EFCC Nabs 47 Suspected Internet Fraudsters Across Kwara

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Directorate on Thursday, May 8, 2025 arrested 47 suspected internet fraudsters during coordinated sting operations at different locations across Kwara State.

The arrests were carried out following actionable intelligence gathered on the suspects’ alleged involvement in various forms of cybercrime. The suspects were apprehended at strategic locations, including Awolowo Road, Tanke, and Harmony Estate in Ilorin, as well as Ganmo and Amoyo in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of the State.

Upon arrest, a cache of items believed to be proceeds of cybercrime were recovered from the suspects. These include 10 luxury vehicles, 74 assorted mobile phones, 18 laptops, and a motorcycle.

The suspects will be charged to court upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.

Transafam Power CEO Engr. Vincent Ozoude To Speak on Tech-Driven Infrastructure at IoT West Africa

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Engr. Vincent Ozoude, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Transafam Power Ltd, a power-generating subsidiary of Transcorp Plc, will deliver a keynote address at the upcoming IoT West Africa conference.

The conference, a premier gathering focused on the transformative power of the Internet of Things (IoT) across various industries, will take place in Lagos from May 13 – 15 2025.

Engr. Ozoude’s keynote, titled “Strengthening the Utilities Sector with Fast Adoption of Advanced Technologies for Future-Ready Infrastructure,” will highlight the critical role of technological innovation in revolutionizing the utilities landscape in West Africa and beyond.

Engr. Ozoude will also share insightful perspectives on how the rapid integration of advanced technologies, such as how Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Data Analytics, can address key challenges and unlock unprecedented opportunities within the utilities (Power) sector, referencing how Transafam Power is leveraging cutting-edge technologies to generate sustainable power, contributing the Nigeria’s industrial and national development.

Furthermore, Ozoude’s keynote will explore strategies for enhancing operational efficiency, especially how IoT-enabled sensors and smart grid technologies can optimize energy generation, transmission, and distribution, reducing waste and improving overall efficiency. He will also touch on leveraging advanced technologies for predictive maintenance, early fault detection, and proactive management of Power Generating equipment and infrastructure to minimize disruptions and enhance reliability, as well as the significance of harnessing real-time data insights generated by IoT devices to inform strategic planning, optimize resource allocation, and enhance service.

Transafam Power, under Ozoude’s leadership, has been at the forefront of exploring and implementing innovative solutions to enhance its operations and contribute to a more reliable and sustainable power sector in Nigeria. In May 2023, the company had ceremonial commissioning of Nigeria’s first mobile power generating plant to the national grid, with eight trailer-mounted gas turbines of 30 megawatts each, amounting to 240 MW commissioned.

At the conference, industry professionals, policymakers, and technology enthusiasts will gather and deliberate on how toleverage advanced technologies to shape the future of utilities, presenting a valuable opportunity to gain first hand insights into the transformative potential of technologies.

IoT West Africa is recognized as a vital platform for fostering collaboration, knowledge sharing, and showcasing the latest advancements in IoT across various sectors in the region. Mr. Ozoude’s participation as a keynote speaker underscores the growing importance of technology in addressing the critical needs of the utilities sector and building a more resilient and efficient infrastructure for the future.

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

As part of its continued commitment to sustainability, Access Holdings PLC will be amongst the leading participants in the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Regional Roundtable on Sustainable Finance for Africa and Middle East.

taking place from May 6-7, 2025, in Marrakech, Morocco, the event will bring together regulators, policymakers, and key stakeholders from the financial sector to discuss and shape critical sustainability issues, including climate mitigation and adaptation, nature-positive finance, just transition and financial inclusion, carbon finance, among others.

Amaechi Okobi, Chief Brand and Communications Officer of Access Holdings; Edmund Otaigbe, Group Head of Credit Administration, Governance & Project Monitoring, and Njideka Esomeju, Group Head of Products and Segments, will be contributing insights from their extensive experience in driving sustainability within the financial sector.

Among the discussions will be sessions dedicated to accelerating the transition of real economy sectors towards sustainability, addressing climate risks, and ensuring financial inclusion. One of the focal points will be how financial institutions can support climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in vulnerable sectors across Africa and the Middle East. The event will further tackle the challenge of unlocking private finance for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), exploring innovative ways to align capital flows with regional sustainability needs.

Other high-level dialogues will explore regional collaboration to support sustainability goals, advancing action on climate adaptation, and the regulatory developments promoting sustainable finance across the region. Panels will focus on topics such as financing and insuring MSMEs for climate resilience and fostering an inclusive transition by ensuring that vulnerable communities and underserved populations are not left behind in the push for green growth.

Prominent speakers at the event include Mahmoud Mohieldin, UN Special Envoy on Financing the 2030 Agenda; Louise Gardiner, Senior Operations Officer at the International Finance Corporation (IFC); Lily Burge, Policy Manager, Climate Bonds Initiative; Samuel Tiriongo, Director of Research and Policy, Kenya Bankers Association; Walid Ali, General Manager, Sustainability Department, Central Bank of Egypt; Yasser Mounsif, Director of Issuers, Moroccan Capital Market Authority, alongside other leaders in sustainable finance.

The UNEP FI Regional Roundtable promises to be a critical platform for deepening collaboration among stakeholders across Africa and the Middle East, with the shared goal of creating a resilient, sustainable future for the region.

#Access Holdings Plc
Access Holdings Plc is a leading multinational financial services group that offers banking, lending, payment, insurance, and pensions services. Headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria, Access Holdings operates through a network of more than 700 branches and service outlets, spanning three continents, 24 countries, and 60+ million customers.

Access transitioned into a holding company to drive rapid growth and become a full-scale ecosystem player offering interconnected services across customer needs. Established in 2022, Access Holdings Plc consists of the Access Bank Group; Access ARM Pensions; a Payment and Switching Services Company; a Digital Lending Company, and an Insurance Brokerage Company. The banking vertical serves its various markets through four business segments: Retail, Business, Commercial and Corporate, and has enjoyed what is it arguably Africa’s most successful banking growth trajectory in the last eighteen years, becoming one of Africa’s largest retail banks by customer base and Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest bank by total assets.

Access Holdings strives to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible, and socially relevant, helping customers to access more and achieve their dreams.