Education
Fidelity Bank Partners NCF and Lagos State to Promote Responsible Waste Management
In a bold move to promote environmental sustainability and inspire a culture of responsible waste management amongst Nigerians, leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has donated large-capacity recycling bins to Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos.
The donation was made during the 19th edition of the Walk for Nature event held on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at YABATECH. The event, themed “Lagos, Let’s Beat Plastic Pollution,” was organized by the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) in collaboration with the Lagos State Government to raise awareness on plastic pollution and promote sustainable waste management practices.
Speaking at the event, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, affirmed the bank’s commitment to driving environmental consciousness and sustainability through consistent advocacy and impactful community initiatives.
“As a socially responsible institution, we integrate sustainability into our business and community impact programmes. Beyond reducing our carbon footprint through renewable energy deployment across our branches and ATM network, we are also deepening our advocacy for recycling and waste reduction.
“Through recycling partnerships with schools, tree planting campaigns, and environmental beautification projects in urban as well as underserved communities, we are committed to building a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable future. In line with this commitment, we are donating three large recycling bins to YABATECH to encourage responsible waste management and recycling among students,” he said.
Dr Nwagboh equally applauded the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and the Lagos State Government for their collaborative efforts in driving environmental awareness, urging individuals and organizations to adopt eco-friendly lifestyles and reduce dependence on single-use plastics.
“Beating plastic pollution requires more than policies. It starts with each of us making conscious choices. By rethinking our consumption habits, reducing single-use plastics, and embracing recycling, we can make Lagos a model megacity for environmental stewardship,” he emphasised.
In her address, the Chairman, National Executive Council, NCF, Hon. Justice R.I.B. Adebiyi, emphasized that plastic pollution remains one of the most pressing environmental challenges globally.
“This year’s Walk for Nature is unique because, for the first time, we are taking the awareness campaign directly to a tertiary institution. Young people represent the innovation and energy needed to build a cleaner future. Fidelity Bank’s donation of recycling bins to YABATECH is not just symbolic, it represents learning, responsibility, and change,” Justice Adebiyi stated.
Representing the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the Special Adviser on Environment, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, also noted that plastic pollution has become a silent global crisis.
In appreciation of the donation, the Rector, Yaba College of Technology, Dr. (Engr.) Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, thanked Fidelity Bank and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), which also donated two additional bins to the institution.
“On behalf of Yaba College of Technology, we express our heartfelt appreciation to Fidelity Bank and the Lagos State Government for this thoughtful gesture. The recycling bins will be strategically positioned across campus and judiciously used to promote a culture of sustainability among our students,” he said.
The initiative, which aims to encourage students to adopt eco-friendly habits, strengthen the institution’s recycling, and waste management systems, is the latest of the bank’s ongoing environmental awareness and sustainability efforts.
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 a 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.
L-R: Area Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs (PGPA), Field Operations, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Rilwanu Momodu; Chairman, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) National Executive Council, Hon. Justice R. I. B. Adebiyi; Special Adviser on Environment to the Lagos State Governor, Engr. Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu; Head, Brand Management, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Cynthia Ogbonna; and Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Olarenwaju Affinni; at the 19th edition of the NCF environmental advocacy program, tagged Walk for Nature in Lagos, recently.
Education
NFVCB Boss Urges Stronger Distribution Channels As Coal City Film Festival 2026 Opens In Enugu
The Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr Shaibu Husseini, has called for stronger distribution frameworks within Nigeria’s film industry to ensure that locally produced content achieves global visibility.
Dr Husseini made this call while delivering the keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2026 edition of the Coal City Film Festival, held in Enugu.
Welcoming participants to the festival, Dr Husseini expressed his personal delight at hosting the event in Enugu, his birth state, noting the city’s rich cultural heritage and longstanding contributions to Nigeria’s creative landscape.
He commended the festival organisers, particularly the Festival Director, Uche Agbo, for their resilience and commitment in sustaining the initiative.
According to him, the Coal City Film Festival has grown into a significant cultural platform and a must-attend cinematic event in South East Nigeria.
Speaking on the festival’s theme, “Local Stories, Global Screens,” Dr Husseini emphasised the importance of authenticity in storytelling. He noted that films rooted in local realities, languages, and cultural truths often resonate more strongly with global audiences.
He cited notable Nigerian productions such as “King of Boys” by Kemi Adetiba, “The Wedding Party” by Mo Abudu, “Anikulapo” by Kunle Afolayan, “Black Book” by Editi Effiong, and “Lionheart” by Genevieve Nnaji as examples of culturally grounded stories that have gained international recognition on platforms such as Netflix and at global film festivals.
While acknowledging the growth in film production across Nigeria, the NFVCB boss identified distribution as a major bottleneck in the industry. He observed that many high-quality films struggle to reach audiences both locally and internationally due to limited distribution channels.
Dr. Husseini therefore urged film festivals across the country to evolve beyond networking platforms into active marketplaces where filmmakers can secure distribution deals. He stressed that festivals must attract distributors, exhibitors, streaming platforms, and marketers to create tangible opportunities for filmmakers.
“Film festivals must become gateways to distribution where filmmakers leave not just with applause, but with real opportunities,” he said.
Reaffirming the Board’s commitment to industry development, Dr. Husseini stated that the NFVCB has continued to reposition itself as a partner in progress by engaging stakeholders, improving classification processes, and promoting a balance between creative freedom and social responsibility.
However, he raised concerns over increasing non-compliance with regulatory requirements, noting that some filmmakers bypass the Board by releasing unclassified films or operating without proper licensing.
He reiterated that all films and video works must be submitted to the NFVCB for classification and registration before being released on any platform, including digital platforms such as YouTube.
“This is a legal obligation, and the Board will not hesitate to take decisive action against defaulters,” he warned, adding that regulation is essential for protecting the industry, audiences, and national values.
Looking ahead, Dr. Husseini assured stakeholders of the Board’s continued collaboration with filmmakers and festival organisers to build a structured, sustainable, and globally competitive Nigerian film industry.
He concluded by commending the organisers of the Coal City Film Festival for their vision and contribution to Nigeria’s cultural economy, urging filmmakers to continue telling authentic stories that can resonate across global screens.
-Leadership
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a four-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate implementation of a newly approved salary structure for university lecturers nationwide.
ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, made this known on Thursday while delivering a speech at a public lecture held at Sa’adu Zungur University, Yuli Campus, in Bauchi.
“We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to begin the payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure to comply will attract a strong response from the union,” he said.
The ASUU president noted that the demand forms part of broader efforts to improve the welfare of university lecturers and address long-standing concerns about poor remuneration, which he said has contributed to brain drain and declining standards in Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Analysts at Afrinvest West Africa have warned that Nigeria’s inflation trajectory may reverse its recent disinflation trend, with headline inflation projected to climb to about 16 per cent in the near term, driven by the ripple effects of the escalating Middle East crisis on energy and domestic prices.
This is as they stressed that without swift policy responses, rising energy costs could deepen cost-of-living pressures and erode recent gains in price stability.
However, the analysts noted that the decline was weaker than expected, largely due to a resurgence in food inflation, which rose by 3.2 percentage points year-on-year to 12.1 per cent, offsetting gains in core inflation, which declined by 1.8 percentage points to 15.9 per cent.
On a month-on-month basis, inflationary pressures showed renewed volatility, with headline inflation rising by 2.0 per cent in February, a sharp reversal from the deflationary reading of negative 2.9 per cent recorded in January.
Despite this, analysts cautioned that underlying price pressures remain elevated, particularly from persistently high food costs and structural bottlenecks across the economy.
Looking ahead, Afrinvest highlighted that developments in the Middle East pose significant upside risks to inflation. According to the firm, crude oil prices have surged to about $105 per barrel from $72.69 at the end of February, triggering a sharp increase in domestic energy costs.
The report noted that the spike has already translated into higher retail prices of petroleum products, with petrol rising to about N1,350 per litre, diesel to N1,650 per litre, and cooking gas to N1,400 per kilogram in several states.
“These increases are expected to cascade across transportation, logistics, healthcare and food prices,” the analysts said, adding that existing structural challenges such as inadequate power supply, poor road infrastructure and insecurity could further amplify inflationary pressures.
In its baseline scenario, Afrinvest projected that the pass-through effect of the energy shock could drive headline inflation up by about 150 basis points to 16.6 per cent year-on-year, while month-on-month inflation could spike to 5.2 per cent.
The firm warned that a prolonged crisis could derail the Federal Government’s target of reducing average inflation to 16.5 per cent in 2026 from 23.3 per cent recorded in 2025.
To mitigate the impact on households, Afrinvest urged the government to implement targeted interventions, including the rollout of affordable mass transit systems, healthcare subsidies for low-income earners, and the temporary suspension of tariffs and related charges on food imports and other essential commodities.
-Leadership
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