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NCDMB Signs Mgt Deal With Radisson, Edison…As Board’s 204 Rooms Hotel Open December 2026

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), on Monday signed an international management agreement (IMA), with Radisson Hospitality, Belgium and Edison Hotel and Property Development Company with respect to the Board’s 204 rooms hotel and conference center, developed adjacent to the Content Tower, headquarters of the NCDMB in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State.
A statement by the Board’s Directorate of Corporate Communications says the management agreement was signed in Durban, South Africa by the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, Executive Chairman of Edison Corporation, Mr. Vivian Reedy and Director of Radisson, Mr. Garnier Erwan.
Giving assent to the agreement, Ogbe affirmed that discussions, reviews, and compliance requirements have lasted for over two years, and that the Board secured the approval of all key stakeholders, including the Attorney?General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN.
“The support of stakeholders ensured that the Agreement meets Nigeria’s legal and regulatory standards.The aspiration of the NCDMB is to deliver a world?class hotel in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State with a fully equipped conference centre—designed to serve the oil and gas industry stakeholders and the Nigerian public”, he said.
He pledged the NCDMB’S commitment to completing the hotel on schedule time and achieving the opening in December, 2026.
“We appreciate our responsibilities—construction quality, pre?opening readiness, funding, safety and security compliance, and maintaining Radisson’s global standard. We will do our best to meet our obligations”, Ogbe added.
The Board’s Scribe charged the  Hospitality firm to bring its expertise, systems, and brand strength to deliver a hotel that offers excellent service and guest experience, expressing hope that the partnership with Edison Hotels will create a facility that reflects global quality and supports Bayelsa’s position as an oil and gas hub.
“This project reflects NCDMB’S commitment to using strategic investments to boost productivity, attract investment, build local content, and expand opportunities for business and tourism in Nigeria when completed.
“Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Yenagoa will stand not only as a hotel, but also as a symbol of what strong partnerships can achieve”, Ogbe noted.
In his remarks, Executive Chairman of Edison Corporation, Vivian Reedy described the organisation’s  role as a bridge between the owner and the operator, highlighting the group’s intensive experience in the hotel industry, and determination to ensure alignment, transparency, accountability and performance.
“We understand that a successful hotel is not just about buildings. It is about disciplined management, strong oversight, brand integrity, and a shared commitment to excellence.
“Part of our firm’s responsibility is to ensure that the hotel is delivered, operated, and managed in a manner that protects and announces the owner’s investment, while fully supporting Radisson in achieving operational excellence”, he said.
The Edison boss assured that working closely with Radisson and NCDMB’s team, the Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Yenagoa will become the leading hospitality and conference destination in Bayelsa State, saying it is catalyst for business and investment, and a symbol of quality professionalism and international standards.
He emphasized that the firm has had wonderful successes with Radisson in other locations, even achieving 95% occupancies, noting that the company’s approach is to strengthen governance, support performance, and ensure the interests of the owners are always safeguarded.
“This project represents more than a hotel. It represents a partnership, a trust, and a long-term vision for sustainable value creation. We thank Radisson for its global expertise and operational excellence.
“Edison is fully committed to ensuring that the asset performs strongly, operates efficiently, and delivers lasting value to its owner”, the firm said.
In his speech, the Attorney-General of the Federation Chief Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, representative by Mr. Wada Ahmed Wada described the signing ceremony as historic and wished the parties success in their business relationship.
By Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa
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Business

Wealth Creation: GCPBS  Convenes Strategic Investment Workshop In PH

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2 weeks ago

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April 20, 2026

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In a significant move aimed at strengthening financial literacy and promoting sustainable economic growth, the Alumni Association of the Garden City Premier Business School (GCPBS) has hosted its inaugural Annual Executive Workshop in Port Harcourt, drawing key stakeholders from across Nigeria’s financial and public sectors.
The workshop, themed “Wealth Creation through Investment in Money and Capital Markets,” held at the Corporate Residence, William Jumbo, Port Harcourt recently,  brought together financial experts, policymakers, and professionals to deliberate on practical investment strategies in a rapidly evolving economic environment.
The event attracted a distinguished audience, including alumni of the institution, officials of the Securities and Exchange Commission, financial market leaders, top government functionaries, and seasoned professionals committed to advancing wealth creation initiatives in the country.
In her opening address, Chairman of the GCPBS Alumni Association, Her Excellency Dr. Mrs. Mina Tele Ikuru, charged the participants to take full advantage of the knowledge-sharing platform, stressing the importance of continuous learning and informed financial decision-making.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown, underscored the need for smart investment practices, noting that true wealth lies not merely in hard work but in the ability to make money work efficiently through strategic investments.
Deliberations at the workshop exposed participants to practical insights into navigating the financial markets, with experts emphasising the need for liquidity-conscious investments and encouraging the exploration of commercial papers issued by reputable corporations.
Speakers further highlighted the benefits of leveraging money market instruments such as bank deposits, while also stressing the importance of understanding market timing—knowing when to buy, hold, or exit investments—as a critical factor in achieving optimal returns.
The concept of compounding was extensively discussed as a powerful tool for long-term wealth accumulation, alongside the introduction of SWOOT—Stocks Worth Over One Trillion—with leading financial institutions identified as dominant players in Nigeria’s stock market.
Participants were also cautioned against common investment pitfalls, including the dangers of holding excessive idle cash, exposure to inflationary pressures, and the growing threat of fraudulent Ponzi schemes often disguised with unrealistic promises of high returns.
They also stressed the importance of diversification as a risk management strategy, with experts warning that failure to spread investments across asset classes could expose individuals to avoidable financial losses.
A panel session anchored by Prof. John Ohaka featured robust contributions from Barr. Bernard Ibe and Figbene Briggs, who examined critical approaches to monitoring investments and ensuring long-term financial stability.
A Financial expert, Uche Uwaleke (FCMA) provided further guidance, advocating the adoption of the DHL investment model—Diversify, Hedge, and Long-term planning—while emphasising the need for constant monitoring of market capitalisation and price indices.
The event also featured goodwill messages and the presentation of awards to deserving individuals and organisations, including Oida Energy Limited, Xenergi Limited, Aslan Resources Ltd, and Dr. Mrs. Mina Tele Ikuru, in recognition of their contributions to economic development and professional excellence, while special honours were conferred on Prof. Silver Opuala-Charles and Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown.
In a closing remark, Prof. Adline Ben-Chioma who summarised the key takeaways from the workshop, reiterated the importance of informed investment decisions, as ESV Okputu delivered the vote of thanks, appreciating organisers, speakers, sponsors, and participants for their roles in the success of the inaugural initiative.
By: King Onunwor
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Banking/ Finance

Ripple Survey Reveals Appetite for Digital Assets

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3 weeks ago

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April 15, 2026

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Cornerstone of Financial Services

A survey of more than 1 000 global finance leaders undertaken by digital payment network Ripple shows that 72% of respondents believe they need to offer a digital asset solution to remain competitive.

According to Ripple, leaders from the banking, fintech, corporate and asset management sector have made it clear that the “digital asset revolution is happening now”.

“Digital assets are quickly becoming a cornerstone of financial services, underpinned by progressive regulation, growing interest from Tier-1 banks, a steady consumer shift from banks to fintech providers, and booming stablecoin adoption,” Ripple says.

The survey was conducted in early 2026 and the findings released in March.

Stablecoin Boon or Bane?

Ripple has experienced significant success in the stablecoin sector since launching its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin in 2024.

With a market cap of $1.56 billion, it is considered a major regulated player in the market.

No doubt the platform was pleased to learn through its own survey that financial leaders were most bullish about stablecoins.

Roughly three-quarters of respondents believed they could boost cash-flow efficiency and unlock trapped working capital.

Ripple noted that finance leaders were thinking about stablecoins as more than “just a new way to execute payments”; instead, they viewed them as effective tools for treasury management.

In March 2026, Ripple began testing a new trade finance model built around RLUSD in a bid to increase the speed of cross-border payments.

The pilot initiative, developed alongside supply chain finance company Unloq [https://unloq.com], is running on the XRP Ledger inside a testing framework developed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

The Asian city-state is one of the platform’s biggest growth markets.

The idea behind the project is to see whether stablecoin-based settlement can streamline trade finance, too often hampered by reliance on intermediaries and slow reconciliation.

The only potential drawback is that if the initiative takes off, the Ripple to USD price could be negatively affected.

Ripple has always championed its native XRP token as a bridge asset, the “middleman” in the process of a financial institution turning dollars in the US into pounds in the UK, for example.

Ripple converts dollars into XRP and then back into pounds.

If RLUSD can do exactly the same thing, questions will be asked about XRP’s relevance.

That is a bridge Ripple will have to cross if it gets to that point.

Tokenisation Partners

Another interesting finding from Ripple’s survey is that most banks and asset managers are seeking tokenisation partners to help execute their strategies.

Some 89% of respondents said digital asset storage and custody were top priority. “Token servicing/lifecycle management also ranks highly for banks at 82%, while asset managers place greater emphasis on primary distribution at 80%,” Ripple found.

The survey also revealed that just more than half of fintechs and financial institutions want an infrastructure provider that can offer a “one-stop-shop solution”. This rose to 71% among corporate financial leaders.

Ripple attributes this to institutions and firms wanting uncomplicated, cohesive systems.

Infrastructure Rules

In its final analysis, Ripple says companies across the board are looking for partners and solutions that are “secure, compliant, battle-tested and that enable growth and execution”.

“The message is clear: infrastructure decisions made today will shape competitive positioning tomorrow.”

No surprise that this is precisely where Ripple is placing much of its focus.

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Business

Niger Delta Investment Summit Targets $5bn Inflows, 500,000 Jobs

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3 weeks ago

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April 10, 2026

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The Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Trade, Mines and Agriculture (NDCCITMA) has unveiled the plans to host a major economic and investment summit aimed at attracting five billion dollars, ( N7 trillion) investments in addition to creating about 500,000 jobs over the next five years.
The Chairman of NDCCITMA Board, Ambassador Idaere Ogan, disclosed this in Port Harcourt, recently.
Ogan stated  that the initiative is designed to reposition the Niger Delta as a viable destination for sustainable economic growth and development.
He explained the summit would bring together investors, policymakers, manufacturers and business leaders from within and outside Nigeria to explore opportunities across key sectors of the regional economy.
According to him, the event is expected to attract high-profile participation, with President Bola Tinubu billed as Special Guest of Honour, while the Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Amor Mottley, is expected to deliver the keynote address.
Ogan said the summit would focus on critical sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, logistics and the blue economy, which he described as areas with significant untapped potential.
He called on state governments, development partners and private sector stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that collective efforts are required to unlock the region’s economic prospects.
 NDCCITMA chairman further stated that improving security conditions and increasing economic confidence in the Niger Delta have made the region more attractive to both local and foreign investors.
He emphasised that ongoing economic reforms at the national level have also contributed to creating a more favourable investment climate.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Summit Organising Committee, Dr. Solomon Edebiri, said the event would prioritise the growth of small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) across the region.
He noted the summit would provide a strategic platform for networking, business partnership and policy dialogue aimed at strengthening the private sector.
Edebiri disclosed that findings from a recent business roundtable revealed significant untapped investment opportunities, which the summit seeks to harness through targeted collaborations.
He revealed that the event would feature exhibitions of viable projects, facilitate business-to-business and business-to-government engagements, and also promote innovations across multiple sectors.
According to him, the expected outcomes of the summit include job creation, increased industrial activity and improved livelihoods for people in the Niger Delta.
To build momentum ahead of the event, NDCCITMA said the body would embark on awareness roadshows across states in the Niger Delta, as well as in Lagos and Abuja, to attract broad participation.
King Onunwor
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