By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has secured a major strategic gain at the ongoing 39th African Union Summit, after securing a permanent seat on the board of the African Central Bank.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Yusuf Tuggar, confirmed this at the summit on Friday, highlighting it as a significant milestone for both Nigeria and the West African region.

The African Central Bank (ACB) is one of the original five financial institutions and specialised agencies of the African Union (AU).

“Importantly, Nigeria has been given the hosting of the African Monetary Institute and the African Central Bank. Not only that, in today’s plenary, Nigeria was confirmed a seat on the board of the African Central Bank. This is huge,” he said.

He stated that the development represents a diplomatic breakthrough, mentioning that the move faced initial opposition from some member states.

“It is something that was initially resisted by some countries, so now we have a permanent seat on the African Central Bank board. It’s a major success,” he added.

This year’s summit carries the theme Assuring Sustainable Water Availability and Safe Sanitation Systems to Achieve the Goals of Agenda 2063, the sessions will focus on advancing continental commitments to sustainable water management and improved sanitation, critical pillars for health, agricultural productivity, and the broader development aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063 framework.

Beyond financial governance, Nigeria and the West African bloc also recorded progress in elections to the Peace and Security Council, the African Union’s highest decision-making body on conflict and security matters.

The delegation announced that “Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and the Republic of Benin have been elected,” with Benin securing a fresh term while the other two countries were re-elected.

The Peace and Security Council also convened to deliberate on the situations in Sudan and Somalia. Nigeria voiced strong reservations over Sudan’s potential readmission into the continental body.

“Nigeria voiced its reservations about Sudan being readmitted because, as you know, there are two warring factions in Sudan,” Tuggar stated.

“We reminded the Peace and Security Council that we have to abide by the rules and regulations of the African Union. If there has been an unconstitutional change of government, then the country should not be allowed to participate, and that was carried.”

The summit also outlined its 2026 theme: water sustainability. The Nigerian representative underscored the country’s strategic and demographic significance in advancing that agenda.

“Nigeria was created out of the confluence of the River Niger and the River Benue. So water is very important,” he said.

“We are the largest country in Africa, with a population of 230 million people. We’re going to be 400 million in the next 24 years. So water is a source of life. It’s very important, and we’re playing a very pivotal role in implementing the programs that are being set for the theme of the year.”

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The second African Markets Conference (AMC) will take place in Cape Town, South Africa, from Sunday, February to Tuesday, February 24, 2026.

The event, hosted by Standard Bank, will bring together global institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and African policymakers to catalyse the flow of capital into the continent’s most critical sectors.

The theme for this year’s edition is Mobilising Global Capital at Scale for Africa’s Growth and Development.

AMC 2026 will host a high-level delegation of decision-makers, ensuring that the dialogue leads to tangible commitments.

The conference will be structured around five high-impact pillars designed to move the needle on investment, including prioritising infrastructure as an asset class, accelerating the energy transition, deepening African capital markets and mobilising private capital, enabling intra-African trade and flows of capital, and addressing Africa’s sovereign debt and cost sustainability.

It is estimated that by 2050, Africa will add one billion people, more than half in cities, yet it invests only $75 billion of the $150 billion it needs annually for infrastructure. Standard Bank aims to use AMC 2026 to ensure that African priorities remain at the centre of the global financial discourse.

“This year’s engagement bridges the gap between policy ambitions and market realities. Africa urgently needs practical measures to deepen capital pools, improve market liquidity, and strengthen regulatory frameworks that give investors the confidence to deploy capital at scale.

“Mobilising capital is not just about funding projects; it is about building the foundation of a more balanced and inclusive global economy,” the chief executive of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Group, Luvuyo Masinda, stated.

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Inmates at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos were recently full of joy when Fidelity Bank Plc donated some relief items to them.

The financial institution, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative known as Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), handed over various household tools and gift items to the leadership of the correctional facility as part of its efforts to support the rehabilitation and development of indigent persons in society.

The Chief Human Resources Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr Charles Nwachukwu, reaffirmed the bank’s deep commitment to transforming lives and restoring hope, emphasising that true progress lies not only in financial growth but in extending compassion and opportunity to those that society often overlooks.

“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that every individual deserves a second chance. Our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility is rooted in empathy, standing with communities, uplifting the vulnerable, and opening doors for brighter futures.

“By supporting inmates today, we are setting them on the true path of rehabilitation, empowering them to return tomorrow as productive and confident members of society,” the banker said.

The Deputy Controller of Corrections at Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Mr Julius Ogueri, who could not hide his excitement over the gesture, appealed to Nigerians to avoid cybercrimes and stigmatisation of ex-inmates.

Highlighting the challenges faced by correctional facilities in Nigeria, Mr Ogueri noted that Ikoyi correctional center initially designed for 800 inmates, now houses over 3,000 inmates, with 396 convicted persons and 3,604 awaiting trial.

Whilst thanking the bank, the Deputy Controller also emphasised the importance of rehabilitation, citing examples of inmates who have pursued education and skills acquisition, including 72 inmates studying with the National Open University of Nigeria and 120 inmates who have benefited from WAEC and GCE support.

Business Post reports that through the FHHP, staff across Fidelity Bank branches nationwide identify crucial interventions needed in their immediate community and raise funds to execute them. The bank’s management then matches this contribution with an equal amount and disburses it for the selected project.

The visit to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre reinforces the lender’s unwavering commitment to meaningful community impact and demonstrates its strong dedication to advancing social responsibility and rehabilitation efforts across the society.