Dangote Industries Limited and five other companies partnering the Federal Government to construct and refurbish roads across the country. The other companies are Lafarge Africa Plc; Unilever Nigeria Plc; Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc; Nigeria LNG Limited; and China Road and Bridge Corporation Nigeria Limited. Alhaji Aliko Dangote In the pilot phase of the scheme, the six companies will construct 19 roads covering 794.4km in 11 states across each of the six geo-political zones The arrangement was the aftermath of the Executive Order 007 2019 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari on Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme that enables the Federal Government of Nigeria leverage private sector funding for the construction or refurbishment of eligible road infrastructure projects. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, who listed the roads at the signing ceremony said the scheme was the outcome of efforts to think outside of the box and deploy new techniques to develop critical road infrastructure in the country. In his speech at the signing ceremony, President and CEO of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote stated that, “the impact is huge because it will allow private sector to use their capital, their know-how and also their efficiency in terms of delivering roads in time and the Nigerian government will be saving billions of naira.” The Executive Order was one of the initiatives midwifed by the Policy and Regulation Subcommittee of the the two-year old Nigeria Industrial Policy and Competitiveness Advisory Council (Industrial Council), which is focused on implementing initiatives to boost investment; and reduce smuggling. The scheme focuses on the development of eligible road infrastructure projects in an efficient and effective manner that creates value for money through private sector discipline; and guarantees participants in the scheme timely and full recovery of funds provided for the construction or refurbishment of eligible road infrastructure projects through tax credits. The Federal Ministry of Finance had conceived the idea after industrialists in the Council expressed their willingness to intervene in road rehabilitation and construction in their areas of operation in a transparent process that ensures the cost of construction/rehabilitation can be recouped, The ministry therefore promptly proposed the scheme for the Industrial Council to develop., The Scheme is widely viewed by stakeholders who have been engaged in the public and private sectors as a quick-win in road construction and enjoys wide-spread acceptance as a means of accelerating growth within industrial clusters. The Federal Executive Council approved the Industrial Council in March 2017 as a vehicle for partnering with the private sector on the industrialisation agenda to address key hindrances to the growth of manufacturing in the country. The Council, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, aims to increase the contribution of the manufacturing sector to Gross Domestic Product and establish Nigeria as the manufacturing hub for Africa by implementing initiatives aimed at accelerating industrialization by leveraging private sector expertise and capital. Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, who is one of its Vice Chairmen, explained that, “The Council’s mandate is to assist the government in implementing initiatives that will enhance the performance of the industrial sector through partnerships with the private sector.” The leadership of the Industrial Council consists of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Chairman); Dr. Enelamah (Vice-Chairman, (Public Sector); Alhaji Aliko Dangote Vice-Chairman (Private Sector); Minister of State, Industry, Trade and Investment, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar (Alternate Vice-Chairman, Public Sector); and Atedo Peterside (Alternate Vice-Chairman, Private Sector). Other infrastructure initiatives which the Industrial Council is facilitating their implementation include the ongoing deployment of 18,000 km of fibre across the country to improve broadband penetration; and the generation of additional 4.2GW of power to the National grid
Zenith Bank Says It Now Has best IT infrastructure After Successful Upgrade, Commends Customers
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Zenith Bank Plc has announced that it now boasts the best technology infrastructure in the banking industry, positioning itself to provide an exceptional customer experience and superior service delivery moving forward.
This upgrade follows a recent comprehensive technology enhancement.
The bank expressed its heartfelt gratitude to customers for their support and patience throughout the upgrade process, while also extending apologies for any inconveniences experienced during this time.
This announcement was made in a social media post on Wednesday, signed by Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, the Group Managing Director/CEO.
In her message, the GMD/CEO emphasized the bank’s commitment to delivering an unparalleled service experience, stating, “We undertook this upgrade to ensure we can offer our customers the best possible service.”
Umeoji pledged that Zenith Bank will continue to innovate, ensuring that customer needs are met swiftly, safely, and conveniently.
The post read in part: “On behalf of the Board, Management, and Staff of Zenith Bank PLC, I would like to thank you for your patience and support during our IT infrastructure migration to a new and more robust operating system.
“We are truly grateful for the trust and confidence you have placed in us. The primary reason for undertaking this extensive endeavor was to better position Zenith Bank PLC for improved service delivery to all our valued customers and to create memorable banking experiences at all our touchpoints.
“While I regret the inconveniences and challenges you faced during and immediately after our migration, I am pleased to inform you that Zenith Bank PLC now has the best technology infrastructure in the industry. We are committed to ensuring you experience superior service delivery going forward.
“Rest assured, you remain our top priority, and Zenith Bank will continue to innovate and offer value-added products and services to meet all your banking needs quickly, safely, and conveniently.”
Polaris Bank Clinches “Best Mobile App” Award at Digital Jurist Awards 2024
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Polaris Bank’s commitment to digital innovation and excellence has once again been recognized, as the Bank was awarded the prestigious “Best Mobile App” award for its renowned digital banking platform, VULTe, at the Digital Jurist Awards held October 31 at Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.
This honor comes less than a week after Polaris Bank was named Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, further solidifying its status as a leader in Nigeria’s digital banking landscape.
At the event, attended by representatives from all nominated companies, Polaris Bank’s VULTe app stood out among its peers, winning the hearts of users and the recognition of industry experts.
The Digital Jurist Awards Committee had nominated Polaris Bank in three categories: Best Website, Best Web Portal, and Best Mobile App.
The Bank’s innovative approach and customer-centric digital solutions have made it a formidable contender in each category, with VULTe’s win affirming the Bank’s continued drive to redefine digital banking in Nigeria.
Commenting on the the award, Polaris Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Kayode Lawal expressed gratitude for the recognition and reiterated the Bank’s commitment to providing seamless, reliable, and secure digital solutions.
“This award continuously shows our dedication to delivering the best digital experiences to our customers. We will continue to push the boundaries of innovation to ensure that our platforms remain intuitive, accessible, and impactful,” he said.
Polaris Bank’s VULTe app has gained widespread acclaim for its user-friendly design, robust security features, and diverse functionalities, enabling customers to manage their banking needs from the comfort of their devices.
Winning the “Best Mobile App” award is yet another milestone in the Bank’s digital journey, reinforcing its position as a digital pioneer in Nigeria’s banking sector.
The Bank extends its gratitude to the Digital Jurist Awards Committee and its loyal customers for their continued trust and support.
Polaris Bank is committed to advancing digital banking in Nigeria, creating convenient, modern, and secure solutions that cater to the evolving needs of its customers.
Polaris Bank was adjudged Nigeria’s Digital Bank of the Year in 2024,2023, 2022 and 2021 and MSME Bank of the Year 2022, 2023 and 2024 in Business Day’s Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Access Bank Wins Best Digital, Best Website at 2024 Digital Jurist Awards
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Access Bank PLC has been named the 2024 Best Digital Award Winner in the Commercial Banks Category at the Digital Jurist Awards, organized by Phillips Consulting (pcl.).
L-R: Adebowale Shonekan, Head, Network Communications (Group & Subsidiaries), Access Bank Plc; Chukwudi Amadi, Team Lead, Digital Communications, Access Holdings Plc; Ezinne Nwene, Team Member, Digital Communications, Access Holdings Plc, receiving the Best Digital Commercial Bank award from Abbas Babagana, Chief Technical Officer, Federal Ministry of Communications & Digital Economy at the Digital Jurist Awards held in Lagos… recently.
In addition to this top honour, the Bank also secured the Best Website Award, achieving an impressive score of 201 points for its engaging and user-friendly digital experience. Access Bank’s cumulative score of 380 points reflects its excellence across digital touchpoints, including its website, web portal, mobile app, and social media.Commenting on the recognition, Amaechi Okobi, Chief Communications Officer of Access Holdings PLC, said, “We are honoured to receive the Best Digital and Best Website Awards at this year’s Digital Jurist Awards.
At Access, our focus on digital innovation is driven by our commitment to deliver seamless, secure, and customer-centric solutions across all touchpoints.
This recognition validates our ongoing efforts to enhance our digital platforms, making financial services more accessible and efficient for our customers.
We thank Phillips Consulting for recognising our efforts and will continue to raise the bar in digital excellence.”Phillips Consulting has long served as a development partner to Nigerian financial institutions and other organisations with an online presence.
Leveraging its proprietary Digital Jurist platform, the firm has conducted assessments of digital touchpoints in various sectors, from financial services and insurance to telecommunications and government agencies, over the past 17 years.
Originally established as Web Jurist®, the platform was reimagined as Digital Jurist to assess new and diversified digital channels in the evolving digital economy. Digital Jurist’s evaluation framework examines a range of factors, including user experience, accessibility, performance, functionality, security, customer service, support, marketing, and content engagement across digital platforms.
These awards reinforce Access Bank’s leadership in digital banking, adding to recent accolades including 2024 Best Digital Bank and Best Mobile Banking App by World Finance, Best Mobile Banking App and Best Digital Bank by The Digital Banker Awards, and Best Digital Banking Initiative at the Global Retail Banking Innovation Awards 2024.