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PwC strengthens Nigeria’s business with four new partners

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PwC Nigeria has added four new partners across its advisory, assurance and tax and regulatory services in a move that strengthened the firm’s competitive advantages in the Nigerian market.

The four new Nigerian partners, which admission takes effect immediately, are part of PwC Africa’s admission of 20 new partners across the region.

The newly admitted partners included Adesola Abiodun, Advisory Services; Oluwadamilola Dada, Assurance Services; Ugochi Ndebbio, Tax and Regulatory Services and Emeka Chime, a partner under Tax and Regulatory Services.

PwC noted that their admission came at a pivotal moment as organisations navigate rapid technological disruption, evolving stakeholder expectations, and shifting regulatory and economic realities.

Country Senior Partner, PwC Nigeria, Sam Abu, said the new partners bring expertise and leadership needed to support organisations to thrive in the dynamic Nigerian environment.

He noted that this year’s partner admissions reflected PwC Africa’s continued commitment to diversity and inclusion, with women representing 55 per cent of the total cohort.

“I am delighted to welcome four new partners to our partnership in Nigeria. Their admission recognises years of exceptional performance and marks their rise to the highest level of the profession.

“Over the years, they have supported our clients and helped shape our people and our firm. As businesses navigate a world of accelerating change, they need trusted advisers who can help them respond with confidence.

“Our new partners bring the perspective and leadership to help clients build trust, reinvent, and unlock new opportunities for growth,” Abu said.

Abiodun is a Partner in PwC Nigeria’s Deals Advisory practice, where he drives the firm’s private capital raising transactions across private credit, private equity, sustainable finance as well as the performance and restructuring business.

He also supports on the end-to-end mergers and acquisition advisory business.

Abiodun advises clients on direct project funding, bridge financing, corporate funding, working capital solutions and mergers and acquisitions across multiple sectors.

With nearly two decades of professional experience, he has built and managed relationships with international, regional and domestic financial institutions, including development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, pension funds, insurance funds and other institutional investors.

He has led fundraising transactions exceeding $10 billion across multiple sectors. Prior to joining PwC, he worked at Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited, where he led strategic planning and execution of origination projects while managing investor relations, client relationships and market development activities.

He also worked at Vetiva Capital Management Limited, advising public and private sector clients on debt and equity capital raising, project finance, mergers and acquisitions, and divestments.

He holds a First-Class degree in Accounting from the University of Lagos and a Master’s degree in Accounting and Finance with Distinction from Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester UK. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

As a Partner, Abiodun will continue to focus on helping clients access capital, lead the execution complex transactions across the deals cycle and unlock growth opportunities. He will also support the expansion of PwC’s Deals Advisory services across Nigeria and the West Market Area.

Dada is Partner in PwC Nigeria’s Assurance practice serving leading organisations across the energy, utilities and resources sectors in Nigeria and internationally.

She has extensive experience in audit and assurance, internal controls, financial reporting and risk management. Prior to joining PwC Nigeria, she worked with PwC USA, advising major utility and energy companies reporting under US GAAP, SEC and Sarbanes-Oxley frameworks. Throughout her career, she has held several leadership roles, including serving as Chief of Staff to the PwC Africa Assurance Leader.

Dada holds an MBA from Imperial College Business School, London, and is an Associate Chartered Accountant (ICAN), a Certified Public Accountant (Texas, USA), and holds the ACCA Diploma in International Financial Reporting Standards.

She has also advised boards, executive leadership teams, regulators and multinational organisations on compliance, financial reporting, controls transformation and business improvement initiatives.

Her areas of expertise included audit and assurance, Internal Control over Financial Reporting (ICFR), risk management, Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, and financial reporting under IFRS Accounting Standards and US GAAP.

She is recognised for helping organisations strengthen internal control environments, enhance financial reporting quality and build stakeholder confidence in complex and highly regulated industries.

As a Partner, Dada will focus on helping clients build trust through high-quality assurance, strong internal control frameworks and innovative risk management solutions.

She will also support the continued growth of PwC Nigeria’s energy, utilities and resources assurance practice, with a focus on advancing technology-enabled assurance and strengthening client relationships across the sector.

Ndebbio is a Partner in PwC Nigeria’s Tax and Regulatory Services practice and the driving force behind the firm’s Regulatory Business Solutions service line. Dual-qualified in law and accounting, she delivers comprehensive regulatory and tax compliance solutions to clients across a broad range of industries — spanning legal advisory, due diligence, health checks, transaction structuring, and access to tax and fiscal incentives.

Ndebbio also heads PwC Nigeria’s dispute resolution practice, representing clients before the Tax Appeal Tribunal, and champions the firm’s policy advocacy services — partnering with clients to produce data-driven reports and engage government authorities alongside industry stakeholders in pursuit of actionable solutions.

As General Counsel for PwC Nigeria, she provides strategic legal oversight across the full spectrum of the firm’s operational relationships, leading the in-house legal team to ensure sound legal governance at every level.

Ndebbio is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Association of Chartered Certified Accountants UK (ACCA), Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), and Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) — a multidisciplinary foundation that uniquely positions her to deliver integrated, commercially astute advice at the intersection of law, tax, and regulatory compliance.

As a Partner, Ndebbioi will continue to lead the Regulatory Business Solutions practice, serve as General Counsel for PwC Nigeria, and provide guidance on complex tax matters

Chime is a Partner in PwC Nigeria’s Tax and Regulatory Services practice with more than 16 years of experience advising local and multinational organisations on tax, regulatory and strategic business matters. Since joining PwC in 2010, Emeka has advised clients across a broad range of industries including consumer markets, financial services, oil and gas, and digital services.

He spent three years with PwC Houston, Texas, where he provided tax advisory services to private businesses and gained significant international tax experience.

His areas of expertise include tax structuring and advisory, international tax consulting, tax due diligence and mergers and acquisitions advisory, corporate and indirect tax consulting, business reorganisations, and corporate compliance services across various sectors. He has led numerous engagements involving investment structuring, transaction support, tax audits and market entry advisory.

Emeka is a Fellow of Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a Member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) and holds an Executive Certification from the University of Southern California (USC).

As a Partner, Emeka will continue to support local and multinational businesses on complex tax and regulatory matters, helping organisations manage risk, navigate change and pursue growth opportunities with confidence.

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Energy

Axxela expands gas pipeline network across 3 states, showcases strong performance

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By Oluwayanmife Lucas

Axxela Limited, a gas and power portfolio company in sub-Saharan Africa, has published its 2025 Sustainability Report, providing a comprehensive overview of the company’s environmental, social and governance performance across its operations during the year.

The report, themed: “Enabling Access, Deepening Impact”, highlights Axxela’s performance across key metrics and underscores its efforts to expand its infrastructure footprint, deepen stakeholder engagement and strengthen responsible business practices.

In the year under review, Axxela expanded its gas pipeline network by 39km, enhancing connectivity across Lagos, Ogun and Rivers states. The company also recorded zero fatalities and achieved 9.6 million Lost Time Injury (LTI) free man-hours across its operations.

In addition, the firm also strengthened its customer portfolio by connecting new industrial and commercial customers to its network. Other significant milestones include achieving Great Place to Work certification and receiving a Gold Medal rating in the EcoVadis Sustainability Assessment, placing Axxela among the top five per cent of companies assessed globally.

Commenting on the report, Group Chief Executive Officer, Axxela, Moshood Olajide, emphasised that the firm’s 2025 performance reflected the company’s commitment to responsible growth and long-term value creation.

“Expanding domestic gas utilisation remains central to our strategy. Each new customer connection supports cleaner and more efficient energy use, helping industries improve efficiency and reduce reliance on traditionally dirtier fuels. Our growth remains anchored in responsible infrastructure development and long-term value creation. We will continue to support Nigeria’s transition towards a more sustainable gas-powered economy,” he said.

The report also outlines Axxela’s approach to environmental management, including environmental monitoring, operational controls and rehabilitation programmes designed to minimise environmental disturbance and protect biodiversity.

The company maintained environmental compliance registers, conducted annual compliance audits and risk assessments, and carried out quarterly emerging risk scans across its operations and projects.

Axxela’s 2025 Sustainability Report, its ninth consecutive edition, was prepared in line with the core requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards and builds on the reporting discipline and frameworks established over previous reporting years. The report highlights the company’s steadfast commitment to transparent disclosure, responsible business practices and long-term value creation, while detailing the progress, priorities and actions shaping its approach to sustainable and responsible growth.

 

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Energy

Asharami Square Fellowship’ll Promote Solutions Journalism for Africa’s Energy Future – Ndisika

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  • Fellowship submission deadline now November 30, 2026_
By Oluwayanmife Lucas
Africa’s energy future will be shaped not only by infrastructure, financing and policy reforms, but also by the quality of journalism informing public understanding of the continent’s energy realities, according to Professor Abigail Ogwezzy-Ndisika, Lead Assessor for the inaugural Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship.
Ogwezzy-Ndisika called on journalists across Africa to move beyond problem-centred reporting and embrace solutions journalism as a catalyst for sustainable development and energy transformation.
Open to practising journalists across print, broadcast, digital and multimedia platforms, the Asharami Square Energy
Reporting Fellowship offers access to expert-led masterclasses, mentorship opportunities, facility tours and engagement with industry experts. The overall winner will receive a $3,500 grand prize as part of a Fellowship package valued at up to $5,000.
The communications scholar said energy reporting has traditionally focused on grid collapses, energy poverty, policy bottlenecks and funding deficits.
“Pointing out the darkness without illuminating the pathways to light leaves our communities paralysed by despair rather than empowered to act,” she noted.
Describing the Asharami Square Energy Reporting Fellowship as a transformative initiative, she said it seeks to elevate African journalists from chroniclers of energy challenges to contributors to Africa’s energy transformation journey.
“We are looking for stories that inform public discourse, influence legislative action and hold power accountable. Journalists must not settle for shallow headlines. They should trace the funding, critique the technology, interrogate the policies and highlight the responses transforming Africa’s energy landscape,”
Ogwezzy-Ndisika stressed that solutions journalism is neither advocacy nor public relations, but evidence-based reporting grounded in accountability, scrutiny and measurable impact.
“When African journalists apply this framework to energy funding, decentralised mini-grids or regulatory reform, they don’t just report on power, they generate power. They shift public debate from asking why Africa is in the dark to exploring how communities, innovators, financiers and policymakers are helping keep the lights on and what can be scaled,” she said.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Bethel Obioma, Head, Corporate Communications, Sahara Group, said the Fellowship reflects the Sahara’s belief that journalism has a critical role to play in advancing Africa’s energy future.
“Africa’s energy story requires more than reporting challenges. It requires journalism that interrogates responses, highlights practical solutions and deepens public understanding of the realities shaping the continent’s energy landscape,” he said.
Obioma said Sahara would through thie Fellowship support journalists who can tell evidence-based stories that influence policy, investment and development outcomes. “We urge African journalists to visit www.asharamisquarefellowship.com to apply today ahead of the November 30th, 2026 deadline,” he added.
He noted that submissions will be evaluated on five key pillars: integrity and accuracy, originality and depth of research, balance and context, solutions-focused rigour, and practical impact.
Assessors will prioritise stories supported by credible data, strong fact-checking, under-reported perspectives and evidence of real-world impact.
The Asharami Energy Reporting Fellowship, established under Sahara’s Beyond XXX platform, is designed to strengthen journalism around energy access, infrastructure, financing, sustainability, innovation and policy across Africa. It forms part of Sahara’s commitment to investing in platforms and people that help shape Africa’s future through informed discourse and practical action.
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Banking

FirstBank moves to boost SMEs  sales, revenue

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By Monireoluwa Lucas

FirstBank has moved to equip small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with practical strategies to win customers, increase sales and build sustainable businesses as it hosts the third-quarter edition of its SMEConnect Webinar on September 9, 2026.

The webinar, themed “The SME Growth Blueprint: Practical Sales Strategies to Win Customers and Boost Revenue,” is part of FirstBank’s capacity-building initiative aimed at helping entrepreneurs overcome some of the challenges limiting business growth and competitiveness.

The programme, anchored on the bank’s “You First” brand promise, is designed to provide business owners with practical knowledge, market insights and access to financial and advisory solutions tailored to their needs.

Participants are expected to gain insights into strategies for improving brand visibility, attracting and retaining customers, increasing sales conversion and building customer loyalty, with the broader objective of driving sustainable business growth.

The webinar will feature Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Bags Warehouse, Helen Mojisola Ijaola; Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Mamalicious Products Nigeria, Onome Gbenga-Adewara; and Group Head, Retail Banking Group, FirstBank, Olusola Ogunsakin.

Head, SME Banking, FirstBank, Helen A. Willie, will host the session, while Team Lead, SME Engagement & Advisory, FirstBank, Olajumoke Moyo-Ladipo, will serve as moderator.

Speaking ahead of the webinar, Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products, FirstBank, Chuma Ezirim, said the ability of SMEs to develop effective sales strategies was critical to converting business opportunities into sustainable revenue.

He stated: “Growth is not accidental; it is driven by the ability of businesses to create value, win customers, and convert opportunities into sustainable revenue.

“At FirstBank, we recognise that many SMEs possess great products and services but often require practical sales strategies to unlock their full potential. This SMEConnect Webinar is designed to bridge that gap by providing insights from successful business leaders who have built and scaled thriving enterprises.Through these initiatives, we continue to demonstrate our commitment to equipping SMEs with the knowledge, capacity, and support needed to accelerate growth, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s economy.”

SMEConnect is part of FirstBank’s broader efforts to support the growth and resilience of SMEs through capacity development, business advisory services and financial solutions.

 

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