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IPMAN Mulls Pension Scheme for 2.5 million Members

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IPMAN 2.5 million Members

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has reached out to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to seek an arrangement that will see the association enlist its over 2.5 million members and workers for a pension scheme.

This was disclosed by the association’s National President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo, who explained that the initiative was necessitated by the need to provide a retirement plan for its members.

Mr Okoronkwo said top members of the group, including some national officers and consultants as well as Mr Maurice Ibe of the Benham Group, have met with senior PenCom officials to discuss ways to make this a reality.

“We are here to see how we can add value to the economic situation of this country.

“There is this municipal pension plan for every employer and employee and we have decided to key into the programme. We think the programme will help our workers and our members

“One of the problems in this country is that of poverty and by the time we make our members and workers save for the rainy day, when they are out of a job or retire, they will have something to fall back on when they are no longer working.

“That is why we have come here to see how we can collaborate with PenCom on this pension scheme. We are looking at a system where every worker and member would be on the platform.

“We are targeting about 2.5 million of our members and workers. We plan to commence work immediately to ensure the scheme takes off in earnest,” he said.

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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Verto Launches $15,000 Global Award Prize for Businesses

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Verto Global Business Award

By Adedapo Adesanya

Verto, the global fintech powering enterprise-grade cross-border payments, FX, and banking solutions across emerging markets, has launched the Verto Global Business Award—a transformative initiative to recognize and accelerate the growth of early-stage startups.

The prize comes with a pool of up to $15,000 and will spotlight the most promising sector-agnostic startups with global potential, equipping them with the resources needed to scale, and expand into new markets, while building international supplier connections.

According to a statement shared with Business Post, “This initiative underscores Verto’s ongoing commitment to breaking down payment barriers and enabling seamless global trade.”

Starting on Thursday, February 6 2025, applications will open to early-stage startups, that have been operating for a maximum of two years in South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya. Winners will be selected based on their market impact, innovation, and business growth potential.

Eligible startups must demonstrate multiple market operations and connections with international suppliers, the organisers noted.

The winner, runner-up and second runner-up will be announced on 10th October 2025 and awarded $10,000, $3,000, and $2,000 respectively to accelerate their global expansion and streamline their cross-border operations.

Speaking on the launch of the Verto Global Business Award, Mr Ola Oyetayo, CEO and Co-Founder of Verto said, “The world today is more connected than ever, and for startups, access to global markets isn’t just an advantage – it’s a game changer. Payments are at the heart of this, and, at Verto, we’ve spent years breaking down financial barriers, enabling businesses to send and receive money effortlessly while connecting Africa and other emerging markets to the world.

“The Verto Global Business Award takes this a step further, equipping the next generation of entrepreneurs with the resources and global recognition they need to scale and compete on a global stage.”

The Verto Global Business Award is designed to help startups tap into this growth, fostering innovation and supporting businesses in Africa’s economic transformation.

Since its launch in 2017, Verto has remained at the forefront of facilitating cross-border transactions. With its cutting-edge technology, the company enables businesses of all sizes to make secure and seamless cross-border payments, convert between 50 currencies at competitive exchange rates, and instantly send and receive money in over 200 countries.

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Nigeria to Roll Out Contactless Passport Application in UK, Europe Friday

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Contactless Passport Application

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria will roll out a contactless passport application system in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Ireland on Friday, February 7, as part of making the process more transparent and faster.

According to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) via its spokesperson, Mr AS Akinlabi, the initiative will allow Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes.

“This initiative set for launch on February 7, 2025, will enable Nigerians in the Diaspora to apply for and renew their passports online from the comfort of their homes,” the NIS Comptroller General, Ms Kemi Nanna Nandap, was quoted to have said in the statement.

This was disclosed when she paid a courtesy call to the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa in Abuja.

The NIS said the move followed “the roll-out of the contactless passport application system in Canada on 5th November 2024.”

“For emphasis, the Contactless Passport Application which is currently available on Google Play Store (NIS mobile), is designed to allow Nigerians to renew their passports without visiting any Passport Centre for biometric enrollment,” the NIS said.

“The Service reiterates its commitment to innovative and efficient service delivery to Nigerians anywhere in the world.”

“The launch of the contactless passport application solution in Europe is a significant step towards efficient, secure, and convenient travel document management for Nigerians in the diaspora,” Mrs Dabiri-Erewa said.

“NiDCOM will continue to support, monitor, and collaborate with the NIS to ensure the success of this initiative,” she added.

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Google Maps Clocks 20, Reveals Most Reviewed Locations in Nigeria

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Google Maps

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Google is celebrating the 20 years of the existence of one of its flagship applications, Google Maps, in February 2025.

Since its inception, Google Maps has been an essential tool for more than 2 billion monthly users, providing both comprehensive information and a vibrant community for sharing knowledge.

The application has fundamentally changed how we explore and navigate the world, shaping users’ understanding of the globe. Its rich and up-to-date information empowers users to confidently navigate, wherever their journey takes them.

“Google Maps has evolved from a basic mapping tool to a dynamic platform that helps people explore, navigate, and discover new experiences,” the Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Google West Africa, Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, said.

The evolution of the tool has brought a wealth of features to enhance every journey. Need a little inspiration? Ask Maps, powered by Gemini, for curated ideas on where to go. Travelling? The “Directory” tab helps you explore what’s available in airports. Want to get your bearings quickly? Augmented reality allows you to understand an area at a glance. Even everyday tasks, like finding the cheapest petrol station nearby, are made easier with Google Maps.

In Nigeria, Google Maps has been instrumental in helping people discover new places and navigate with confidence.

To mark this 20th anniversary, Google is unveiling the top reviewed places in Nigeria, showcasing the locations that have captured the hearts of Nigerian users.

These lists offer fascinating insights into popular choices for restaurants, cafes, visitor attractions, parks, and museums across the country.

“The top reviewed locations in Nigeria highlight the places that have captured the interest and attention of our users,” Kola-Ogunlade added.

See below the top ten list of most searched places in Nigeria:

Most Reviewed  Restaurants

Mega Chicken

Farmcity Lekki lounge

Crush Cafe

Hard Rock Cafe

Domino’s Pizza, Wuse

Jevinik Restaurant

Cactus Restaurant

The Junkyard Grills

BluCabana Restaurant & Cafe

Domino’s Pizza, Yaba

Most Reviewed Cafe

Flowershop Cafe

Oliver’s Café

Salamander Cafe

Café de vie

Wood House Cafe

TOP BEANS. Coffee & more

Creamslices Cafe

Café Flour

Ketchup

Ark City Cafe And Grill

Most Reviewed Visitor Attractions

Dimplediva_scent

Oniru Private Beach

The Good Beach

New Berger Roundabout Ojodu Ikeja

Emir’s Palace Kano City

Rumuokoro Flyover

Railway Compound Ebute Meta Lagos

Abia Tower Round about Umuahia

Fela’s Shrine Ikeja

Idumagbo Junction Eyo Statue

Most Reviewed Park

City Park Abuja

Muri Okunola Park

Tinubu Square

Ndubuisi Kanu Park

Freedom Park Lagos

Johnson Jakande Tinubu (JJT) Park

Millennium Park

Shitta Roundabout Park

JD Leisure park

Trans-Amusement Park

Most Reviewed Museum

National Museum Benin City

kalakuta museum

National Museum Lagos

Open Heavens International Centre

OOPL

National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Kaduna.

AREWA House

Gidan Makama Museum

Sculpture Garden

National Museum of Unity

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