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UBA, USAID Sign Deal on Trade, Investment

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UBA USAID Trade Investment

By Adedapo Adesanya

Top sub-Saharan Africa financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will be working together to increase a two-way trade and investment between Africa and the United States.

The partnership, which will be done through the Prosper Africa initiative, will ensure that businesses are equipped with the technical and financial tools they need to enter into new trading and investment relationships.

This was revealed in a statement which said USAID will provide technical assistance and advisory services to prospective businesses through its Trade and Investment platforms, and connect UBA with African Diaspora business groups working across the United States.

“The MOU enables UBA, the only sub-Saharan African bank licensed to operate in the United States, to expand its reach and extend financing to American companies in the United States looking to do business with African nations.

“Recognising tremendous growth opportunities, USAID and UBA are collaborating to advance Prosper Africa’s goal of substantially increasing two-way trade between Africa and the United States.

“By working together, they will extend financing and technical assistance to businesses that will strengthen the American economy, grow African economies, and create jobs on both sides of the Atlantic,” the statement read.

Both parties reached an understanding at the opening ceremony of the Tunisia Prosper Africa Conference, which was organised by the US Embassy in Tunis and the American Chamber of Commerce of Tunisia.

The event facilitated US and African business-to-business connections and featured remarks by key representatives from the U.S. Government and the U.S. and African private sector.

Speaking at the event, the French spokesperson for the State Department, Ms Marissa Scott, said, “The US government is committing up to 50 million dollars (45.4 million euros) to implement Prosper Africa.

“It may not seem like much, but it is a key to opening the door to trade and investment,” she added.

Bilateral trade between the United States and all African countries reached only $62 billion in 2018.

Prosper Africa was announced at the end of 2018 by the Trump administration, which presented it as a way of responding to stiff competition from both Russia and China in Africa.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Spending Limit on GTBank Naira Card Now $20,000

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GTBank Naira Card

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The international spending limit on the GTBank Naira card has now been increased to $20,000 per quarter, a notice from the financial institution disclosed.

In an email message to customers sighted by Business Post on Tuesday, the lender said the Dollar limit is applicable to POS and online transactions carried out with the debit card.

The increase in the spending limit on the GTBank Naira card for offshore transactions comes as Nigeria continue to experience stability in the foreign exchange (FX) market.

A few years ago, Nigerians were unable to use their Naira cards to conduct financial transactions online for operations outside the country. This frustrated many consumers, who could not buy things online from other jurisdictions.

However, after some forex reforms by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the leadership of Governor Yemi Cardoso, these restrictions were removed.

“The Dollar limit on your GTBank Naira Card is now $20,000 quarterly,” the notice read.

The increase in the spending limit to $20,000 per quarter will give GTBank Naira cardholders an opportunity to make more transactions online with ease, as before now, it was pegged at $15,000.

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FairMoney Unveils Asset Financing Solution for Mobility Entrepreneurs

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FairMoney

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

A new product known as Asset Financing Solution, tailored for those in the Nigerian transportation and logistics sector, has been introduced by a technology-enabled financial institution, FairMoney Microfinance Bank.

This initiative marks a significant expansion of FairMoney’s product ecosystem, moving beyond personal and working capital loans into commercial asset financing. By helping entrepreneurs build a verifiable credit history through vehicle repayments, the company is supporting financial inclusion and participation within the formal economy.

Asset Financing Solution forms part of the lender’s broader commitment to responsible lending and structured financing for eligible operators, as it expands access to asset financing for mobility entrepreneurs across the country through an application process subject to credit assessment and eligibility requirements.

The sector continues to record sustained market activity with reported growth rates of approximately 9.87 per cent–10.1 per cent in late 2025.

As road freight and passenger transport remain the nation’s dominant modes of transit, FairMoney’s new initiative aims to improve access to structured asset financing for thousands of transporters and delivery merchants. By providing access to business-use transport assets, the product helps address limited access to structured financing for micro-SMEs and supports activities within Nigeria’s logistics and mobility sector.

Mobility entrepreneurs seeking to acquire vehicles can now access flexible repayment plans through an application process that is subject to credit assessment and eligibility requirements.

Leveraging its technology-enabled onboarding and risk assessment capabilities, applicants can move through a structured onboarding and evaluation process.

Repayment structures are specifically tailored to the daily and weekly cash-flow realities of mobility businesses, supporting operational continuity and business growth within structured repayment arrangements.

The programme is open to eligible applicants via the FairMoney Business platform and through designated partner hubs across major cities.

“Our mission has always been to increase financial inclusion and create income opportunities by supporting individuals and small business operators in growing their businesses.

“With this solution, we are focused on supporting small business operators and mobility entrepreneurs who contribute significantly to transportation and commercial activity. The solution is designed to provide structured asset financing for eligible operators,” the Managing Director of FairMoney MFB, Mr Henry Obiekea, stated.

Speaking further, he said, “The intra-state transportation sector in Nigeria is experiencing sustained demand and market activity, offering opportunities for mobility and transport operators. The Asset Financing Solution ensures that costs are spread into manageable instalments, thereby supporting small business operations and broader economic participation.”

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Court Convicts Ex-Access Bank Staff for Unauthorised Withdrawals on 305 Customers’ Account

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Obadofin Daniel Bamise Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu Access Bank Staff

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Two former employees of Access Bank Plc, identified as Mr Obadofin Daniel Bamise and Ms Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu, have been convicted and sentenced by Justice A.A. Bello of the Kaduna State High Court for theft.

The convicts were found guilty of a separate one-count charge of theft against them by the Kaduna Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

They carried out unauthorised withdrawals on the accounts of 305 customers of Access Bank, who were beneficiaries of the federal government’s Palliative Scheme, totalling N7.8 million. They posted the unauthorised withdrawals to the Palliative Scheme’s coordinators’ accounts.

After pleading “guilty” to the charges against them, Justice Bello convicted and sentenced both of them to seven years imprisonment each, with an option of a N50,000 fine each.

According to a statement from the EFCC, the charge against Mr Bamise was, “That you, Obadofin Bamise Daniel sometime between the 5th of November, 2024 and 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being an employee of Access Bank Plc did in your capacity as an employee committed theft in the sum of N433.000 being property in possession of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 274 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under same Law.”

The charge against Ms Yakubu was, “That you, Hadiza Oyiza Yakubu sometimes between the 5th of November, 2024 and 23rd of January, 2025 in Kaduna, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, while being an employee of Access Bank Plc did in your capacity as an employee committed theft in the sum of N806,000 being property in possession of Access Bank Plc and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 274 of the Kaduna State Penal Code Law, 2017 and punishable under same Law.”

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