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FG Spent $1.68bn On Food Imports In Nine Months – CBN

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FG Spent $1.68bn On Food Imports In Nine Months – CBN

The Federal Government spent $1.68bn on food importation from January to September last year, the Central Bank of Nigeria said.

The apex Bank disclosed this in a report on sectoral utilisation of foreign exchange for the third quarter of 2021.

According to the CBN, the government spent $163.60m, $197.73m, and $171.05m in January, February and March, respectively, while $156.30m, $135.72m and $213.58m were spent in April May and June, respectively.

The report revealed that $184.69m, 188.88m and 271.59m were spent in July, August and September, respectively.

During the Bankers’ Committee retreat in Lagos recently, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, said Nigeria could produce enough to feed its citizens.

He said the government was ensuring the diversification of the economy.

Emefiele said, “We believe that Nigeria can feed itself; Nigeria can produce what to eat. Everything needs to be done for us to move away from a situation where everything is imported.

“We need to get to a stage where we bring our manufacturing industries back to life again. For us to say that there is sustainable, inclusive growth in the country, we, as banks, working with government must do everything possible to diversify the Nigerian economy.

“We have to do everything possible to reduce the rate of unemployment in the country. We will do everything possible to reduce the rate of poverty in our country.”

According to him, if the country is able to diversify the economy, reduce unemployment and poverty, the level of insecurity in the country will reduce.

Emefiele said the banks had done a lot to support the economy and would still do more to catalyse the economy for growth.

He said the banks would increase credit to the economy.

The CBN governor noted that there were companies that were ready to conduct credible business but did not have the capital.

“We will help in providing jobs and employment for Nigeria,” he said.

Emefiele said the CBN recently unveiled the ‘100 for 100’ policy on production and productivity to engender growth and employment.

According to him, under the programme, targeted credit of up to N5bn will be provided to 100 firms every 100 days, provided the firms are investing in greenfield projects.

He said the projects would be assessed based on their ability to generate significant employment opportunities in critical sectors for the economy, adding that eligible firms would be made to show evidence of their efforts to harness available local raw materials towards the realisation of their intended investment.

The CBN governor said the bank remained committed to supporting eligible firms with foreign exchange to import machinery and equipment.

He noted that routine audits would be conducted on firms that receive funding, to ensure that they are complying with the terms of the programme.

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emPLE Unveils Endowment Plan For Savings, Protection

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emPLE Life Assurance Limited has announced the launch of BETA Life, an endowment policy designed to empower Nigerians to grow their wealth, secure their future, and protect what matters most.
The product offers a unique combination of protection and savings in one simple, flexible plan helping Nigerians meet their financial goals, while staying protected through life’s uncertainties.
With three cash benefits spread over the policy term, BETA Life helps customers plan for real goals, be it education, rent, homeownership, or business without having to wait till the end of the tenure to benefit from their plan.
Speaking on the launch, Rantimi Ogunleye, MD/CEO of emPLE Life Assurance Limited, said: “BETA Life is more than a product; it’s a solution built around the realities of our customers. It’s for the parent who wants to secure their child’s future, the entrepreneur planning ahead, or the individual who wants to save smartly without losing the safety net of protection. We’ve brought together savings and life insurance into one plan, because we believe financial empowerment shouldn’t mean choosing one over the other.”
With flexible policy durations and multiple payout points, BETA Life is designed to adapt to a customer’s journey while providing peace of mind. In the unfortunate event of death or permanent disability, the plan ensures that loved ones or the policyholder are financially supported, proving that life insurance can be just as much about living well as it is about preparing for life’s uncertainties.
This launch is a continuation of emPLE’s mission to make life insurance more inclusive, relevant, and empowering, giving more Nigerians the tools to build financial resilience with confidence.

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Sovereign Trust Insurance Appreciates Nigerian Workers As May Day Holds

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As the world marks this year’s edition of Workers’ Day on Thursday, May 1, 2025, the Managing Director of Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc, Mr. Olaotan Soyinka has lauded the efforts of Nigerian workers and their contributions to national development.
Soyinka, who spoke at the company’s Appreciation Day Ceremony in Lagos, noted that a virile and dedicated workforce is instrumental and germane to the progress of any society.
He said the date, May 1, should be seen as a very important one because it is the day set aside to celebrate and give due respect to workers all over the world regardless of their social strata in the society.
According to him, “every legitimate form of work is as important as the other and credence must be given to all and sundry without any bias”.
In appreciating the staff of Sovereign Trust, Soyinka congratulated them and urged them not to relent in the judicious discharge of their duties as they strive to maintain the worldclass standard of the STI brand.
He further said that the management of the company will not stop at investing in the development of the its human capital, while also placing technology at the heart of its business operations. He equally assured the members of staff that their labour will not go in vain as they contribute their quota to the growth and advancement of the organisation.
He wished them a hearty Workers’ Day and encouraged them to always make the customer the focal point in their day-to-day activities.
He said”our customers should be at the heart of our business just as we must not compromise on delivering service excellence at every given opportunity thrown our way”.
The Head of Human Resources for Sovereign Trust, Adeola Onichabor, in her response to the managing director, thanked the management for the uncompromising stance in investing in training and human capital development for members of staff both at the local and international level.
She stated that Sovereign Trust has on parade an array of professionals in different fields of specialisation who effectively compliment the efforts of the professional underwriters in the organisation.
She equally used the opportunity to thank and encourage her colleagues to continue in their stride of hard work and dedication to the ideals of the company.
She enjoined them to also respect and honour one another in the discharge of their duties as the organisation strives to maintain best practice standards in the comity of insurance companies in the country and beyond.
Some members of staff who had been with the organisation from inception were equally recognised and appreciated for their commitment, unwavering dedication and contribution to the growth of the organisation in the last 30 years of the company’s formation.
Sovereign Trust is an equal opportunity employer of labour with an uncompromising stance on high ethical standards and astute professionalism. The Head of Human Resources and Capital Development equally used the opportunity to wish every Nigerian worker and workers globally, a happy celebration on Workers’ Day come May 1, 2025.

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Insurance Meets Tech Applauds NIA’s Effort To Ease Claims Process

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Insurance Meets Tech (IMT) has commended to the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) for its proposed collaboration with financial technology (fintech) firms to significantly enhance the speed and transparency of insurance claims payment.
IMT is a conference and collaborative platform dedicated to fostering the intersection of insurance and technology in West Africa.
The NIA Chairman, Mr. Kunle Ahmed, recently disclosed plans to invite fintech companies to pitch innovative solutions to revolutionise the claims process. This is part of NIA’s efforts to rebuild public trust and accelerate insurance penetration across Nigeria.
Ahmed highlighted the critical need for improved ease and timeliness in claim settlements, describing it as essential for sector sustainability and public confidence, even after the industry paid out N536.5 billion in claims in 2023.
Insurance Meets Tech has served as a vital multi-sector discourse platform for the past four years, successfully converging leaders and experts from the insurance, insurtech, cybersecurity, tech, fintech, and financial sectors. Our inaugural edition 2022 brought together over 300 C-Suite executives to call for partnerships and technology adoption to expedite Nigeria’s insurance penetration. IMT 2023 served as a crucial nexus connecting early-stage insurtech startups with funding partners and mentors, empowering them with tools and resources for growth.
The third edition in 2024, themed “Insurance and Tech: Beyond Collaborations,” continued to drive conversations and actions, focusing on innovation and creativity to engage tech-savvy young Nigerians, including Millennials and Gen Zs, through initiatives like the Collaborative Showcase and an immersive experience redefining insurance as a lifestyle protection tool.
As a platform established to drive synergetic collaborations and impact positive narratives within these ecosystems, IMT Conferences views the NIA’s move to adopt fintech solutions for claims payment as a direct and powerful alignment with the platform’s core objectives of driving future innovation and deepening insurance penetration within the Nigerian insurance sector.
Commenting on the announcement, Odion Aleobua, CEO of Modion Communications and Convener of Insurance Meets Tech, stated, “The NIA’s commitment to leveraging fintech to fast-track claims payment is precisely the kind of decisive action the industry needs. Claims are the ultimate moment of truth for policyholders. Injecting convenience, speed, technology and transparency into this process is not just an operational upgrade; it’s a fundamental step towards rebuilding trust and making insurance more relevant and accessible to the average Nigerian. This initiative validates the critical conversations and strategic partnerships that IMT has been championing, moving ‘Beyond Collaborations’ to tangible technological integration that benefits insurers and the insured. We are thrilled to see the NIA taking this bold leap.”
As the planning for the 4th edition of the Insurance Meets Tech conference for 2025 takes shape, IMT is specifically looking at delving deeper into understanding the insurance sector through the lens of technology to explore predictive market techniques and further unlock growth opportunities.
IMT is enthusiastic about the potential for collaboration with the NIA on this and future initiatives. IMT remain dedicated to providing the premier platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and partnership formation that supports such transformative initiatives within the West African insurance sector, ultimately driving insurance penetration through technology and innovation.

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