• commits to growing SMEs for global Impact

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has reiterated its commitment towards supporting the growth of Small and Medium Scale businesses for global impact, as it headlines the sponsorship of the Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) for the seventh consecutive year.

Organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), this year’s trade fair, which was flagged off on Friday November 7, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan, Lagos will be open to all till November 17, 2025, and is expected to attract thousands of exhibitors, investors, and visitors from across Nigeria and the globe.

In line with its customer-first philosophy, UBA will host a rewarding experience for its customers with a dedicated, full-service branch within the trade-fairground.

Account holders who perform any transaction, such as deposits, withdrawals, or transfers, etc, at this branch will be instantly eligible to participate in a special “Lucky Dip” draw, which will offer them the chance to win a variety of premium prizes.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the fair, UBA’s Head, SME Banking, Babatunde Ajayi, underscored the strategic importance of the longstanding partnership with LCCI while reaffirming that this collaboration is a critical component of the bank’s core mission to mobilise capital as well as empower enterprises of all scales, with a focus on growing SMEs for global impact.

“Our consistent support for the LITF and our strategic, bank-wide initiatives around the AfCFTA are interconnected,” Ajayi stated. “They are two sides of the same coin, and it reflects a deep-seated commitment to building the robust financial architecture that is required to empower African businesses and enable them trade seamlessly across borders.”

UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, positioned the bank’s participation within the context of its vision for Africa’s economic transformation, as detailed in its recently published white paper on achieving a $4 trillion continental economy.

“The LITF represents one of several strategic platforms through which UBA is actively translating the ambitious goals of our whitepaper into tangible action,” Ladipo said. “Our comprehensive roadmap to a $4 trillion African economy is being built through practical, on-ground engagements such as this, which is focused on growing SMEs for global impact. These are platforms that directly connect businesses, facilitate commerce, and unequivocally demonstrate our resolve to turn a bold vision into a tangible reality for millions.”

Ladipo noted that deep partnerships, which are complemented by continuous digital innovations and cross-border trade solutions, will lay the groundwork for sustainable, inclusive economic growth that will benefit corporations, SMEs, and individual entrepreneurs across Africa.

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.”

“Our consistent support for the LITF and our strategic, bank-wide initiatives around the AfCFTA are interconnected,” Ajayi stated. “They are two sides of the same coin, and it reflects a deep-seated commitment to building the robust financial architecture that is required to empower African businesses and enable them trade seamlessly across borders.”

UBA’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, positioned the bank’s participation within the context of its vision for Africa’s economic transformation, as detailed in its recently published white paper on achieving a $4 trillion continental economy.

“The LITF represents one of several strategic platforms through which UBA is actively translating the ambitious goals of our whitepaper into tangible action,” Ladipo said. “Our comprehensive roadmap to a $4 trillion African economy is being built through practical, on-ground engagements such as this, which is focused on growing SMEs for global impact. These are platforms that directly connect businesses, facilitate commerce, and unequivocally demonstrate our resolve to turn a bold vision into a tangible reality for millions.”

Ladipo noted that deep partnerships, which are complemented by continuous digital innovations and cross-border trade solutions, will lay the groundwork for sustainable, inclusive economic growth that will benefit corporations, SMEs, and individual entrepreneurs across Africa.

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.”

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, hosted another enlightening edition of the UBA Business Series, bringing together some of Africa’s most dynamic digital entrepreneurs and influencers to discuss the secrets behind building impactful online communities.

This edition of the Business Series, which had the theme, “Content that Converts: Building Influence and Driving Growth Through Strategic Marketing,” was held at the Tony Elumelu Amphitheatre in UBA Head Office, Marina, Lagos on Thursday.

The very engaging session, shed light on how authenticity, consistency, and passion remain true cornerstones of success in the ever-evolving digital landscape, while the content creators shared first-hand experiences from their journeys across diverse industries and markets.

UBA’s Group Head, Digital Banking, Kayode Olubiyi, who welcomed participants and the panellists to the session, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to empowering entrepreneurs across Africa through knowledge-sharing and capacity-building initiatives such as the Business Series.

He emphasised that the quarterly event continues to serve as vital avenues for supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, equipping individuals with practical insights to grow their brands and businesses in a competitive digital economy.

In his keynote address, the Managing Director/CEO at Nitro 121, Dr. Lampe Omoyele, who said that “You can create something out of what appears to be nothing,” gave insight on key trends to develop content that creates Impact.

He noted that content creation should go beyond aesthetics or trends to focus on value, purpose, and agility as he pointed out that creators who aim to make a difference must develop a clear personal brand identity and remain consistent in delivering messages that resonate with their audience.

The panel session featured an impressive line-up of digital entrepreneurs and content creators, including Digital Creator and Actor, Elozonam Ogbolu; Digital Health Educator, Chinonso Egemba (Aproko Doctor); Kenyan Actress and Media Entrepreneur, Catherine Kamau; Content Creator, Nasiru Lawal (Nasboi) and Digital Influencer, Enioluwa Adeoluwa, who was also the moderator of the event.

Growth is very important, says Nasiru Lawal. “For the younger creators here, my best advice is this: please prioritise your growth. As a creator, the moment you become famous, you no longer move at your own pace; you move at the people’s pace. It is therefore important to ensure you grow consistently and then overtime, the recognition and the money begins to roll in.”

Elozonam Ogbolu who agreed with Lawal, had this to say: “Content creators have to engage their audience with proper storytelling, because brands are always out to carefully choose their creators. For the brands, you must pick your influencer or ambassador very deliberately and work together over time to grow. That is when you will see a proper return on investment.

In his submission, Chinonso Egemba, said, “If you’re building a business or doing content creation, treat content creation as a business. When you treat it as a business, it needs proper structure. Otherwise, it won’t last. If you don’t put structure in place, you’ll end up responsible for everything, and that leads to burnout. You have to build structure, because if you want longevity, structure is very essential.

For Catherine Kamau, it is important for content creators to find a balance and stay close to their community. “What I realized is I have a community that keeps me grounded, and that’s family. When you get famous, you tend to forget where you come from, you know, social media is an illusion and you start assuming that it is your real family until bad things happen to you. So please remember the real people in your life, because fame can get to your head, but those are not the people who are going to have your back when things go south.”

The creators while sharing their diverse experiences, they collectively emphasized that building a personal brand should take precedence over chasing financial gain. They also underscored the importance of originality, urging young creators to find their unique niche rather than replicating what others have done.

UBA’s Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, who commended panellists for taking time to share their useful insights at the event, took time to celebrate the UBA Management for organising conversations like this which according to her, ‘remain impactful and will impact not just the individual customers, but also the economies at large.”

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.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited on Tuesday disclosed plans to raise its equity stake in the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery to 20 per cent, as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and consolidate its position in the downstream oil sector.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, made the disclosure while speaking at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2025. Ojulari said the move aligns with NNPCL’s long-term strategy to deepen local participation in the energy value chain and ensure energy security.

“The company is working towards increasing its stake in Nigeria’s Dangote refinery to 20 per cent,” Ojulari said as reported by Reuters.

His remarks come just weeks after the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, revealed plans to list between five and 10 per cent of the refinery’s shares on the Nigerian Exchange within the next year, mirroring the public listing model of its cement and sugar subsidiaries.

“Within the next year, the refining business will list five per cent to 10 per cent of its shares on the Nigerian stock exchange,” he said, mirroring a playbook established by the group’s cement and sugar businesses. We don’t want to keep more than 65 per cent to 70 per cent,” Dangote said, explaining that shares will be offered incrementally subject to investor appetite and market depth.

“I want to demonstrate what this refinery can do, then we can sit down and talk,” Dangote said. This move would represent a fresh investment of almost 13 per cent above its current 7.2 per cent stake.

The announcement also comes on the heels of NNPC’s ongoing search for technical and equity partners to revive its three dormant state-owned refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Despite years of rehabilitation funding, the refineries have remained idle, forcing the country to rely heavily on imported petroleum products.

It is believed that if the Dangote refinery reaches full operational capacity and NNPCL completes its refinery rehabilitation programme, Nigeria could finally achieve self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products, a goal that has eluded Africa’s biggest crude producer for decades.

Ojulari further noted that the state-owned oil company had made significant progress in enhancing transparency across its operations as it prepares for its much-anticipated initial public offering.

“The IPO journey is by law. The Petroleum Industry Act prescribes that NNPC must move towards becoming a publicly listed company. It’s not an option for us,” the NNPC boss noted. “Since May this year, we have started publishing our monthly performance reports, and that has continued as part of our efforts to build public trust and accountability.”

With the company’s IPO plans still in view, Ojulari said NNPC was positioning itself as a globally competitive energy company driven by efficiency, transparency, and profitability. “We are building an institution that Nigerians can be proud of, one that is commercially driven, transparent, and ready to compete globally,” he said.

—

✅ Rephrased News Report

BUSINESS: NNPC Eyes 20% Stake In Dangote Refiner

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has announced plans to increase its equity share in the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery to 20 per cent, a move aimed at boosting domestic refining capacity and strengthening its position in the downstream oil and gas sector.

Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, made the announcement during the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference 2025. He explained that the decision aligns with the company’s long-term objective to expand Nigeria’s participation in the energy industry and ensure sustained energy security.

According to Ojulari, “The company is working towards increasing its stake in Nigeria’s Dangote refinery to 20 per cent,” as reported by Reuters. His statement follows recent developments regarding ownership plans for the facility.

Only weeks earlier, Dangote Group President, Aliko Dangote, disclosed plans to list between five and 10 per cent of the refinery’s shares on the Nigerian Exchange in the next year. He said the move follows the model used for the group’s cement and sugar companies.

Dangote explained, “Within the next year, the refining business will list five per cent to 10 per cent of its shares on the Nigerian stock exchange,” adding that his group intends to retain between 65 and 70 per cent ownership. He noted that the remaining shares would be offered gradually based on market demand. “I want to demonstrate what this refinery can do, then we can sit down and talk,” Dangote said.

The development coincides with NNPC’s efforts to secure technical and equity partners for the rehabilitation of its non-operational refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna. Despite considerable investment over the years, the refineries have remained idle, leaving Nigeria dependent on imported fuel.

Industry observers believe that achieving full operation at the Dangote refinery, combined with successful rehabilitation of NNPC’s refineries, could finally lead Nigeria to self-sufficiency in refined petroleum products — an objective that has long been unattained.

Ojulari also highlighted advancements in transparency as NNPC moves toward a public listing. He noted that the transition to a publicly listed company is mandated by law under the Petroleum Industry Act. “The IPO journey is by law. The Petroleum Industry Act prescribes that NNPC must move towards becoming a publicly listed company. It’s not an option for us,” he said.

He added that NNPC has been publishing monthly performance reports since May as part of efforts to enhance accountability. With its IPO plans progressing, Ojulari stated that NNPC is positioning itself for global competitiveness. “We are building an institution that Nigerians can be proud of, one that is commercially driven, transparent, and ready to compete globally,” he said.