Wema Bank, the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, on Thursday announced a joint celebration, marking its 79th anniversary and ALAT’s seventh year celebration.

Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos.

Oseni said the significant celebration commemorated nearly eight decades of service and innovation in the Nigerian banking sector and the bank’s seven years of digital excellence with ALAT.

He said that since inception in 1945, Wema Bank had been at the forefront of financial innovation, constantly adapting to meet the evolving needs of its customers.

According to Oseni, the bank’s evolution from being Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank to being at the forefront of innovation, pioneering Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has been a true story of resilience and transformation.

“At 79, Wema Bank stand stronger than ever, and this achievement would not have been possible without the support of our customers and employees.

“We thank them for believing in the Wema vision, for entrusting their financial security to us, and for allowing us to contribute to their personal and professional aspirations.

“Their faith in us is deeply cherished, and we are honored to serve them.

“As we mark our 79th year today, we reaffirm our commitment to empowering lives through innovation, and exceeding our customers expectations with unparalleled banking experiences tailored to their needs.

“Our pledge is to stand by our customers through every stage of life, offering enabling platforms to accelerate their growth and propel them to extraordinary heights,” he said.

He said that the bank’s 79 years had been remarkable and it anticipated more inspiring decades of progress with the support of customers and employees towards setting new standards in financial services to redefine the future.

“As part of the anniversary celebrations, Wema Bank and ALAT are rolling out a series of customer-focused activities designed to reward loyalty and enhance the customer experience.

‘Throughout the anniversary month, customers will enjoy various promotions, including discounts on transactions, cash prizes, special loan offers and much more.

“This anniversary is more than a celebration; it’s a reaffirmation of Wema Bank’s resilience and ongoing commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction in a competitive industry.

“Both Wema Bank and ALAT are poised for further growth, with strategic initiatives designed to enhance customer-centric services and expand the reach and capability of digital banking solutions,” he said.

The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has urged the Federal Government to provide a conducive environment for workers to ensure efficiency and effectiveness.

The President of ACCI, Emeka Obegolu, said this in his message to commemorate the 2024 Workers’ Day.

“The chamber applauds all workers in Nigeria for their effort, hard work, and dedication toward the national economic growth and development of the country.

“To mark the occasion, I urge the federal government to continually create a friendly working environment for the Nigerian workers and provide the necessary materials and resources needed for an efficient and effective workforce.”

The theme of the 2024 celebration is “Safety and Health at Work in a Changing Climate.”

According to Obegolu, the theme is apt and has significant implications for the Nigerian business community.

He said that climate change exposed workers to various health risks, such as heat stress, and extreme weather events as well as natural disasters which could  disrupt business operations and supply chains.

“Businesses need to assess these risks and implement measures to protect the health and well-being of their employees.

“There is also a need to have resilience plans in place to ensure business continuity and minimise the impact of climate-related disruptions,” he said.

The ACCI president called on government at all levels to introduce new regulations and policies related to workplace safety and health in the context of climate change.

Obegolu said businesses needed to stay informed about these changes and ensure compliance to avoid legal and financial consequences.

He said, “Commitment to workers’ safety and health in the face of climate change can enhance a business  reputation and build trust with employees, customers and other stakeholders.

“We (ACCI) will continue to advocate safety and health at the workplace in a changing climate.

“This is because we are a chamber of commerce that seeks not only the interest of the business community but also that of workers.

“I wish all Nigerian workers a happy Workers’ Day on behalf of the executive council and members of the chamber,” he said.

The Federal Government announced that it is set to issue a fully valid operating licence to the 650,000 barrels per day capacity Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

It announced this at the  Stakeholders’ Consultation Forum on Midstream and Petroleum Host Community Development Trust Regulations organised by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority in Abuja.

The NMDPRA, an agency of the Federal Government, however, explained that though it had awarded a pre-commissioning licence to the $20bn refinery, a fully valid operating licence would be issued to the Dangote refinery soon.

Dangote refinery was inaugurated by former President Muhammadu Buhari in May 2023. The facility started releasing Automotive Gas Oil, popularly called diesel to the domestic market in April this year. It has yet to release Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol.

Speaking at the forum in Abuja on Tuesday, the Chief Executive, NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, told industry players and other stakeholders that the authority would issue a fully valid operating licence to the refinery very soon.

Ahmed, who was represented by the Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, NMDPRA, Ogbugo Ukoha, pointed out that currently, only three refineries have valid licences.

“We have issued three refineries with three valid licences. We awarded to Dangote refinery even in their pre-commissioning and sooner than later they will have full commission and a valid licence to also operate,” he stated.

He also stated that about 15 gas facilities across the country have valid licences while more are undergoing processing.

The NMDPRA boss said there are 1,199 facilities with valid licences in the downstream, while more than 176 operators hold gas import permits.

Ahmed said 130 depots have valid licences while 69 hold valid coastal vessel licences, adding that NMDPRA has licensed 9,464 retail outlets as of 10 am on April 30, 2024.

“In the gas processing facility within the midstream, there are about 15 of them with valid licences. And much is under processing.  If you go to the downstream sector, in the gas state of the downstream, more than 1,199 facilities have NMDPRA valid licences.

“More than 176 operators hold gas import permits. In the liquid licensing side of the downstream, there are 130 depots with valid licences and coastal vessels of more than 69 valid licences as of today. And in the retail outlets, we have 9,464 licensed retail outlets as of 10 am today, April 30,” Ahmed stated.

He explained why locations in the midstream and downstream arms of the oil sector were included as part of host communities, stating that emissions and effluence affect them.

Ahmed said the authority organised the forum for stakeholders to ventilate their ideas and proffer measures that would further enable the NMDPRA to relate better with host communities in the mid and downstream arms of the oil sector.