Business
Read Why Rwanda, Singapore Are Partnering On FinTech
The Forum aims to act as a catalyst for Kigali International Financial Centre (KIFC), Rwanda’s financial centre facilitating international investment and cross-border transactions in Africa, and Elevandi a company set up by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to advance FinTech in the digital economy, today announced the launch of the first annual Inclusive FinTech Forum, to be held from 20 to 22 June in Kigali, Rwanda.
Global regulators, policymakers, decision-makers, founders, and investors will gather for three days of discussions on inclusive and sustainable FinTech, primarily focusing on the Global South, stretching from Africa to Latin America and Asia.
The Forum aims to act as a catalyst for financial inclusion and FinTech for Good by promoting technology and policy conversations that will enable FinTech development to become more equitable, accessible, and sustainable to all people of the world. This also includes developing and promoting public goods, infrastructure, and financial literacy.
The Forum will comprise a variety of dialogues and formats to spark debate and ideate solutions for inclusive finance globally.
Main stage sessions will feature keynotes by government and industry leaders as well as discussions with thought leaders.
Industry and Ecosystem stages will focus on topical sessions on Payments, Credit, Financial Services, Risk Products, Capital Market Infrastructure and ESG Products.
Elevandi’s signature programmes;
○ The Elevandi Insights Forum will host deep-dive roundtables with public and private sector organisations to address challenges faced by the financial sector and drive key actionable outcomes;
○ The Founders Peak will feature 10-minute talks from founders, giving participants a valuable opportunity to learn from the experiences of successful founders;
○ The Capital Meets Policy Dialogue will bring together policymakers, regulators, and investors to share perspectives on FinTech regulation and investment capital allocation.
● A curated space for exhibitors, industry workshops, mentorship sessions, and a talent pavilion.
Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief FinTech Officer of MAS and Chairman of Elevandi Board, said, “The Forum comes at an imperative time when FinTech is in the optimal position to contribute to global causes, given its place at a critical junction of finance and technology; however, its promise is still a work in progress for making finance accessible to all people of the world. The Forum will accelerate inclusion and impact conversations to make FinTech more accessible. It will serve as building blocks for future dialogues such as the Point Zero Forum, which will be held the week after this Forum.”
Tidjane Thiam, Board Chairman, Rwanda Finance Limited, the agency mandated to promote the Kigali International Financial Centre, said, “We are pleased to host the first annual global Inclusive FinTech Forum here in Rwanda bringing together important decision-makers in the FinTech Industry in Africa and globally. FinTech, at the crossroads of Financial Services and Technology, has a unique ability to transform lives, particularly in emerging and developing countries. It can empower the most vulnerable in society by giving them access to financing and allowing them to achieve financial independence. It can also contribute to the growth and expansion of successful African SMEs to provide much-needed goods and services to consumers in Africa and beyond. This event is a unique opportunity to enrich the African FinTech landscape and position KIFC as the new fast-growing hub for FinTech.”
Source: APO Group / Elevandi
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced the appointment of a new eight -man Senior Management Team.
The appointment followed the recent announcement followed the appointment of the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Board of Directors.
Disclosing this in a statement on Friday, NNPCL Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the appointments all take immediate effect.
“Following the appointment of the Group Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the appointment of a new 8-man Senior Management Team on Friday,” he stated.
“The team which will be headed by the GCEO, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has Rowland Ewubare as Group Chief Operating Officer; Adedapo Segun as Group Chief Financial Officer; and Olalekan Ogunleye as Executive Vice President Gas, Power & New Energy.
“Other members of the team are: Udy Ntia as Executive Vice President Upstream; Mumuni Dangazau as Executive Vice President Downstream; Sophia Mbakwe as Executive Vice President Business Services; and Adesua Dozie, as Company Secretary & Chief Legal Officer. All appointments are with immediate effect.”
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the director-generaI of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says the recent tariffs announced by the United States (US) will have significant implications for global trade and economic growth prospects.
On April 2, President Donald Trump announced sweeping global tariffs on all imports into the US, imposing 14 percent on Nigeria.
In a statement on Thursday, Okonjo-Iweala said the WTO secretariat is closely monitoring and analysing the measures announced by the nation.
The WTO DG said many members have “reached out to us”, adding that the secretariat is actively engaging with them in response to their questions about the potential effect on their economies and the global trading system.
“The recent announcements will have substantial implications for global trade and economic growth prospects,” the economist said.
“While the situation is rapidly evolving, our initial estimates suggest that these measures, coupled with those introduced since the beginning of the year, could lead to an overall contraction of around 1% in global merchandise trade volumes this year, representing a downward revision of nearly four percentage points from previous projections.”
Okonjo-Iweala expressed concern over the decline and the potential for escalation into a tariff war with a cycle of retaliatory measures that could lead to further declines in trade.
“It is important to remember that, despite these new measures, the vast majority of global trade still flows under the WTO’s Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) terms,” she said.
“Our estimates now indicate that this share currently stands at 74%, down from around 80% at the beginning of the year. WTO members must stand together to safeguard these gains.”
According to the WTO DG, trade measures of this size have the potential to create significant trade diversion effects.
Therefore, she called on members to “manage the resulting pressures responsibly to prevent trade tensions from proliferating”.
“The WTO was established to serve precisely in moments like this — as a platform for dialogue, to prevent trade conflicts from escalating, and to support an open and predictable trading environment,” Okonjo-Iweala said.
She encouraged members to utilise the forum to engage constructively and seek cooperative solutions.
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Association of Labour Veteran and Trade Union Assembly has voiced its support for President Bola Tinubu’s economic reforms, claiming that food prices have significantly decreased across the country.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the union’s interim president, Comrade Isa Tijjani, acknowledged the initial economic hardship faced by Nigerians at the beginning of Tinubu’s administration but insisted that government efforts had led to tangible improvements.
“At the start of this administration, the cost of food soared, and the nation was filled with cries of hunger and complaints. People were urged to be patient as the government worked towards solutions,” Tijjani said.
“Now, the President and his aides have worked tirelessly, and prices have come down drastically. However, I have yet to hear words of appreciation for their efforts. Recognising their achievements will encourage them to do even more for the nation.”
Tijjani, a former national vice-president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, urged Nigerians to differentiate between constructive criticism and unwarranted opposition.
He emphasised that engaging with the government in a respectful and solution-oriented manner would yield better results than resorting to hostility.
“The President of this country today is Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Advising him in a humble and respectful manner will be more productive than adopting a confrontational stance. Constructive engagement achieves more than threats and name-calling,” he added.
Tijjani also condemned the recent act of violence in Edo State, describing it as a cowardly attempt to incite division and instability in Nigeria.
He welcomed the swift response of both the President and the Governor of Edo State in addressing the situation and called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.
The labour leader further urged union members to participate in the upcoming General Executive Council meeting, where the union’s position on national issues will be formalised and disseminated at all levels of governance, from the state to the local and ward levels.
The Tinubu administration has faced criticism over the country’s economic challenges, including inflation and currency depreciation. However, government officials have maintained that their policies will yield long-term benefits for Nigeria’s economy.