote, CEO of Dangote Refinery, confirmed this development in an interview with Bloomberg TV, stating that the crude oil supply is part of an ongoing agreement to enable local processing and production of petrol, diesel, and jet fuel for domestic consumption.

“We are working towards a solid agreement with the federal government that ensures energy security for the country. This means no more fuel queues,” Dangote stated. “The government has committed to providing us with crude oil, and in October, they will deliver 12 million barrels, which translates to roughly 390,000 barrels a day. We will refine this crude to produce gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel for the local market. Any surplus will be exported.”

He noted that it will help bring 50 to 60 per cent of currently non-operational filling stations back into service, drastically improving access to fuel across the country.

“The deal with the government ensures that we sell the refined products to all marketers, which will mean the reopening of 50 per cent to 60 per cent of our petrol stations that have been idle. This will also reduce the costs tied to having ships floating off the coasts of Lome and elsewhere. In terms of demurrage alone, we are looking at saving over $1 billion,” Dangote added.

Continue Reading



 

Join Us On Facebook

Most Popular