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All Posts in "Day: December 9, 2025"

Airtel Africa Foundation Celebrates International Volunteer Day

By Winifred Bosa
Airtel Africa Foundation, through Airtel Nigeria, has marked International Volunteer Day 2025 by celebrating the impact of the Employee Volunteer Programme (EVP), a flagship initiative by which employees volunteer their time, expertise, and personal resources to advancing the Foundation’s mission across 14 African markets.
The celebration brought together volunteers at the Airtel Nigeria Headquarters in Lagos for moments of team bonding activities, testimonials, and volunteer spotlights.
 The event also served as a call to action, encouraging more employees to register for EVP activities and join the volunteer community.
The EVP has become a cornerstone of Airtel Africa Foundation’s community impact, empowering employees to drive local CSR initiatives and champion causes that promote education, digital skills, environmental responsibility, and youth empowerment.
 Through the programme, volunteers have contributed significantly to initiatives such as the International Day of Education Essay Competition, Teacher-for-a-Day sessions, beach clean-ups, market sensitisation exercises to reduce plastic waste, and the Airtel-3MTT NextGen Fellowship for young Nigerians.
Speaking about the celebration, Dinesh Balsingh, Airtel Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, said, “International Volunteer Day reminds us that real impact begins with people who are willing to show up and serve.
Today we honour the incredible dedication of Airtel employees, whose selfless commitment of time and talent is the engine behind our progress. Their contribution is the backbone of our work and the reason we continue to transform communities across Africa.”
Over the years, the EVP in Nigeria has delivered tangible outcomes through numerous impactful initiatives such as financial donations to the Lagos State Government COVID-19 control efforts.
In 2025 alone, volunteers have contributed more than 200 hours of service, reaching over 100,000 beneficiaries.
Commenting on the commitment of Airtel Nigeria’s employees, Femi Adeniran, Director, Corporate Communications & CSR, said, “Volunteering is at the heart of who we are.
 Behind every empowered learner, every restored environment, and every connected community is an individual who believed in making a difference, and we are thankful for your participation.
Our mission remains clear: to use technology, resources, and our collective humanity to build a digitally inclusive, socially responsible, and sustainable Africa.”
International Volunteer Day provides a global moment to honour volunteers whose contributions often go unseen but deliver lasting impact.
 As its EVP continues to grow, Airtel Africa Foundation remains committed to expanding access to education, digital literacy, environmental care, and opportunities for underserved communities across the continent.
Online Poster by — December 9, 2025 in brands and Marketing
NAFDAC Becomes Full-Fledged ICH Member

By Winifred Bosa
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced a historic milestone in Nigerias regulatory space: NAFDAC has officially been admitted into full membership  of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) from an Observer status.
The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH) is a select body comprising leading regulatory authorities and the pharmaceutical industry.
 It is dedicated to advancing the scientific and technical principles of pharmaceutical development.
Through the development of harmonised technical guidelines, the ICH safeguards public health by ensuring the availability of safe, effective, and high-quality medicines worldwide.
Below is the press statement from NAFDAC.
NAFDACs journey toward full ICH membership commenced in the last quarter of 2022, when the Director General was advised to apply for Observership status.
 Following the submission and approval of the application, NAFDAC was invited to participate in the 2023 ICH meeting in Vancouver, Canada, where the Agency delivered a formal presentation as part of the evaluation process. NAFDAC was subsequently granted Observership and provided with a set of membership requirements.
Over the next two years, the Agency undertook a series of capacity-building activities, including training on multiple ICH guidelines to demonstrate effective implementation, as well as active participation in Expert Working Groups.
 These steps formed the foundation of the rigorous membership pathway.
The Agency fulfilled the necessary requirements in April 2025 following the successful international workshop on ICH M13A (Bioequivalence), during which NAFDAC convened stakeholders in Lagosincluding manufacturersand engaged virtually with Heads of regional regulatory agencies.
Our methodical and structured approach to meeting the criteria was central to this achievement. In addition, the support received from Northeastern University, Boston, USA, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the training programs significantly contributed to the Agencys attainment of ICH membership status.
This pronouncement was made by the Assembly of the International Council for Harmonisation t at the in- person meeting which took place on 18-19 November 2025 in Singapore.
The official announcement was later made through a Press Release by the ICH on 26th November 2025 on their website – https://ich.org/.
This achievement places Nigeria among global leaders committed to the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines. For our citizens, it means better access to high-quality medical products.
 For our pharmaceutical manufacturers, it opens the door to improved competitiveness and greater confidence in Nigerian-made products at home and abroad.
There are 194 regulatory agencies globally, and Nigeria is now the 24th among the select group of 25 national regulatory authorities (NRAs) worldwide currently committed to implementing globally harmonised, science-based regulatory standards through ICH membership.
 To be part of the 25 NRAs is significant and for our country, it represents a major step forward in strengthening the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicines available to our population.
The good news was shared with our H.E. Omayuli Francisca Kemi, the Ambassador of Nigeria to Singapore who warmly welcomed the NAFDAC Team to Singapore.
What This Means for Nigeria
1. Regulation of Medicines using Global Standards
Full membership empowers NAFDAC to actively shape and implement harmonised technical guidelines that match international best practices, leading to better regulatory decisions and improved public health outcomes.
2. Improved Access to High-Quality Medicines
Patients in Nigeria will benefit from faster access to innovative, life-saving therapies, as alignment with ICH standards enhances regulatory efficiency and builds international confidence in our systems.
3. Enhanced Capacity and Technical Expertise
Membership provides Nigeria with access to cutting-edge scientific knowledge, training, and collaboration opportunities, strengthening NAFDACs technical workforce and institutional capacity.
4. Increased Confidence in Nigerian Pharmaceutical Products and Attraction for Foreign Investment
Our local manufacturers stand to benefit significantly from this development. Adoption of ICH guidelines improves product quality, boosts competitiveness, and facilitates partnership with multi-national companies and entry into regional and global markets.
5. Stronger Global Partnerships
Full membership reinforces Nigerias position as a strategic regulatory partner within Africa, contributing to stronger regional collaboration and supporting the African Medicines Agency (AMA) vision.
Acknowledgment of Contributions 
This achievement did not happen overnight. It is the result of years of sustained commitment, leadership under the Director General, Prof Moji Adeyeye, and technical excellence across the Agency.
We proudly acknowledge the dedicated NAFDAC staff who have served and continue to serve as members of the ICH Expert Working Groups (EWGs).
 Their rigorous scientific input, countless hours of document review, expert contributions, and unwavering professionalism helped demonstrate that Nigeria possesses the competence and systems required of an ICH member.
 Planning of the international trainings was facilitated by the current Director of Veterinary Medicine and Allied Products who was previously in Drug Evaluation and Research Directorate.
The efforts of the staff have brought prestige not only to NAFDAC but also to the Federal Republic of Nigeria who in its wisdom extended the tenure of the Director General for sustainability of the achievements during her first term as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
 This shows that Nigerian regulatory scientists can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with global experts, influencing standards that protect billions of people.
A Commitment to Continued Excellence
As a full ICH member, NAFDAC remains committed to:
The full and consistent implementation of ICH guidelines.
Strengthening Nigerias regulatory ecosystem.
Supporting local pharmaceutical innovation and manufacturing.
Maintaining the highest levels of transparency, integrity, and science-based decision making.
Demonstrating that NAFDAC is commited to Safeguarding the Health of the Nation.
This is a proud moment for NAFDAC, for Nigeria under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President, and for Africa.
 It signals our countrys commitment to global standards and marks another important step in ensuring that Nigerians have access to safe, high-quality, and effective medicines.
We extend our gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, our local and international partners, and the Nigerian people for their continued support.
NAFDAC will continue to safeguard public healthnow reinforced with the full strength and collaboration of the ICH global community.
Online Poster by — December 9, 2025 in News
SanlamAllianz Nigeria Named Amongst Top 50 Good To Great Companies

L-R: Chris Ekwonwa, Group Head Strategy, Marketing and Customer Relations; Tunde Mimiko, MD/CEO and Bankole Banjo, Marketing and Corporate Communications Manager all of SanlamAllianz Nigeria pose with the awards.
  
..As MImiko Wins Life Insurance Leader Of The Year
In another affirmation of its leading status in the comity of insurers in Nigeria, SanlamAllianz Nigeria was named amongst the top 50 Good to Great Companies (Certified) by Business Times, a growing business and finance publication based in Lagos.
The honour recognises forward-looking companies operating in Nigeria with sound corporate governance, visible community impact, financial stability and employee confidence.
The firm’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tunde Mimiko, was also named the Life Insurance Personality of the Year at the African Prize for Leadership Excellence. The prize brings together prominent business leaders, entrepreneurs, high ranking government officials from various walks of life.
Organised by The African Institute for Leadership Excellence in collaboration with African Leadership Review Media Ltd supported by the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) for the fifth year running, the prize rewards winners who have made “outstanding contributions to the development of the continent…while displaying high standards of good corporate citizenship, social and environmental responsibilities.”
“It is one thing to do great work in your little corner, but it is an honour to be so recognised. This shows that the much we do as a business and as individuals get the right attention and we are delighted to be so honoured,” Tunde Mimiko said in his response to the awards. “I want to dedicate this award and prize to the entire team at SanlamAllianz Nigeria, for their commitment to our corporate goals and unyielding drive to ensuring we remain on top. Without the team, the leader is just another individual,” he concluded.
Chris Ekwonwa , the Group Head, Strategy, Marketing and Customer Relations, applauded these milestones while affirming their commitment to increasing customer confidence and insurance penetration in Nigeria. “We aim to sustain our momentum while contributing to the Nigerian insurance market’s growth,” he said.
These latest gongs complete a quintet of awards and honours that have come to the recently rebranded company within the past one month: FiBOP honoured the firm as Most Visible Insurance Company, Netcore/Infytel recognised the company as Insight-Driven Innovators,  NiRA recognised their less-than-a-year-old website, www.sanlamallianz.com.ng as the .NG Insurance Website of the year, and now the top 50 Good to Great Company as well as the Leadership Prize for their MD/CEO, Mr Tunde Mimiko.
Formed as a merger of Sanlam, Africa’s biggest non-banking financial services firm and Allianz, easily the world’s most recogniseable insurance brand in a JV across 28 countries on the continent, SanlamAllianz has  become the clear leader in the non-banking financial services industry in Africa with strong commitments to be top two in every market in which they operate. Consummated in Nigeria as SanlamAllianz Nigeria in June 2025, the brand immediately embarked on a rebrand campaign which saw it dominate headlines to the delight of industry watchers.
Online Poster by — December 9, 2025 in Industry