Author: TheLagosianMagazine

In a move to bridge the widening climate adaptation funding gap for smallholder farmers, LAPO Microfinance Bank (MfB), in collaboration with the World Savings and Retail Banking Institute (WSBI), is set to unveil the outcomes of a pilot initiative designed to deliver climate-smart and gender-inclusive finance to rural farmers across Nigeria. The initiative, announced in a statement on Monday, directly targets barriers that have long restricted access to climate finance, particularly for women and smallholder farmers who remain the most vulnerable to environmental shocks. According to the bank, the programme leverages cutting-edge tools developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization…

LAPO Microfinance Bank Limited has announced its 15th Annual General Meeting (AGM) bringing together shareholders, board members, regulatory stakeholders, development partners, and key actors in Nigeria’s financial services sector to review the Bank’s performance and strategic direction. A statement from the bank today said the AGM will provide a platform for the Bank to present its audited financial statements, highlight key operational milestones, and outline its continued commitment to deepening financial inclusion, strengthening micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) financing, and advancing sustainable banking practices across Nigeria. Over the years, LAPO Microfinance Bank has maintained its position as one of…

At the heart of global economic development lies a persistent paradox: micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), widely acknowledged as engines of growth, yet they remain critically underserved by the very financial systems designed to support them. This contradiction continues to shape global discourse, including at the SDG Investment Fair convened by the United Nations, where policymakers, financial institutions, and development leaders gathered to interrogate one pressing question—why does the MSME financing gap persist despite increasing global capital flows? At this high-level engagement, Cynthia Ikponmwosa, Managing Director of LAPO Microfinance Bank, joined global leaders including Peter Simon of the World…

LAPO Microfinance Bank (LAPO MfB), a premium financial institution, has once again demonstrated its leadership and impact within the financial services sector, emerging as one of the biggest winners at The Industry Awards 2026. At the highly anticipated event, LAPO MfB clinched three major awards, reaffirming its commitment to excellence, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement: Outstanding Social Impact Company of the Year, Most Outstanding Microfinance Bank of the Year and Outstanding Communications Personality, awarded to Oluremi Akande. These recognitions underscore LAPO MfB’s consistent efforts in driving financial inclusion, empowering underserved communities, and setting benchmarks in corporate communications and reputation management. Speaking…

By Asiwaju Dele Taiwo “Bi ewure ba boju wehin, a fepe felepe; bi aguntan ba boju wehin, a fepe felepe.”… Those plotting evil, speaking behind your back, or wishing you downfall should remember: negativity carries its own punishment. Keep shining, keep moving every backbiter, enemy, and evil wisher will choke on the dust of your progress while divine justice handles the rest. ADT Cares

By Arziki Lekwot The judgement delivered by the Federal High Court on May 21, 2026, in the case of Youth Party v. INEC, has triggered an important national conversation about electoral fairness, procedural certainty, and the delicate balance between judicial intervention and democratic stability. While the court’s intention may have been to correct perceived defects in INEC’s guidelines concerning deadlines for the submission of political parties’ membership registers, the broader implications of the ruling raise troubling questions about equity and timing within Nigeria’s already fragile electoral ecosystem. At the heart of the matter lies a simple but fundamental principle: a…

By Peter Omopo England manager Thomas Tuchel has defended his controversial squad selection for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting he remains fully committed to winning the tournament despite leaving out several high-profile players. The German coach excluded several established names from his final squad for the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw, Morgan Gibbs-White and Adam Wharton, in one of the most debated selection calls in recent England history. Speaking at Wembley on Friday, Tuchel said his priority was building a balanced and unified team rather…

By Peter Omopo Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has attributed the country’s economic decline to leadership failures rather than undocumented African migrants, cautioning against rising anti-immigrant sentiment across the nation. Mbeki made the remarks at the AUDA-NEPAD @25 High-Level Business Breakfast held in Cape Town on Thursday, where he addressed concerns over unemployment, economic stagnation, and increasing hostility toward foreign nationals. He noted that South Africa experienced significant economic growth between 1994 and 2008, reaching an average growth rate of about six percent, but said the decline that followed from 2009 could not be linked to undocumented migrants. According…

By Peter Omopo Former Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, has disclosed that he persuaded former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a handshake during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican in May 2025. Fayemi made the revelation during an interview on Edmund Obilo’s YouTube channel, explaining that Obi initially hesitated over concerns that the gesture could be misinterpreted in Nigeria’s political space. The encounter between Tinubu, Obi and Fayemi had earlier attracted public attention after presidential aide Bayo Onanuga shared photographs of the meeting on social media platform X on…

By Peter Omopo The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Department (FEMD) has advised residents living near waterways and flood-prone areas in Abuja to relocate, following continued heavy rainfall and rising flood risks across the territory. The warning came after a flooding incident early Friday morning affected a residential building in Mabushi District during an overnight downpour. In a statement, FEMD spokesperson Nkechi Isa said floodwater submerged the ground floor of a one-storey building located at 22 Anthony Ikem Street, behind Blue Cabana Hotel in Mabushi. The agency explained that it received an emergency alert at about 3:00 a.m. and…