Banking
Chain Reactions Nigeria Emerges Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm in West Africa
By Dipo Olowookere
One of Nigeria’s leading Public Relations and Integrated Communications consulting firms, Chain Reactions Nigeria, has emerged as the ‘Best Reputation Management Consulting Firm in West Africa.’
The keenly contested Gold Category, which had two leading Ghanaian agencies, Insel Communications Ltd and GMA Communications Inc, was conferred on Chain Reactions Nigeria at the 7th edition of the Nigeria Brand Awards 2017 organised by International Brand Award Nominees and held in Lagos on Thursday.
Chain Reactions Nigeria is the country’s exclusive affiliate and preferred West African partner of Edelman, the world’s largest global communications marketing firm with presence in 65 countries across the globe.
Thursday’s award acknowledged Chain Reactions’ unrivalled high level competence in cutting edge strategic communications and reputation management services provided for array of leading public and private sector clients across telecommunications, industrial technology, banking, oil and gas, FMCG and tourism amongst others.
Managing Director/Chief Strategist of Chain Reactions Nigeria, Mr Israel Jaiye Opayemi, who received the award, said it was a testament of the firm’s commitment to excellence, professionalism and dedication to consistent delivery of audacious integrated communications solutions that set our clients apart in their industries.
“We are glad that Chain Reactions Nigeria has been recognised among those pushing the frontiers of cutting edge public relations and reputation management practice in West Africa.
“It brings us a level of satisfaction because we’ve consistently worked on improving our human capital, approach to briefs and service delivery.
“The results of our efforts are becoming more apparent. I am also delighted that Edelman’s confidence in appointing us as its preferred West Africa partner company was not misplaced,” the respected image maker said.
Mr Opayemi added that, “Our competitive edge is embedded in our core values, which are expressed in our can-do spirit; and our confidence and passion in handling our clients’ communication challenges.
“We are not an agency; we are a consulting firm. We are specialists, who always apply the finest traditions and trends of the practice in solving clients’ problems and helping them reach their business objectives.”
One of the most prominent campaigns Chain Reactions Nigeria has managed since the start of 2017 was the PR-led brand migration of Etisalat Nigeria to 9mobile.
The brand migration which has been widely acknowledged as unprecedented, resulted in the successful rebranding of former Etisalat Nigeria to 9mobile in less than three weeks after the telco’s foreign partners, Emirates Telecommunications Corporations and Mubadala Development Company, both of United Arab Emirates exited from Nigeria.
Another significant campaign was the international girl-child education advocacy campaign by ONE Campaign to draw attention to the plight of 130 million out-of-school girls around the world.
In managing the celebrity power campaign along with other PR firms in different parts of the world, Chain Reactions Nigeria leveraged the voice of Bono, Malala, Angelique Kidjo, David Oyelowo, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, Desmond Elliot and Waje, to call on world leaders to tackle poverty by addressing gender inequality. Nigeria emerged the world’s second best country with most impactful campaign.
Chain Reactions Nigeria manages high profile the PR accounts of leading global and International brands such as 9 Mobile, HP, Motorola, GE, Dubai Tourism, Arla Foods, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development amongst others.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A collaboration to enable fast money transfers into Nigeria has been entered into between Flutterwave and Xoom, PayPal’s international digital money transfer service.
The partnership allows Xoom transfers to be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Naira, enabling quick transfers directly into recipients’ bank accounts at Access Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, and additional participating banks across Nigeria.
The deal also enables Xoom’s global network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure, allowing users globally to send funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency.
Nigeria is the leading remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa, receiving over $20 billion in personal remittances in 2024. Despite this volume, receiving international payments has historically remained complex due to FX constraints and settlement delays. This collaboration helps address those challenges in a market of more than 232 million people, where the ICT sector is projected to contribute 21 per cent of GDP by 2027.
By combining Xoom’s expansive reach with Flutterwave’s local compliance and banking partnerships, the two companies are providing a more accessible financial corridor for the continent.
Xoom, a PayPal service, is a fast and secure international digital money transfer service that enables consumers to send money, pay bills, and reload phones for friends and family in approximately 160 markets globally.
As part of PayPal’s global payments ecosystem, Xoom leverages advanced fraud protection, compliance capabilities, and a trusted global network to help millions of customers move money quickly and securely across borders.
“We’re excited to have been chosen by Xoom for their Nigeria expansion. Millions of Nigerians rely on money from abroad to support everyday needs, whether it’s families receiving help from loved ones, freelancers getting paid for their work, or individuals earning income from the global economy. This helps make it easy and more reliable for people in Nigeria to receive funds and stay connected to opportunities beyond borders,” the chief executive of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga GB Agboola, stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
