Business
Afreximbank Makes Nigeria Permanent Regional Office
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume, highlighted the AATC’s strategic importance, its pivotal role in shaping Africa’s economic future, and its potential impact on the continent’s trade and investment landscape.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says its goal to make Nigeria permanent regional office, has been achieved with its just commissioned $120 million Afreximbank African Trade Centre (AATC) in Abuja.
The President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Afreximbank, Prof. Benedict Oramah, said , noting that the project, which began in November 2021 in Abuja, has brought a three-decade-old aspiration to fruition.
“This project marks the first of seven planned Afreximbank African Trade Centres (AATCs) across Africa, including Kampala, Uganda, Harare, Zimbabwe, Cairo, Egypt, Yaoundé, Cameroon, Tunis, Tunisia, and Kigali, Rwanda,” he said.
He emphasized that the project’s an initiative that aims to accelerate intra-African trade, deepen regional integration and foster economic transformation across the continent with a potential to advance the country’s ambition of emerging as the regional hub.
He added , this AATC in Abuja has been a 41 -month journey—one built on hope and determination. Like the other centres, it will serve a multi-purpose function: as a hub for fostering deeper regional and continental integration.
Oramah expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for its unwavering support, describing the bank’s relationship with Nigeria as mutually beneficial and cordial.
“Over the last three decades, successive governments have extended unflinching support to Afreximbank—responding positively to capital calls, providing an enabling environment for smooth operations, and offering strong domestic policy support that helped implement numerous development programmes in Nigeria.
“With these, we expect to create a sizable network of AATCs that will serve as lighthouses guiding the interconnections and flow of trade and investment within continental Africa and between Africa and the Caribbean,” he added.
At the commissioning of the centre, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, praised Afreximbank for its strategic foresight, describing the Abuja AATC as a “vital infrastructure” for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA.
She noted that as Nigeria positions itself as a key player in Africa’s economic landscape, the AATC is expected to catalyze investment, local entrepreneurship, and export promotion.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Dr. George Akume, highlighted the AATC’s strategic importance, its pivotal role in shaping Africa’s economic future, and its potential impact on the continent’s trade and investment landscape.
Meanwhile, the Abuja AATC comprises two interconnected nine-storey towers.
One tower features world-class commercial A-grade office spaces, a trade and exhibition centre, a conference centre, a technology and SME incubator, a Digital Trade Gateway and a trade information services hub.
The adjoining tower boasts a 148-room business hotel, seminar and meeting rooms, a wellness centre, a restaurant and other ancillary facilities.
These features are designed to provide a comprehensive ecosystem for trade and business activities, catering to the diverse needs of African businesses.
It also host office spaces for local and international financial institutions and policy organisations, ensuring a complete support system for trade and business activities.
Business
CBN approves Union Bank, Titan merger
The bank has assured customers that there will be no disruption to existing services, account details will remain unchanged, and customers will continue to access a full suite of products and services seamlessly.

The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the merger of Union Bank of Nigeria with Titan Trust Bank Limited,.
This is disclosed in a statement from the bank’s Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Olufunmilayo Aluko.
Under the terms of the merger, Union Bank has fully absorbed Titan Trust Bank’s operations and assets.
The new institution will continue to operate under the Union Bank brand, while Titan Trust Bank ceases to exist as a separate entity.
With an expanded footprint of over 293 service centres and 937 ATMs nationwide, supported by strengthened digital channels, Union Bank is poised to deliver enhanced value across retail, SME and corporate segments.
Union Bank’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yetunde Oni, described the development as “a pivotal moment in our 108-year journey and a launchpad for delivering greater value to our customers.
By blending stability with innovation, we are better positioned to meet the evolving needs of Nigerians and to be their most trusted financial partner.”
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Bayo Adeleke, added: “This is a new era of growth, collaboration, and shared prosperity. By bringing together the strengths of both institutions, we are committed to creating lasting value for our customers, shareholders, and communities while advancing Nigeria’s financial inclusion agenda.”
The bank has assured customers that there will be no disruption to existing services, account details will remain unchanged, and customers will continue to access a full suite of products and services seamlessly, with an accelerated push towards enhanced digital solutions.
Business
We are under attack – NNPCL GCEO, Ojulari

Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), has announced that he and his management team are currently under serious threat.
Ojulari said his offense is the reforms he has introduced in the oil and gas sector in line with the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu to turn around the moribund refinery.
He raised this alarm on Thursday, lamenting that some powerful elements are plotting to remove him from the seat.
The NNPCL boss raised the alarm when he received the delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, led by its President, Comrade Festus Osifo, at the company’s headquarters, Abuja.
Details shortly…
Business
Govt, stakeholders to explore industrial policy at W’Africa Manufacturing summit
The collaboration will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 2025, in Lagos.

•The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh
The Federal Government has committed to exploring strategies for implementing the new National Industrial Policy to scale industries and transform West Africa’s economic future, alongside manufacturing stakeholders at an upcoming summit.
The collaboration will take centre stage at the West Africa Industrialisation, Manufacturing & Trade Summit & Exhibition 2025, scheduled for October 2025, in Lagos.
The Minister of State for Industry, John Enoh, at a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos, declared that Nigeria will build its industrial policy on past executive orders targeted at promoting local content, but with a stronger push through the Nigeria First policy.
He said, “The previous administrations have tried to enable industrial growth by coming up with various executive orders.
Those include Executive Orders Three and Five, which were targeted at matters about public procurement and giving priority to Nigerian-made goods.
With the announcement of the Nigeria First policy, what becomes of it will be a function of what this administration does.”
Enoh noted that the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment would follow up on the policy with a nationwide campaign to promote patronage of Nigerian goods and services.
He explained, “The hope is that in the next few months, we’re going to start a national campaign on buying made-in-Nigeria goods and services to follow up the presidential pronouncement of the Nigeria First policy.
We found out that the country could earn about N3tn more in the short term if we can run a successful campaign that can also shift the attitudes of Nigerians.
(The Punch)
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