BrandArena : January 2026

Saturday, 31 January 2026

LG Electronics, CleanAce Foundation Launch Masterclass to Drive Growth in Nigeria’s Fabricare Industry

LG Electronics Nigeria has partnered with the CleanAce Foundation and Academy to strengthen Nigeria’s fabricare and dry cleaning industry through the Hyper Masterclass Conference, themed “Making Audacious Moves in 2026”.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a new $3.9 million, two-year technical assistance programme aimed at helping African countries turn national energy commitments into real electricity connections under Mission 300, the AfDB–World Bank initiative to connect 300 million Africans to power by 2030.

Chinese unmanned delivery brand BanmeGo has officially debuted in Shanghai with the launch of its first smart delivery robot, the BanmeGo T6, designed for the era of embodied intelligence. The company’s approach, guided by the philosophy of “open ecosystem, efficient deployment, efficient and collaborative win-win,” aims to provide global partners with modular, scenario-adaptive solutions that lower barriers to intelligent transformation across industries.

The Gerety Awards has announced the global cities set to host its 2026 Executive Jury sessions, alongside the industry leaders appointed as Jury Presidents, marking the official opening of entries for the 2026 edition.

Elon Musk is exploring a potential merger that could unite SpaceX, Tesla, and xAI, a move that would rank among the most ambitious corporate consolidations in modern technology. Sources familiar with the discussions say talks are still at an early stage and no final agreement has been reached, but the prospect has already drawn the attention of investors, regulators, and industry analysts.

Kuda Microfinance Bank is set to expand its physical footprint across Nigeria following approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to operate as a National Microfinance Bank (MFB), a move that allows the digital lender to offer nationwide in-person customer support.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) recorded economic growth of 4.6 per cent in 2025 despite mounting global economic headwinds, with projections pointing to a further rise to 5 per cent in 2026, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, has said.

The Federal Government has deployed 10 electric shuttle buses and 20 electric sedans at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, as part of efforts to enhance operational efficiency and modernise airport operations.

The Director-General of the Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP), Mr. Joseph Tegbe, has hosted a high-level delegation from the Chinese Embassy in Nigeria, as both sides agreed to strengthen bilateral relations and expand economic cooperation.

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has extended the deadline for the filing of employers’ annual tax returns by one week, shifting the date from February 1 to February 7, 2026.

The Basketball Africa League (BAL) has announced that its sixth season will tip off on Friday, March 27 at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa, before culminating in the 2026 BAL Finals on Sunday, May 31 at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.

Grammy Award winner and current nominee Tyler, The Creator has been confirmed as a performer at the 2026 Grammy Awards, set to take place on Sunday, 1 February, in Los Angeles.

Money Market Liquidity Soars to ₦6.12tn as CBN Rejects ₦5tn OMO Bids

Liquidity in Nigeria’s financial system surged to ₦6.12 trillion on Tuesday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) rejected roughly ₦5 trillion worth of bids for its Open Market Operation (OMO) bills auction.

The fourth edition of BlueInvest Africa is set to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, in November 2026, with the call for pitchers now officially open until 13 February 2026.

Dangote Cement Plc’s Ibese Plant in Ogun State has launched a Safety FairPlay Initiative aimed at driving behavioural change and fostering a strong safety culture among its employees. The programme, which is set to be rolled out across all Dangote Cement plants, represents a significant step in strengthening the company’s commitment to workplace safety.

MultiChoice has taken a decisive step to ease the cost of pay television, announcing new shared payment options for DStv subscriptions alongside permanent reductions in decoder prices. The move is aimed at making the service more accessible to households grappling with rising living costs.

Nigeria’s telecommunications regulator is moving to impose tougher sanctions on mobile network operators following persistent consumer complaints over poor quality of service. The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced plans to levy fines totalling ₦12.4 billion, equivalent to about $8.85 million, on operators that repeatedly fail to meet prescribed service standards.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has imposed a series of sanctions on Senegal and hosts Morocco following scenes of disorder that overshadowed the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 final in Rabat.

The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to close Terminal One of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, for comprehensive rehabilitation works, while assuring passengers of continued comfort and accessibility during the upgrade period.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), working alongside other mandated lead arrangers, has successfully closed a US$1.75 billion syndicated receivables purchase facility for Sonangol, Angola’s national oil company, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s energy sector and export capacity.

DHL Aviation has introduced two fully branded Boeing 737-400 aircraft at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, reinforcing its long-term commitment to strengthening logistics infrastructure and supporting economic growth across Sub-Saharan Africa.

JMG Limited, a leading provider of integrated electromechanical solutions in Nigeria, has reaffirmed its role in driving the country’s clean energy transition by engaging media stakeholders to mark the International Day of Clean Energy, while showcasing the real-world impact of its solar and hybrid power solutions across key sectors of the economy.

Promasidor Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s dairy value chain through its alignment with the National Dairy Development Programme, a partnership that is delivering measurable results in local milk production, economic growth, and access to affordable, high-quality dairy products.

FBNQuest Merchant Bank Limited has formally completed a change of name and will now operate as Quest Merchant Bank Limited, after securing all required corporate and regulatory approvals.

The National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC) has stepped up its stakeholder engagement with a high-level consultative meeting involving leading tax advisory firms, professional bodies and institutional representatives, as efforts continue to ensure the effective implementation of Nigeria’s newly enacted tax laws.

Nigerians Can Now Receive PayPal Payments Locally Through Paga Partnership

Nigerian fintech company Paga has partnered with global payments provider PayPal to allow users in Nigeria to receive international PayPal payments directly and withdraw funds locally in naira, marking a major shift in the country’s access to global digital payments.

Google has reached a provisional agreement to pay $68 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit alleging that its voice-activated assistant unlawfully recorded private conversations without users’ consent.

The Lagos State Government has announced a strategic partnership with MTN Nigeria to redevelop the Obalende under-bridge into a modern, secure and sustainable transport hub, as part of its wider urban renewal drive.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will fully automate its procurement processes on or before April, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency, compliance and service delivery, according to its Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku.

Meta is set to begin testing paid subscription plans across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp as it seeks to diversify revenue beyond advertising and tap into new income streams.

Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has filed criminal charges amounting to ₦4.3 billion against United Bank for Africa (UBA), two companies and two individuals over alleged foreign exchange fraud.

UAE Records Rise in Cross-Border Financial Crime, Boosting Demand for International Legal Expertise

The United Arab Emirates has recorded a marked increase in cross-border financial crime cases over the past 18 months, driving growing demand for lawyers with both local expertise and internationally recognised legal credentials, according to analysis from within the legal sector.

Rite Foods Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading food and beverage manufacturers, has reiterated its commitment to environmental stewardship and the adoption of clean energy as part of activities to mark the 2026 International Clean Energy Day, themed “Clean Energy for People and Planet.”

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has upgraded the operating licences of several leading fintech companies and microfinance banks to full national status, formally recognising their nationwide operations.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has congratulated Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL) on the successful completion of the Awodi-07 appraisal and exploration well, describing the outcome as a significant boost to confidence in the joint venture’s asset portfolio.

As Clean Energy Day is marked on January 26, JMG Limited is underscoring its role in Nigeria’s clean energy transition with a major operational milestone: a sharp reduction in diesel consumption at its Lagos head office, translating into annual savings of up to ₦40 million.

First Asset Management, a subsidiary of FirstHoldCo Plc, has secured upgraded ratings from two leading Nigerian rating agencies, underscoring its growing strength and resilience in the country’s asset management industry.

Emirates and Air Peace have activated a bilateral interline agreement, deepening their existing partnership and significantly enhancing seamless air connectivity between Africa, the UAE, and major international destinations.

SERAP drags Power Minister Adelabu, NBET to court over alleged ₦128bn unaccounted funds

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET), over what it describes as their failure to account for an alleged ₦128 billion in missing or diverted public funds linked to the power sector.

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has announced the termination of its credit rating relationship with Fitch Ratings, marking a strategic shift in how the pan-African multilateral lender engages with external rating agencies.

Following the December increase in spot rates, Nigeria’s Debt Management Office (DMO) is set to hold its monthly Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bond auction on Monday, reopening three existing instruments.

Promasidor Reaffirms Commitment to Education and Child Nutrition on International Day of Education

Promasidor Nigeria has restated its long-standing commitment to advancing education and improving child nutrition in the country as it marked this year’s International Day of Education.

Khaby Lame Sells Controlling Stake in $975m Deal, Redefining the Global Creator Economy

Khaby Lame, the world’s most recognisable TikTok star, has sold a controlling stake in the company that manages his commercial interests, in what is one of the largest and most significant transactions involving a digital creator to date.

Andela has acquired Woven, an Indianapolis-based technical assessment platform, as it shifts its focus from hiring “generic software engineers” to identifying highly specialised, AI-native engineering talent.

Real Madrid have been named the highest-earning football club in the world after generating record revenues during the 2024/25 season, according to Deloitte’s latest Football Money League report.

TikTok has completed a major restructuring of its United States operations, with parent company ByteDance finalising the sale of a controlling stake to a consortium of non-Chinese investors, clearing the way for the platform to continue operating in the country.

The Nigerian stock market staged a modest recovery on Friday, with equity investors gaining N74 billion as renewed bargain-hunting followed losses recorded in the previous trading session.

For more than a decade, African merchants have battled a persistent obstacle to growth: the slow pace of international payments. The problem has not been competition or inflation, but time. Under the traditional “T+3” settlement system, cross-border transactions can take up to three days or longer to clear. For an importer in Nigeria paying a supplier in Shanghai, funds often crawl through multiple correspondent banks, compliance checks, and foreign exchange bottlenecks before arriving.

Emmanuel Adediran, Business Director at mediaReach OMD and a prominent voice in Nigeria’s marketing communications and social impact landscape, has been appointed as a jury member for the 2026 Purpose Awards, becoming the first professional based in West and Central Africa to join the panel.

Sony, TCL Agree on Strategic Partnership for Global Home Entertainment Venture

Sony Corporation and TCL Electronics Holdings Limited have agreed to advance discussions on a potential strategic partnership in the global home entertainment market, signalling a major realignment in the television and home audio sector.

Saturday, 31 January 2026

Thursday, 29 January 2026

Tuesday, 27 January 2026

Monday, 26 January 2026

Sunday, 25 January 2026

Saturday, 24 January 2026

Friday, 23 January 2026

Tuesday, 20 January 2026