BrandArena : February 2026

Saturday, 28 February 2026

Lebara launches in Nigeria with 0724 number series

...target competition and digital inclusion

Nigeria’s telecommunications sector has entered a new phase with the official arrival of Lebara, a globally recognised mobile virtual network operator. The British-owned brand formally announced its entry into Africa’s largest telecom market during a high-profile soft launch and networking reception in Lagos.

BUA Cement Plc maintained its debt position at ₦1.2 trillion in 2025, sustaining a highly leveraged balance sheet as the company recorded a sharp rise in profit for the year.

MTN Nigeria Communications Plc has reported a pre-tax profit of N1.7 trillion for the 2025 financial year, marking a sharp turnaround from the N550 billion loss recorded in 2024 and signalling a return to profitability for the country’s largest telecommunications provider.

Kantar has appointed Ndeye Diagne as its Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer for the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye (MEA&T), with effect from Sunday, 1 March.

Flights to and from Dubai and Doha have been suspended, triggering widespread travel disruption across the Middle East, after the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran.

The Gamaliel & Susan Onosode Foundation (GAMSU) has launched the 2026 edition of its Ideal School Campaign, an initiative aimed at identifying and renovating a public school in Nigeria in need of urgent infrastructural support.

NGX Group posts N15.6bn profit, increases dividend payout

Nigerian Exchange Group Plc (NGX Group) has reported a profit before tax of N15.6 billion for the financial year ended 31 December 2025, up from N13.6 billion recorded in 2024.

History is Watching: Tinubu’s Moment to Rescue Nigeria’s Stolen Future

By Blaise Udunze

Governance is not complicated. It is about people and the resources entrusted to serve them. When resources are managed wisely, the people prosper, and prosperity spreads. Mismanage them, and poverty multiplies. Nigeria’s tragedy is not scarcity. It is stewardship.

Marriott International has reported a strong year of expansion across Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2025, recording more than 230 new signings representing over 31,000 rooms.

LG Electronics has strengthened its commitment to sustainable community development by donating a solar-powered borehole to the College of Education Warri, providing students and staff with reliable access to clean and safe water.

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has awarded a $16.61 million grant to the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) to launch the third phase of the Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation Programme (TAAT-III), aimed at expanding climate-resilient food production across the continent.

adidas Originals has unveiled the latest chapter of its iconic Superstar story, fronted by legendary actor Samuel L. Jackson alongside a new generation of global cultural figures.

Investors on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) recorded losses of about ₦515 billion as the market extended its downward trend for the third consecutive trading session.

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is set to testify before the US Congress on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation into convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Manchester United have reported a return to operating profit despite total debt nearing £1.3 billion, underlining both the financial pressures and commercial strength of one of the world’s biggest football clubs.

Samsung has launched its latest Galaxy S26 smartphone range alongside the new Galaxy Buds 4 wireless earbuds at its Galaxy Unpacked event in San Francisco, placing artificial intelligence at the centre of its next generation of devices.

The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has advised all individual taxpayers in Lagos State to file their annual tax returns for the 2026 year of assessment on or before 31 March 2026.

The Basketball Africa League has announced the 12 teams and full group phase schedule for its 2026 season, which will tip off on Friday, 27 March at the SunBet Arena in Pretoria, South Africa.

CBN cuts interest rate to 26.5% as inflation eases and growth outlook improves

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reduced the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) from 27 per cent to 26.5 per cent.

The pan-African food and agro company Flour Mills of Nigeria Plc has renewed its partnership with the French Government at the 2026 edition of the Paris International Agricultural Show, reinforcing commercial ties between Nigeria and France and promoting Nigerian-made products on a global stage.

Turkish Airlines has been named Best in Entertainment in Europe at the 2026 APEX Official Airline Ratings, marking the fourth consecutive year the carrier has taken the top honour for its onboard entertainment offering.

Nigeria and Japan agree $50m innovation fund to back impact-driven startups

Nigeria and Japan have signed an agreement to establish a $50 million innovation fund aimed at supporting startups tackling critical social challenges across the country.

Money market rates softened last week even as significant outflows tied to Open Market Operations (OMO) settlements and Nigerian Treasury Bills (NTB) auctions weighed on liquidity, according to investment analysts.

Africa’s mining sector is reinforcing its role as a major source of employment, fuelled by rising global demand for critical minerals and the continent’s vast resource base.

NGX Chairman Warns Weak AI Governance Could Trigger Capital Flight in Nigeria

The Chairman of the Nigerian Exchange Group, Dr Umaru Kwairanga, has warned that poor governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems could lead to capital flight, distort financial markets, and undermine investor confidence in Nigeria.

Meta enables seamless sharing of Threads posts directly to Instagram Stories

Meta has introduced a new feature allowing users to share Threads posts straight to their Instagram Stories without leaving the Threads app, simplifying cross-platform sharing as the company accelerates growth for its text-first platform.

The Youth Charter has welcomed the outcomes of the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, calling for swift implementation measures to ensure summit commitments deliver tangible results for young people at community level.

Ukandu E. Ukandu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of FirstCap Limited, has reaffirmed that payment security remains the most decisive factor in determining whether gas and power projects in Nigeria can secure financing.

World Out of Home Organisation Expands with 13 New Global Members

The World Out of Home Organisation (WOO) has strengthened its global footprint, adding 13 new members following the APAC Forum in Seoul, South Korea, which welcomed over 400 delegates.

Radisson Rewards, the global loyalty programme from Radisson Hotel Group, has surpassed 27 million members in just three years, highlighting its rapid growth and worldwide appeal. In 2025, the programme unveiled a series of new partnerships across banking, travel, and lifestyle sectors, designed to make earning and redeeming points simpler, more relevant, and more rewarding for members globally.

Thales, a global leader in high technologies for defense, aerospace, cybersecurity, and digital, has announced plans to recruit more than 9,000 new employees worldwide in 2026.

Zenith Bank Confirms Chairman Jim Ovia Not Linked to Fake Wealth Bridge Investment Scheme

...Sends Strong Warning Over Dubious AI Video

Zenith Bank Plc has urged the public to ignore videos circulating online that falsely link the bank’s Group Chairman, Dr Jim Ovia, to an investment scheme called Wealth Bridge.

The Institute of Brand Management of Nigeria (IBMN), a leading body promoting branding excellence and professional brand management across West Africa, will host the 15th West Africa Brands Excellence Awards and West Africa Brands CEOs Awards 2026 on 27 February 2026 at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence startup xAI has received a $3 billion investment from Humain, an AI firm linked to the Saudi government, signalling growing Middle Eastern influence in global AI development. The funding strengthens xAI’s financial position ahead of its acquisition by Musk’s SpaceX.

National Housing Fund Surges 48% to ₦152 Billion in 2025 – FMBN

The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) has recorded ₦152.4 billion in National Housing Fund (NHF) collections for 2025, marking a 48 per cent increase from the ₦103 billion generated in 2024.

Unilever has announced a five-year partnership with Google Cloud to harness Artificial Intelligence (AI), data, and next-generation marketing capabilities in a bid to transform its business.

Netflix, a global leader in streaming and original content, is entering a new era of ad-funded growth. While subscription fees continue to dominate its revenue—advertising currently accounts for just 3% of total full-year earnings—the platform’s ad tier has evolved from an experimental feature to a core growth engine. WARC forecasts indicate Netflix is on course to secure nearly 10% of global connected TV (CTV) ad spend by 2027.

President Bola Tinubu has signed an Executive Order suspending the collection of management and frontier exploration fees by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) and directing the full remittance of oil and gas revenues to the Federation Account.

As Muslims across Nigeria prepare to observe the holy month of Ramadan, Promasidor Nigeria, a leading fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) company, has extended warm greetings to the Muslim community, wishing them a spiritually fulfilling season marked by devotion, reflection, compassion, and communal harmony.

Joseph Tegbe, Chairman of the National Tax Policy Implementation Committee (NTPIC), has stressed that the success of Nigeria’s new tax reform framework will rely less on the ambition of the laws and more on disciplined execution. Speaking at the 2026 Leadership Retreat of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Tegbe emphasised that the country’s tax reform journey is at a critical stage where effective implementation will determine long-term fiscal outcomes.

Yoghurt lovers across Nigeria have a new option on supermarket shelves as Arla Foods rolls out its latest product, Cool Cow Yoghurt, made with 100 per cent fresh milk sourced from the Arla-Dano Farm in Kaduna.

Nigeria’s National Identity Management Commission will phase out paper-based correspondence within 30 days, moving all official communication to a new digital platform, WorkflowPro.

Nigeria-based cloud infrastructure firm GigaLayer has acquired Registeram, a domain registration and web hosting company that has operated in the country since 2008.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has set 20 March as the deadline for industry stakeholders to complete the ongoing review and submit inputs on the National Telecommunications Policy (NTP) 2000.

Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) has recorded its first commercial paper listing with the admission of Dangote Cement Plc’s Series 1 and Series 2 notes under its N500 billion Commercial Paper Issuance Programme.

Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited say their planned merger is progressing as scheduled, with integration work already underway while they await final court sanction.

Bitcoin Faces Worst First Quarter as Price Drops 25%

Bitcoin (BTCUSD) has fallen around 25% since the start of the year, prompting crypto analysts and investors to predict a historically poor first quarter for the digital currency.

The Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON) has cautioned state signage and advertising agencies, particularly in Enugu and Ondo states, over directives requiring the submission and vetting of advertisements before public display. ARCON described such directives as illegal, unconstitutional, and beyond the powers of state regulatory bodies.

Patrice Motsepe, the founder and long-standing figurehead of African Rainbow Minerals (ARM), has officially stepped down as Executive Chairman, effective Monday, 16 February 2026. While retiring from an executive and employee role, the South African billionaire will continue to play a central part in the company’s leadership as Non-Executive Chairman.

Africa.com has announced a strategic collaboration with In On Africa (IOA), one of Africa’s leading research and advisory firms, renowned for delivering rigorous, data-driven intelligence to organisations navigating the continent’s fast-evolving markets.

Saturday, 28 February 2026

...target competition and digital inclusion

Friday, 27 February 2026

Thursday, 26 February 2026

Tuesday, 24 February 2026

Monday, 23 February 2026

Sunday, 22 February 2026

Saturday, 21 February 2026

Thursday, 19 February 2026

Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Tuesday, 17 February 2026

Bitcoin (BTCUSD) has fallen around 25% since the start of the year, prompting crypto analysts and investors to predict a historically poor first quarter for the digital currency.

Africa.com has announced a strategic collaboration with In On Africa (IOA), one of Africa’s leading research and advisory firms, renowned for delivering rigorous, data-driven intelligence to organisations navigating the continent’s fast-evolving markets.