Anambra Children Mark Children’s Day In Style



In a heartfelt celebration of 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025, as part of a special initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of Nigerian leaders. The memorable experience, which took place today, at the bank’s headquarters in Lagos, Marina, spotlighted Wema Bank’s ongoing commitment to investing in the future even as it marks 80 remarkable years of legacy and impact. Chiderije Mbah became the winner of the One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO initiative launched in May 2025, to mark this year’s Children’s Day celebration.
He was chosen after sharing a spirited video explaining his dream of leading a bank and his vision for making finance more fun and accessible for children. His entry, submitted through a social media challenge, stood out among dozens who applied to be in the position. The One-Day Wema Bank MD/CEO was the high point of a broader Children’s Day initiative by Wema Bank, which invited children across the country to participate in an online challenge. To qualify, children were asked to post a short video dressed in Wema colours and share the banking role they aspired to, while either holding or opening a Royal Kiddies Account (for ages 0–12) or an ALAT Xplore Wallet (for teenagers 13–17). The campaign blended fun with purpose, introducing thousands of young Nigerians to early financial education and the power of dreaming big. On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Chiderije stepped into the spotlight at Wema Bank’s Lagos Headquarters, receiving a purple-carpet welcome and taking his seat at the helm of the bank for a day packed with leadership, learning, and excitement. Enjoying a full day of activities; from a guided tour of the head office to holding his own executive briefing session in the boardroom, he will also be addressing senior executives of the bank. “This is the best day of my life,” said Chiderije Mbah. “Wema Bank made me feel important. I am learning so much about being a leader and how banking works. I’ll tell all my friends to open a Wema Bank Royal Kiddies Account so they can also start learning how to save and maybe one day, they can be MD too!” Speaking on the initiative, Wema Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Moruf Oseni, said.
“Our 80th anniversary is a time to reflect on where we’ve been and where we’re going, knowing fully well that the future belongs to the young stars like Chiderije. Today’s activity is one of our ways of showing that we believe in the children, that we’re listening, and that we’re committed to helping them succeed financially, personally, and professionally all the way.” This unforgettable experience reinforces Wema Bank’s vision of a future-ready Nigeria; one where financial inclusion starts early, and every child has access to tools, inspiration, and opportunities to thrive. As Wema bank celebrates eight decades of resilience and innovation, its gaze remains firmly fixed on the horizon, championing the dreams of tomorrow’s leaders, one child at a time.”
Leadway Group, one of the foremost non-banking financial services groups, is set to roll out the third edition of its transformative Pages to Places campaign. This initiative, a book reading and donation drive is designed to spark a lifelong love for reading among 10,000 Nigerian children across select states and ignite their imaginations about building a brighter future. This campaign reflects Leadway’s enduring commitment to shaping young minds and supporting educational development, particularly in underserved communities.
By promoting a vibrant reading culture, Leadway’s Pages to Places initiative aims to inspire dreams, reshape children’s narratives, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s educational advancement. In previous editions, Leadway collaborated with prominent Nigerian authors such as Bunmi Aboderin-Talabi, Jude Idada, Titi Umaru, Victoria Afe Inegbedion and Ayo Oyeku to bring storytelling, book readings, and the love for literacy to life.
The campaign has reached 24 schools across nine states, providing books and mobile libraries while also encouraging the facilitation of after-school reading clubs, creating a lasting impact beyond the classroom.
This year, Leadway Group will collaborate with renowned author and culture advocate Lola Shoneyin and the convener of Akada Children’s Book Festival Bunmi Aboderin-Talabi in this third edition for a nationwide book reading and donation drive. The campaign will include visits to 10 public nursery/primary schools across Lagos, Kaduna, Ondo, Enugu, and Edo states, running from May 28 to June 5, 2025. This literary tour is poised to make a meaningful impact on the lives of the participating children, further reaffirming Leadway’s commitment to education, social impact, and the belief that every child, regardless of background, deserves access to knowledge, better dreams, and opportunities.
Aishat Bello-Garuba, Head of Corporate Services, Leadway Group emphasised the initiative’s importance. “At Leadway, we understand that every child may not be opportune to explore the world, but we trust that children can be transported there through the power of stories. In communities where dreams are limited by circumstance, ‘Pages to Places’ becomes a launchpad for limitless imagination, determined to inspire and empower more children through reading”, she said.
“Our commitment goes beyond providing books and promoting reading culture. We are dedicated to nurturing creativity, learning, and personal growth among Nigerian children. We aim to build stronger communities and inspire hope by expanding access to meaningful literacy to every child, regardless of their background. We understand that empowering children today lays the foundation for tomorrow’s leaders, and through this initiative, we are investing in a brighter and more promising future for these children”, Bello-Garuba added.
About Leadway Group
Leadway Group is a non-banking financial corporation headquartered in Nigeria. Leadway provides non-banking financial solutions ranging from insurance, pension, trusts, health management, asset management, and hospitality

Continental Reinsurance Group is pleased to announce several key leadership changes that reflect the company’s continued evolution into a pan-African holding structure and its commitment to robust governance and strategic growth.
Group-Level Appointments
Mr. L awrence Nazare has been appointed Group Managing Director of Continental Reinsurance Holdings, headquartered in Botswana. His transition follows the completion of his tenure as Managing Director/CEO of Continental Reinsurance Plc, Nigeria, in December 2024. In this new capacity, Mr. Nazare will oversee the Group’s pan-African operations and long-term strategic direction.
Joining him on the Board of Continental Reinsurance Holdings are two distinguished Non-Executive Directors:
Mr. Paul Kokoricha, former Chairman of Continental Reinsurance Plc, now appointed Chairman of the Board at Group level
Mr. Steve Iwenjora, formerly a Non-Executive Director at Continental Reinsurance Plc, who has now been appointed a Non-Executive Director at Group level.
These appointments reinforce the Group’s leadership as it executes the next phase of regional integration and strategic oversight.

Reflecting on his transition to the Group Board, Mr. Kokoricha said:
“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Continental Reinsurance Plc, Nigeria, where we achieved significant milestones in growth and governance. As we now pivot to a consolidated Group structure, I am excited to continue supporting the company at this higher level—working with the leadership team to sustain our pan-African momentum and long-term ambition.”
Mr. Nazare added:
“It’s been a privilege to lead our Nigeria business and support the broader Group’s evolution. As I now focus fully on the Group-level role, I remain committed to driving Continental Re’s strategic vision across Africa.”
Nigeria Entity: New CEO and Board Members at Continental Reinsurance Plc
To lead the Nigeria entity in charge of Anglophone West Africa operations, Dr. Fatai Kayode Lawal has been appointed Managing Director/CEO of Continental Reinsurance Plc, Nigeria effective April 2025.
Dr. Fatai Kayode Lawal brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Insurance from the University of Lagos, an MBA from the same institution, and a Doctorate in Management (Leadership and Organizational management) from the University of Phoenix, AZ. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Insurance Institute of London & Nigeria (FCII, FIIN). He is also a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Directors. Dr. Lawal’s impressive career includes his most recent position as Managing Director/Chief Executive of Sterling Assurance Nigeria Ltd. from January 2007 to December 2023, where he successfully integrated three merging companies and significantly grew sales. Prior to this, he served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Universe Reinsurance Co. Limited, where he improved profitability and expanded markets. His earlier career also includes a leadership role at Refuge Insurance Company Limited and a pioneering management role at Continental Reinsurance Co. Ltd. Dr. Lawal has a proven track record in leadership, strategic development, market expansion, and team building.
Strengthening the Nigeria Board
The Nigeria entity also welcomes three new Non-Executive Directors, whose appointments have received regulatory clearance from the National Insurance Commission:
Mr. Segun Adebanji – Chairman of the Board, Non-Executive Director
Mr. Adebanji is a veteran finance professional and Fellow of both the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. His international career includes leadership positions within UAC, Unilever, Nigerian Breweries, and Heineken, with postings in South Africa, Ghana, Namibia, and the Netherlands. He currently chairs Fidson Healthcare Plc and Filmhouse Group Ltd.
Mrs. Funmilayo Omokhodion – Non-Executive Director
A Chartered Insurer with 36 years of experience in reinsurance, Mrs. Omokhodion rose through the ranks at Africa Re, serving as Regional Director for West Africa and in other senior roles. She holds a BA in English and Linguistics and an Executive MBA in Insurance, and is a member of the Council of the Africa Reinsurance Foundation.
Mrs. Eno Atoyebi, CFA – Non-Executive Director
With over 25 years in investment management, Mrs. Atoyebi is a Chartered Financial Analyst and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. She is currently the Managing Director of ValuAlliance Asset Management and oversees strategy for two mutual funds. Her earlier experience includes senior roles at Afrinvest and ExxonMobil.
These appointments coincide with Continental Re’s 40th anniversary, a milestone that reflects the Group’s enduring legacy, resilience, and readiness for the future. With a strong leadership team in place across both Group and operational levels, Continental Reinsurance is well-positioned to deepen its impact across Africa’s reinsurance landscape.


The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has unveiled a grassroots radio sensitization programme aimed at simplifying tax education and boosting compliance among Nigerians across all walks of life, from market traders to tech entrepreneurs.
At the launch event held in Abuja on Friday, May 23, top FIRS officials stressed that taxation was not just a civic obligation but a vital contributor to everyday public services.
Dr Abdullahi Ismaila, Director of the Communication and Liaison Department, emphasised the need to break down complex tax processes for informal and underserved sectors.
“The average market woman needs to understand what Tax Pro Max is. She needs to know how to get a Tax Clearance Certificate and understand e-invoicing,” he said, highlighting the technical issues the agency plans to simplify using radio broadcasts in local languages and Pidgin.
“We’re counting on radio service providers to help raise the level of awareness,” he said, adding that feedback from listeners would shape future content.
On her part, Dr Loveth Ononuga, Director of Taxpayers’ Service Department, responded to scepticism about whether taxes are truly serving the people.
“You drove on a road to get here. Did the road just make itself? It’s taxpayer money,” she said emphatically.
She explained that salaries of police officers, military equipment, and even hospitals are funded by taxes.
According to her, many citizens overlook the visible outcomes of their contributions.

MAN in a press statement signed by
Segun Ajayi-Kadir mni, Director General, it deeply worried about the continued decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to maintain the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) at 27.5 percent since November 2024, despite a global wave of interest rate reductions aimed at revitalizing economic productivity and combating stagflation.
The statement read, “we are perturbed that when most progressive economies are charting a course toward industrial recovery and macroeconomic stability, Nigeria’s monetary stance tends to lead us in a different direction. Over the last quarter, countries such as members of the Euro Area, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Australia, China, India, Thailand and Egypt, have implemented interest rate cuts to bolster economic growth and support productive sectors. Yet, our rigidity continues to create unintended consequences that may deepen the parlous performance of the productive sector.
“A nation cannot industrialize on the back of prohibitively expensive credit. With the benchmark interest rate held at 27.5 percent, Nigeria has become the 6th most expensive country to source credit as local manufacturers grapple with an average lending rate of over 37 percent.
“This policy posture is not only inflationary, but is suffocating the capacity of the manufacturing sector. Compounded by other limiting factors, our members—small, medium and even large-scale—are finding it increasingly difficult to stay afloat, expand production lines, or even meet basic operational costs. When credit is priced highly, production declines and the nation “imports poverty”.
MAN said its concerns go beyond the debilitating impact on the association’s members business, adding the the “Nigeria First Policy”, which seeks to strengthen local industry and reduce import dependence, may be under severe threat.
It said at the heart of successful implementation of ‘Nigeria First Policy’ lies access to affordable financing to boost capacity utilization. “Unfortunately, the current interest rate regime constrains finance costs for our members, surging by over 44 percent from N1.43 trillion in 2023 to N2.06 trillion in 2024 and rising”.
Further the statement said,”The above represents a sharp increase that has directly depressed productivity and led to underutilization of industrial capacity. The high cost of credit has not only diminished the flow of investments into the manufacturing sector but has also dulled the return on existing investments, with Small and Medium Industries hit the hardest.
“Confidence in the industrial outlook has waned, as evident in the dip in the Manufacturers CEO’s Confidence Index from 50.7 points to 48.3 points. This mirrors the growing anxiety of our manufacturers.
“A nation that woos foreign portfolio investors at the expense of its real sector may unwittingly be aspiring to build prosperity on the back of volatility. We are disturbed by the implicit prioritization of short-term foreign capital inflows over the long-term health of domestic industries.
“While maintaining a high interest rate of 27.5 percent may temporarily attract speculative foreign portfolio investors, it is doing so at the expense of Nigeria’s manufacturing base, which is now choked by unsustainable borrowing costs.
“What is evident now is the widening profitability of the banking sector, buoyed by elevated interest margins, while manufacturers contend with shrinking margins, rising debts and declining productivity.
“This is an economic paradox that must be urgently addressed. The current monetary policy trajectory risks turning banks into vaults of idle wealth, while the real economy—where jobs are created and value is added—faces suffocation. A society that rewards intermediaries over producers invites long-term decline. Access to affordable credit is the oxygen that sustains industrial growth and no economy has ever grown by starving its manufacturers of oxygen.
“The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria is ever committed to collaborating with the Government and all stakeholders to achieve macroeconomic stability. We therefore earnestly beseech the CBN to urgently reconsider its monetary stance. Moreover, recent disinflationary trends provide justification for the CBN to cut rates. Real interest rates have improved, already giving financial investors higher inflation-adjusted returns.
Therefore, maintaining a high nominal interest rate under current inflation conditions is neither necessary nor justifiable, and will only prolong the pain for manufacturers and consumers alike”, the statement noted.
In light of the above,
MAN calls on the CBN to: – Cut the benchmark interest rate significantly to reflect current realities and ease the credit burden on manufacturers.
– Deploy moral suasion and policy incentives for commercial banks to facilitate single-digit, concessionary interest rates to the manufacturing sector.
– Facilitate the approval of the N1 trillion earmarked for manufacturers under the Stabilization Plan to support industries struggling under current financial pressures.
– Facilitate significant increase in the capital base of the Bank of Industry (BOI) to scale up its capacity to meet the sector’s growing credit demands.
– Settle the outstanding $2.4 billion Forex Forward Contracts to restore manufacturers’ confidence and end the unprecedented decapitation of the financial viability of the affected industries.
MAN said this will also improve access to non-locally available raw materials. – Facilitate a policy direction to peg the customs duty exchange rate for importing industrial inputs, especially raw materials and machinery, to prevent further inflationary pass-through effect.
Industrial confidence is a fragile currency and once broken, it takes time to rebuild. Nigeria cannot afford to lose its manufacturing momentum at a time when the world is repositioning for the next wave of industrial transformation.
The commendable reform measures of this administration may not be helped by the persistent high cost and constrained access to funds. The current monetary policy is not only undermining manufacturers’ confidence but also jeopardizing national economic resilience.
We urge the Central Bank to act decisively and in synergy with the fiscal authority to ensure that Nigeria’s manufacturing sector does not sink deeper into stagnation.



The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, championed an engagement between stakeholders in the Nigerian insurance and marine industries with the Ghana Cargo Technical Committee on study tour to Nigeria, in Lagos.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), Nigeria Customs Service, Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), Nigerian Shippers Council, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Council for Regulations of Freight Forwarding in Nigeria, ANCLA, NAGAFF, among others.
The Ghana Cargo Technical Committee was represented by officials of the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Ghana Insurance Association (GIA), Ghana Shippers Association (GSA), Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS). In an opening remark, the Commissioner for Insurance, Mr Olusegun Omosehin, represented by Dr Julius Odidi, Head of Lagos Control Office, NAICOM, thanked all the stakeholders for attending the programme.
Mr. Omosehin said the forum is an avenue for the Nigerian insurance and marine operators to share their practical knowledge with the Ghana Cargo Technical team, while also gaining experience on the operation of cargo insurance in Ghana from them in return.
The commissioner said the knowledge sharing session is an avenue for the stakeholders to discuss technicalities of marine cargo insurance in Nigeria, understand the processes, challenges, successes, and explore potential collaborations.
“We appreciate the contributions of all our stakeholders. I am sure our Ghanian counterparts would be leaving with a lot of knowledge from our success story and challenges,” he said.
In a presentation titled, “Marine Cargo Insurance: The Role of Port Operators in Nigeria, and the Activities of the Marine Offices Committee (MOC) of the NIA, Mrs. Felicia Mustapha, a former Chairman of NIA-MOC, said marine cargo insurance play a vital role in the maritime trade by safeguarding goods against the risks they encountered during international transportation.
According to Mrs. Mustapha, port operations in Nigeria are regulated by the Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), which serves as the landlord, while terminal operations are handled by private concessionaires, including APM Terminal, TICT, and Port and Cargo Handling Services Ltd, among others. She explained that insurers rely on safety standards and handling protocols maintained by port operators when assessing cargo insurance coverage, and operates within a regulated framework overseen by NAICOM, ensuring compliance with international standards while addressing local realities.
Mr. Wale Oshodi, a Governing Board Member of the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), also discussed the collaborative role of insurance intermediaries, adding that brokers ensure to interpret the terms and condition governing marine cargo insurance to the consignee and how to process a claim when it occurs.
Also representing the Nigerian Custom Service (NCS), a Deputy Comptroller, Mr Yahaya Usman, explained that marine cargo insurance in Nigeria covers goods from point of transit to delivery, noting that the NCS carries out its activities based on an Act of 2023 binding it.
The Ghana Cargo Technical Committee team lead, Mr. Fred Asiedu-Darteh of the Ghana Shippers Authority, expressed gratitude to NAICOM for hosting the engagement, saying it provided valuable insights into Nigeria’s cargo insurance practices and would assist in the implementation of Ghana’s new marine insurance policy.