This marks another major international stage for Rema, as he continues to cement his status as one of Africa’s leading global music exports. Last Thursday, Colombian superstar Shakira unveiled Dai Dai as the official theme song for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, featuring Grammy-winning Nigerian artist Burna Boy. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It kicks off on June 11, 2026, with the opening match at the iconic Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

FirstHoldCo Plc, the parent company of First Bank of Nigeria, is setting its sights on a ₦1 trillion capital base as part of an ambitious plan to strengthen its balance sheet and drive aggressive expansion. In a notice ahead of its 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled for May 29, 2026, the group proposed raising up to ₦253.1 billion in fresh capital. The goal is to significantly boost its paid-up capital—comprising share capital and share premium—to the ₦1 trillion mark. The capital raise may be executed through multiple channels, including public offers, private placements, rights issues, bonus issues, scrip dividends, or other equity instruments across local and international markets. The structure, pricing, and timing will be determined by the board, subject to regulatory approvals. Otedola’s ₦1 Trillion Vision Chairman Femi Otedola has positioned the move as more than a regulatory requirement, describing it as a strategic step toward building stronger, more resilient financial institutions. He has also advocated for the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to raise the minimum capital requirement for international banking licenses from ₦500 billion to at least ₦1 trillion, arguing that a growing economy cannot rely on undercapitalised banks. FirstHoldCo has already taken several steps to strengthen its capital base, including a rights issue, private placements, and the divestment of its merchant banking arm, FBNQuest. The group recently completed a ₦45 billion private placement in March 2026. The proposed ₦253 billion raise is expected to close the gap toward its ₦1 trillion target, potentially resetting the competitive benchmark among top-tier banks. Strong Performance Driving Investor Confidence The group’s strong financial performance is expected to support investor interest. In Q1 2026, FirstHoldCo reported a 72% year-on-year increase in Profit Before Tax (PBT) to ₦321.1 billion, outperforming many of its tier-1 peers. It also recorded a Return on Equity (ROE) of 31.6% (annualised), the highest among leading banks, reflecting improved capital efficiency. This performance follows a major balance sheet clean-up in late 2025, which saw the resolution of ₦826 billion in legacy debt. Leadership and Governance Reforms The transformation is being driven by a restructured leadership team. Wale Oyedeji, Group Managing Director of FirstHoldCo, and Olusegun Alebiosu, CEO of First Bank, are leading efforts to strengthen operations and risk management. Alebiosu, a former Chief Risk Officer, has prioritised asset recovery, with ₦19 billion recovered from delinquent loans in Q1 2026 alone—marking a significant turnaround. Under Otedola’s leadership, the group has also enhanced corporate governance by tightening internal controls and appointing new boards across its non-banking subsidiaries.

The Jerry Eze Foundation has taken a major step toward empowering small businesses in Nigeria, disbursing a total of ₦1 billion in grants to 240 entrepreneurs across the country. The grant award ceremony, held at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Abuja, brought together an impressive mix of business leaders, clergy, entertainers, and public figures. The event highlighted the Foundation’s commitment to turning faith-driven initiatives into real economic impact. Each selected entrepreneur received $3,000 (approximately ₦ equivalent) to either start, scale, or transform their businesses. This financial support is expected to boost innovation and sustainability among small and micro enterprises nationwide. A Rigorous Selection Process To ensure transparency and fairness, global consulting firm KPMG was engaged to independently oversee the selection process. The numbers tell the story of how competitive the process was: Over 16,000 applicants registered on the grant portal 9,668 completed the application and met the criteria Only 240 entrepreneurs were selected Focus on Key Growth Sectors The Foundation prioritized businesses operating in strategic sectors critical to Nigeria’s economic growth: Agriculture and agribusiness Manufacturing Technology and digital services Driving Real Impact This initiative underscores the Foundation’s mission to create measurable economic transformation by empowering entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. By investing in small businesses, the Jerry Eze Foundation is not just providing financial aid—it’s helping to build a stronger, more resilient economy powered by innovation and enterprise.