The numerous acts of benevolence and selfless service to God and humanity by Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, the Anambra State Governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next month’s election have continued to count immensely in his favour.
Describing Prince Ukachukwu as a proven benefactor, interventionist, performer and selfless man who has all his life used his hard-earned money to help the society, the Accord Party vowed to synergize with APC on Nov 8,2025 to deliver him.
Leading a powerful delegation of Accord Party leadership drawn from Anambra State’s 21 Councils, the Deputy National Chairman of Accord Party, Hon Dike Innocent Igboekwe on a solidarity visit to the APC flagbearer at his Orsumenyi community, Nnewi South Council of Anambra State.
The visit, Hon Igboekwe noted, was to draw a support and endorsement for Ukachukwu (popularly called Ikukuoma -Wind of Glory) for the Nov 8 election in the State.
The delegation made up of 14-man Committee from each of the 21 Councils of the state, who came not only to support him but to partner with him.
Igboekwe stated that, “we came to put in our best to make sure we take over the seat of government in Agu- Awka come November 8”
A visibly elated Ukachukwu pledged to partner with Accord Party during the electioneering campaign and during his tenure in office as the governor of Anambra State.
The Accord Party believed much in Ukachukwu as a business man who has invested much in business built , many industries where a lot of youths roaming the streets of the country are gainfully employed, trusting that he will do more to salvage Anambra state from the hands of marauders who have held the state hostage for long.
Igboekwe outlined some of the strategies they have adopted to secure votes for ikukuoma, including a one million-man march all over the state to demonstrate their strength in collaboration with other affiliate organizations of Accord Party.
He noted that “We promised to take Anambra by strom on that occasion and cap it up on Nov 8 with a landslide clean sweep at the poll.
L – R: Direct Sales Executive, Fidelity Bank Plc, Adegboyega Ademokunwa; GAIM 6 Eight Monthly draw Winner, Innocent Okoro Orji; Branch Leader, Fidelity Bank Plc, Gbagada, Chinwe Umez-Eronini; and Product Manager, Savings, Fidelity Bank Plc, at the GAIM 6 prize presentation ceremony held at Gbagada Building Materials market in Lagos recently.
Amaka Obiefuna
As Nigeria looks to opening up the economy and empowering its citizens, Fidelity Bank Plc has taken a bold step to deepen financial inclusion and reward customer loyalty by extending its flagship savings campaign, the Get Alert in Millions (GAIM) Season 6 promo. The extension adds three more months to the campaign and raises the total prize pool from ₦159 million to a record ₦189 million. This move, announced in September 2025, comes at a critical time when the country’s economic landscape demands innovative financial solutions and inclusive banking strategies.
The Nigerian Economy and the Imperative of Financial Inclusion
Nigeria’s economy, while resilient, faces persistent challenges including inflation, currency volatility, and limited access to formal financial services. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), recent reforms such as exchange rate unification and bank recapitalization are aimed at stabilizing the macroeconomic environment and positioning the banking sector to support a $1 trillion economy. The CBN’s Payment System Vision 2028 also underscores the importance of digital transformation and financial inclusion as tools for economic development.
In this context, Fidelity Bank’s GAIM 6 promo is more than a marketing campaign, it is a strategic intervention that aligns with national goals. By incentivizing savings and expanding access to banking services, the promo contributes to the broader mission of empowering underserved communities and fostering economic resilience.
World Savings Day 2025: A Global Call to Action
The extension of GAIM 6 coincides with the upcoming World Savings Day on October 31, 2025. Celebrated annually, this global observance promotes the importance of saving as a pathway to financial security and economic stability. Fidelity Bank’s decision to extend GAIM 6 during this period amplifies the theme of the 2025 World Savings Day – “This is not a savings account”, encouraging Nigerians to cultivate smart financial habits and leverage digital banking platforms for long-term growth.
Speaking to journalists, Osita Ede, Divisional Head of Product Development at Fidelity Bank, emphasized the bank’s commitment to listening to its customers. “They asked for more opportunities to benefit from the promo, and we listened. With management and regulatory consent, we’re thrilled to keep the excitement going for another three months,” Ede said.
GAIM 6 vs. Other Savings Promos: What Sets It Apart
While several Nigerian banks run savings promotions, GAIM 6 distinguishes itself through its scale, inclusivity, and strategic design. The campaign targets a wide demographic, including NYSC corps members, women, children, and market clusters—segments often excluded from formal banking. Winners are selected through electronic draws supervised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), ensuring transparency and fairness.
Unlike promos that focus solely on high-value deposits, GAIM 6 allows participation with deposits as low as ₦2,000. This democratizes access and encourages participation from low-income earners. Moreover, the campaign integrates financial advisory support through the Fidelity SME Hub, helping winners make informed decisions about their rewards.
How GAIM 6 Works
GAIM 6 is designed to be simple, accessible, and rewarding. Customers can participate by opening a Fidelity Savings Account via the bank’s mobile app, website, USSD (77001#), or at any branch. Each ₦5,000 deposit earns an entry ticket into the monthly and grand draws. The final draw will award ₦2 million to the second runner-up, ₦5 million to the first runner-up, and ₦10 million to the grand prize winner.
The campaign also includes targeted draws aligned with national events such as Workers’ Day, Children’s Day, and Independence Day. These draws are complemented by regional activations, campus storms, and market outreach programs that drive engagement and account openings.
A Millionaire Christmas: Transforming Lives Through GAIM 6
With over ₦47 million still available in upcoming draws – ₦30 million in monthly draws and ₦17 million in the grand draw, Fidelity Bank is poised to create a wave of new millionaires just in time for the festive season. In the 7th and 8th monthly draws alone, 20 customers received ₦1 million each. These life-changing rewards not only boost individual financial security but also stimulate local economies through increased spending and investment.
“We are delighted to welcome our newest beneficiaries and commend their loyalty. A million Naira is a life-changing amount, and we encourage them to make the most of it,” Ede noted.
The bank’s financial advisory services at the SME Hub further enhance the impact of these rewards, guiding recipients on how to grow their winnings through smart investments and business development.
A Strategic Win for Fidelity Bank and Nigeria
The extension of GAIM 6 is a testament to Fidelity Bank’s responsiveness, innovation, and commitment to customer-centric banking. By aligning the promo with national economic goals and global observances like World Savings Day, the bank reinforces its role as a catalyst for financial empowerment.
As the campaign enters its final phase, Nigerians have a unique opportunity to save, win, and transform their financial futures by simply inculcating a healthy savings habit.
WHO and global partners are calling for the protection of people’s health to be recognized as the most powerful driver of climate action, as a new global report released today warns that continued overreliance on fossil fuels and failure to adapt to a heating world are already having a devastating toll on human health.
According to a press release by WHO , the 2025 report of the Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change, produced in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), finds that 12 of 20 key indicators tracking health threats have reached record levels, showing how climate inaction is costing lives, straining health systems, and undermining economies.
“The climate crisis is a health crisis. Every fraction of a degree of warming costs lives and livelihoods,” said Dr Jeremy Farrar, Assistant Director-General for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Care at the World Health Organization. “This report, produced with WHO as a strategic partner, makes clear that climate inaction is killing people now in all countries. However, climate action is also the greatest health opportunity of our time. Cleaner air, healthier diets, and resilient health systems can save millions of lives now and protect current and future generations.”
Key findings from the 2025 Lancet Countdown report
• Rising heat-related deaths: The rate of heat-related mortality has increased 23% since the 1990s, pushing total heat-related deaths to an average 546 000 deaths per year. The average person was exposed to 16 days of dangerous heat in 2024 that would not have been expected without climate change, with infants and older adults facing a total of over 20 heatwave days per person, a fourfold increase over the last twenty years.
• Wildfire and drought impacts: Droughts and heatwaves were associated with an additional 124 million people facing moderate or severe food insecurity in 2023.
• Economic strain: Heat exposure caused 640 billion potential labour hours to be lost in 2024, with productivity losses equivalent to US$ 1.09 trillion. The costs of heat-related deaths among older adults reached US$ 261 billion.
• Fossil fuel subsidies dwarf climate finance: Governments spent US$ 956 billion on net fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, more than triple the annual amount pledged to support climate-vulnerable countries. Fifteen countries spent more subsidizing fossil fuels than on their entire national health budgets.
• Benefits of climate action: There were an estimated 160 000 premature deaths avoided every year between 2010 and 2022, from reduced coal-derived outdoor air pollution alone. Renewable energy generation reached a record 12% of global electricity, creating 16 million jobs worldwide. Two-thirds of medical students received education in climate and health in 2024.
“We already have the solutions at hand to avoid a climate catastrophe – and communities and local governments around the world are proving that progress is possible. From clean energy growth to city adaptation, action is underway and delivering real health benefits – but we must keep up the momentum,” said Dr Marina Romanello, Executive Director of the Lancet Countdown at University College London. “Rapidly phasing out fossil fuels in favour of clean renewable energy and efficient energy use remains the most powerful lever to slow climate change and protect lives. At the same time, shifting to healthier, climate-friendly diets and more sustainable agricultural systems would massively cut pollution, greenhouse gases and deforestation, potentially saving over ten million lives a year.”
Health-promoting climate action
While some governments have slowed their climate commitments, the report shows that cities, communities and the health sector are leading the way. Nearly all reporting cities (834 of 858) have completed or plan to complete climate risk assessments. The energy transition is delivering cleaner air, healthier jobs, measurable economic growth and inward investment.
The health sector itself has shown impressive climate leadership, with health-related greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions falling 16% globally between 2021 and 2022, while improving care quality.
Data submitted by WHO show that a growing number of health systems are assessing risks and preparing for the dangerous future that’s coming. Fifty-eight% of Member States have completed a health Vulnerability and Adaptation assessment and 60% have completed a Health National Adaptation Plan.
Looking ahead to COP30: placing health at the centre of climate action
As the world prepares for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, the findings of the 2025 Global Report of the Lancet Countdown provide a key evidence base for accelerating health-centered climate action. WHO will build on this momentum through the forthcoming COP30 Special Report on Climate Change and Health, a collaborative effort highlighting the policies and investments needed to protect health, equity, and deliver the Belém Action Plan that is the expected landmark outcome of COP30.
The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change was established in partnership with Wellcome, which continues to provide core financial support. The Lancet Countdown is led by University College London, in partnership with WHO and 71 academic institutions and UN agencies worldwide. Now in its ninth year, the report provides the most comprehensive assessment of the health impacts of climate change and the co-benefits of urgent action, ahead of COP30 in Brazil.
Airtel Africa Foundation has partnered on a Joint Initiative with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) and Cisco on capacity and digital skills development, under the Digital Transformation Centres (DTC) Initiative.
This partnership aims to bridge the digital divide and promote digital inclusion by providing free Internet connectivity and digital skills training to underserved communities in Rwanda, in connection with the advancement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
ITU will provide digital skills training content to the DTCs under the Initiative along with other ITU regional capacity development activities. In addition, ITU will facilitate networking opportunities related to promoting digital literacy and inclusion, which will enable access to expertise and best practices.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Sujay Chakrabarti, Airtel Rwanda Managing Director said “Today’s partnership between the Airtel Africa Foundation, ITU, RISA, and Cisco marks a significant step forward in bridging the digital divide and empowering Rwandan youth with digital skills.
This partnership is a powerful example of what happens when government, private sector, and international organizations come together to empower communities”.
The Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Rwanda, will equip DTC locations with routers, Wi-Fi and data packages at no cost, ensuring the effective rollout of training and access to digital educational platforms.
The landmark partnership aligns with Rwanda’s ambition to become a knowledge-based economy and complements national programmes such as ‘Connect Rwanda’ that promote access to smartphones and digital services for underserved communities.
“This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting national development goals and closing the digital divide through meaningful collaboration,” said Ms. Esi Asare Prah, Head of Programs at Airtel Africa Foundation on behalf of Dr Segun Ogunsaya, Chair of the Airtel Africa Foundation. “We are honoured to partner with ITU to bring this vision to life and contribute to Rwanda’s journey toward becoming a digitally empowered society” she added.
“Our partnership with Airtel Africa Foundation begins in Rwanda, where we are joining forces to strengthen digital skills in underserved communities to advance connectivity. This initiative lays the groundwork for broader regional collaboration, as we aim to expand this work to other Digital Transformation Centres across Africa,’’ said Dr Emmanuel Mannaseh, Regional Director for International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
Mr. Antoine Sebera, CEO of Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) said “What we are seeing here today is partnership in action. Statistics show that 900 million people in Africa remain unconnected, extra effort needs to be made to make sure that no one is left behind.
This positions Rwanda a step ahead by being intentional to involve the youth. These centres are going to play a transformative role in educating the youth to leverage AI. Digital Transformation is driving the world and Africa or Rwanda can not be left behind.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has commended Air Peace for its historic inaugural direct flight from Abuja to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a bold testament to Nigerian excellence in global aviation.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe,OON in a statement issued following the launch, praised Air Peace for its resilience and vision. The MD noted that the airline’s expansion into the prestigious Heathrow route reflects the strength of indigenous enterprise and the growing confidence in Nigeria’s aviation sector.
“We warmly congratulate Air Peace on the launch of its direct flights between Abuja and London Heathrow. This remarkable achievement marks another significant milestone in Air Peace’s journey and reflects its unwavering commitment to advancing the Nigerian aviation industry.
“Fidelity Bank is honoured to have been a trusted partner to Air Peace since it began operations 11 years ago. Our relationship has been built on shared values, strategic collaboration and a deep commitment to national progress. Today’s success is not only a triumph for Air Peace, it is a proud moment for Nigeria.
“We celebrate the Chairman and CEO of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, his dedicated team and all Nigerians who share in this achievement”, said Onyeali-Ikpe.
The bank’s chief executive further highlighted Fidelity Bank’s longstanding role as a financial partner to key players in the aviation industry, reaffirming its position as a market leader in aviation financing and support services.
“Our partnership with Air Peace reflects our belief in the potential of Nigerian businesses to compete and thrive on the global stage. We have consistently backed the airline’s growth ambitions and will continue to do so as it opens new routes,” the MD added.
The MD also extended congratulations to the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, for his proactive support of local operators. “The Honourable Minister’s efforts to create an enabling environment for indigenous airlines are yielding tangible results. This Heathrow route launch is a clear example of what is possible when government and private sector work together,” the MD stated.
Air Peace’s new Abuja–London Heathrow route marks its second direct flight service to the United Kingdom, following the successful launch of the Lagos–London route earlier in the year. The development is expected to boost connectivity, reduce travel costs and enhance Nigeria’s presence in international aviation.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
By Winifred Bosa
