Business
GTCO Unveils First-Ever Holiday Edition of Food & Drink Festival, Scheduled for December 20–21, 2025
Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc) has launched the inaugural Holiday Edition of its renowned GTCO Food & Drink Festival, Africa’s largest culinary event.
The two-day festival is scheduled for December 20 and 21, 2025, at the GTCentre in Oniru, Victoria Island, Lagos.
This special edition marks a festive expansion of the annual festival, blending African culinary excellence with family-oriented holiday experiences and support for small businesses.
Unlike previous editions, it shifts focus from chef masterclasses to immersive attractions tailored for the holiday season.
Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer of GTCO Plc, highlighted the event’s significance: “The GTCO Food & Drink Festival is a powerful platform that aligns with our mission to fuel enterprise, promote African creativity, and connect communities through meaningful lifestyle experiences.
The Holiday Edition gives us an exciting opportunity to celebrate the festive season while supporting thousands of food entrepreneurs who form the backbone of our economy.”
Record-Breaking SME ParticipationTrue to its commitment to empowering local businesses, GTCO continues its free vendor participation model.
For this edition:
– Over 4,000 applications were received.
– 213 Nigerian-owned food SMEs were selected—nearly double the number from recent editions.
– Vendors will offer diverse, affordable culinary options, providing a high-traffic platform to boost visibility and sales during the holidays.
The surge in participation highlights the festival’s role in driving SME growth and inclusive economic development.
The 2025 Holiday Edition introduces tailored attractions:-
**Christmas Village**: A curated marketplace with handcrafted gifts, seasonal delicacies, artisanal products, and holiday entertainment.
– **Large Children’s Play Zone**: Immersive games and activities for families.
– **Street Food Hub**: Showcasing Nigeria’s vibrant street food diversity.
– **Live Entertainment**: High-energy DJ sets from top Nigerian performers.
The event aligns with GTCO’s corporate social responsibility goals, promoting community impact, SME support, and Nigeria’s creative economy.
Admission is free and open to the public, emphasizing accessibility to world-class experiences.
For more details, visit the official site at [foodanddrink.gtcoplc.com](https://foodanddrink.gtcoplc.com/).
Business
OPay launches new office in Jos
” Opening this office in Jos allows us to stay closer to the people we serve, better understand their needs, and continue to provide fast, secure, and reliable financial services that improve everyday life.”
OPay has officially launched its new office in Jos, Plateau State.
Speaking at the event, OPay’s Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Dotun Adekunle, said that the new Jos office reflects OPay’s continued commitment to putting customers first and advancing financial inclusion across Nigeria.
He said :” Our customers are at the center of everything we do.
Opening this office in Jos allows us to stay closer to the people we serve, better understand their needs, and continue to provide fast, secure, and reliable financial services that improve everyday life.”
Business
Governor Otti Commissions Ultimum Manufacturing Plant in Aba
Razzle beverages include Razzl Pamplemousse (a unique and special grapefruit flavour), Razzl Cola, Razzl Orange, and Razzl Lemon.
Ultimum Limited, the manufacturers of Razzl brand of carbonated soft drinks has commissioned its state-of-the-art beverage manufacturing plant in Aba, Abia State.
Razzle beverages include Razzl Pamplemousse (a unique and special grapefruit flavour), Razzl Cola, Razzl Orange, and Razzl Lemon.
Located in the Osisioma Industrial Layout, the new plant was commissioned by the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
Otti described the investment as a clear signal of economic revival and growing investor confidence in Abia State.
“This investment confirms that we are creating the right conditions for businesses to grow, thrive, and succeed. Investors will always go where there is clarity, stability, and opportunity.
Our focus has been to build that environment, and today’s commissioning shows that the strategy is working,” he said.
The Chairman of Ultimum Limited and representative of the investor group, Mr. Whalen Kadji, emphasized the company’s long-term commitment to Aba and Nigeria.
“We did not come here by chance. We came because of the energy and entrepreneurial spirit of Aba. This city has always been a center of enterprise, and we believe strongly in its future.
This plant is more than an investment in beverages; it is an investment in people, in jobs, and in the growth of local industry. We are here for the long term, and this is just the beginning of what we intend to build here.”
The Managing Director of Ultimum Limited, Mr. Austin Ufomba, described the plant as a bold step in the company’s journey.
“Ultimum Limited started with a simple idea, to build world-class products right here in Africa,”he said.
Business
Oil price jumps to $106, stocks drop on uncertainty over US-Iran talks
Crude prices rallied more than three percent on Thursday, with Brent crude above $106 per barrel and WTI around $93.
Oil prices jumped and equities slid Thursday as hopes for a peace deal between the US and Iran wavered after Tehran rejected Washington’s bid to wind down the nearly four-week war.
Markets had been buoyed this week by US President Donald Trump’s announcement that strikes targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure would be postponed, adding that the two sides were in peace talks.
But uncertainty over the talks and the virtual closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which around 20 percent of oil and liquefied natural gas passes — have cast a shadow over market sentiment.
“The market rollercoaster continues,” said Joshua Mahony, chief market analyst at Scope Markets.
Crude prices rallied more than three percent on Thursday, with Brent crude above $106 per barrel and WTI around $93.
( VANGUARD)
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