FairMoney Launches Asset Financing Scheme To Boost Nigeria’s Mobility Sector

Digital banking platform FairMoney has introduced a new asset financing scheme targeted at Nigeria’s mobility sector, enabling drivers and transport operators to acquire vehicles and related equipment through flexible credit facilities.

The initiative is designed to address the longstanding challenge of capital access for commercial drivers, ride-hailing operators, and logistics businesses, many of whom struggle to secure traditional bank loans due to lack of collateral or credit history. FairMoney’s scheme offers structured repayment plans directly linked to vehicle performance and income generation.

Brandspur Banking News Desk reports that the financing product will leverage FairMoney’s existing digital lending infrastructure and alternative credit scoring models, which analyze transaction data and behavioural patterns to assess borrower risk. This approach allows the fintech to extend credit to underserved transport workers who would otherwise be excluded from formal financial systems.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/02/u-s-trade-agency-funds-1500-american-made-mobile-base-stations-for-nigeria-benin-cote-divoire-ghana/

The scheme initially targets owners of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers used for passenger and goods movement, with plans to scale into electric mobility solutions. Beneficiaries will receive not only financing but also digital tools to track repayments, monitor vehicle maintenance, and access insurance products integrated into the platform.

FairMoney’s move into asset-backed lending for mobility comes as Nigeria’s transport sector faces rising demand for last-mile delivery and ride-sharing services, alongside growing pressure to transition to cleaner, more efficient vehicles. The company positions the scheme as a catalyst for economic empowerment, job creation, and reduced carbon emissions through support for electric alternatives.

Industry analysts note that asset financing remains a largely untapped segment in Nigeria’s fintech landscape, with traditional banks reluctant to lend against depreciating assets like vehicles. FairMoney’s data-driven risk model could unlock significant liquidity for the mobility sector, which employs millions across the country.

U.S. Trade Agency Funds 1,500 American-Made Mobile Base Stations For Nigeria, Benin, Côte D’Ivoire, Ghana

The United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) has announced funding for a feasibility study to deploy approximately 1,500 turnkey mobile communications base stations from Massachusetts-based Vanu Inc. across Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, targeting off-grid communities in a region long dominated by Chinese-made wireless systems.

USTDA’s Deputy Director, Thomas R. Hardy, said the agency is bringing private sector solutions to unlock widespread, affordable, trusted internet access in off-grid communities across West Africa, offering an alternative to insecure infrastructure while creating export opportunities that make America more prosperous.

Brandspur Business News Desk reports that the study will evaluate existing network infrastructure, analyze market conditions across all four countries, assess legal and regulatory frameworks, and develop a comprehensive financing plan. The project will generate substantial opportunities to deploy trusted U.S. wireless solutions, network management systems, and other digital infrastructure throughout implementation.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/monica-cash-expands-presence-as-stablecoin-payments-reshape-bitcoin-to-naira-transactions-in-nigeria/

The deployment of American-made mobile base stations will address West Africa’s urban-rural connectivity gap and provide millions of West Africans with faster, more reliable mobile access, supporting economic activity in areas historically limited to outdated 2G and 3G networks.

Vanu Inc. CEO Andrew Beard said his company is proud to partner with USTDA to demonstrate how their systems enable mobile network operators in West Africa to deliver broadband internet and voice services in challenging markets, proving that connectivity can be profitable, sustainable and scalable. The USTDA study will help catalyze new investment, expand U.S. exports, and accelerate deployment of trusted, secure digital infrastructure to connect billions worldwide.

Monica Cash Expands Presence as Stablecoin Payments Reshape Bitcoin to Naira Transactions in Nigeria

A crypto platform, Monica Cash, is gaining more visibility within Nigeria’s digital payment ecosystem as stablecoin usage continues changing how many Nigerians handle bitcoin to naira transactions, online payments and cross border transfers.

The shift reflects broader changes happening across the Nigeria crypto market, where freelancers, remote workers, traders and online business owners are increasingly using stablecoins like USDT and USDC for international transactions, freelance earnings and digital commerce.

Read also: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/taiwans-economic-transformation-offers-blueprint-for-emerging-markets-seeking-industrial-growth/

As the use of stablecoins grows, more users are also paying closer attention to how they process crypto withdrawal Nigeria transactions and convert crypto to naira through direct payout systems linked to local bank accounts.

According to users familiar with stablecoin transactions, the demand for smoother bitcoin to naira conversion systems has increased significantly over the past few years as more Nigerians depend on digital assets for everyday financial activity.

Many users say the conversation is no longer only about owning crypto assets or trading bitcoin. Instead, the focus is gradually shifting toward platforms that simplify crypto cashout in Nigeria, reduce withdrawal delays and make digital payments easier to process.

Within that transition, Monica.cash app has spent the last three years supporting Nigerians with automated crypto withdrawal systems that allow users convert BTC, USDT, ETH, BNB, TRX, SOL and USDC into naira through structured payout infrastructure.

Users handling regular stablecoin payments say one of the biggest concerns within the market remains how to process withdrawals smoothly without depending heavily on manual peer to peer arrangements.

According to some users, fake alerts, delayed confirmations and payment disputes linked to peer to peer transactions have contributed to stronger demand for centralized crypto-to-fiat systems that offer more organised settlement processes, with Monica.cash becoming part of that shift for users processing regular crypto withdrawals.

The growing use of stablecoins for diaspora remittance Nigeria transfers and online business transactions has also strengthened interest in platforms that support direct payouts and easier bitcoin to naira settlements.

Read also: https://brandspurng.com/2025/08/02/visa-expands-stablecoin-settlement-support/

Recent discussions around CBN crypto regulation and SEC VASP licensing have also increased awareness around structured crypto conversion systems operating within Nigeria’s digital asset ecosystem, particularly as more users pay attention to platforms offering smoother payout infrastructure and organised withdrawal systems.

Within Nigeria’s fintech sector, more crypto users are gradually prioritising platforms that combine faster settlements with smoother withdrawal systems, especially for users processing regular USDT and USDC transactions from international clients.

To support that demand, Monica.cash app allows users convert Bitcoin into naira through direct payout systems linked to local bank accounts, helping reduce the delays and manual coordination often associated with traditional peer to peer transactions.

As stablecoin adoption continues expanding across the country, industry observers say smoother payout infrastructure and automated bitcoin to naira conversion systems are becoming increasingly important to users navigating Nigeria’s evolving digital finance market.

Bitget Tackles Trading Burnout In New UEX Video Series

VICTORIA, Seychelles, – Monday, 01. June 2026

(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), has launched “UEX Traders’ Secret,” a three-part video series that takes a humorous take on the realities of modern trading, from market stress and platform fatigue to the demands of round-the-clock participation. Released across Bitget’s official social channels, the campaign uses relatable situations and self-aware humor to highlight how AI, automation, and unified trading environments are reshaping the trader experience.

The campaign arrives as trading behavior becomes increasingly multi-asset and always-on. Traders today often move between crypto, equities, commodities, and macro events simultaneously while managing multiple platforms, strategies and information flows. As markets become more interconnected, demand is growing for tools that simplify trading experiences and reduce friction across asset classes, a direction that sits at the center of Bitget’s Universal Exchange vision.

The first episode, “Stop Hair Loss — Let AI Hunt Alpha For You,” focuses on one of trading’s unofficial side effects: stress. The episode introduces Bitget’s AI ecosystem, including GetAgent, GetClaw, and Agent Hub, showing how traders can rely on AI-powered tools to monitor markets and surface opportunities continuously.

The second episode, “Multi-Platform Trading Is Aging You — One Platform Smooths It All Away,” shifts attention to the challenge of navigating fragmented trading environments. Through a skincare-inspired storyline, the episode highlights Bitget UEX, where crypto, stocks, and commodities are brought together into a single trading environment.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/stanbic-ibtc-bank-nigeria-pmi-new-order-growth-hits-nine-month-high-in-may/

The final episode, “Shed the Stress Weight — Let Bots Trade While You Sleep,” explores the demands of always-on markets and the growing role of automation. The episode features Bitget’s trading bots and copy trading ecosystem across spot, derivatives, CFDs, equities, and precious metals.

“Trading in today’s day and age means tracking more markets, more assets and more information than ever before,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “UEX was built around simplifying that experience through AI and bringing markets together, and the campaign reflects that reality in a lighter way.”

The series forms part of Bitget’s broader Universal Exchange initiative, which combines AI-powered tools, automation, and multi-asset access across crypto, equities, commodities, and tokenized markets within one ecosystem.

The “UEX Traders’ Secret” series is now available across Bitget’s official social media channels.

About Bitget

Bitget is the world’s largest Universal Exchange (UEX), serving over 125 million users and offering access to over 2M crypto tokens, 100+ tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, FX, and precious metals such as gold. The ecosystem is committed to helping users trade smarter with its AI agent, which co-pilots trade execution. Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships with LALIGA and MotoGP™. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. Bitget currently leads in the tokenized TradFi market, providing the industry’s lowest fees and highest liquidity across 150 regions worldwide.

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria PMI®: New Order Growth Hits Nine-month High In May

Growth momentum strengthened in the Nigerian private sector during May.
Marked rises in output and new orders were recorded, with firms ramping
up their purchasing accordingly. Expansions in employment remained
muted, however. On the price front, higher fuel costs continued to cause
sharp increases in input costs and output prices, but rates of inflation
softened from April. The headline figure derived from the survey is the
Stanbic IBTC Purchasing Managers’ Index™ (PMI®). Readings above
50.0 signal an improvement in business conditions on the previous month,
while readings below 50.0 show a deterioration.

Muyiwa Oni, Head of Equity Research West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank
commented: “Private sector activity in Nigeria improved to its best
level in nine months, with the headline PMI rising to an impressive 54.1
points in May from 52.4 points in April. This impressive business
condition was primarily due to accelerated expansion in both output
(56.6 vs April: 53.4) and new orders (57.0 vs May: 54.6) as evidence
pointed to improving customer demand and the launch of new products.
Input prices maintained an uptrend, but the pace of increase eased for
the second consecutive month. This is also reflected in higher output
prices with the steepest increase seen in the manufacturing and
agriculture sectors.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/amec-launches-geo-principles-to-bring-rigour-to-ai-led-communications-measurement/

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the Nigerian
economy grew by 3.89% y/y in Q1:26, slightly below our estimate of 3.99%
y/y GDP growth rate for the quarter as implied by the Stanbic IBTC Bank
PMI, with the deviation stemming from lower-than-expected non-oil
sector’s growth performance. The oil sector grew by a modest 2.57% y/y
(vs Q4:25: 6.79% y/y) while the non-oil sector’s growth also slowed to
3.94% y/y from 3.99% y/y in Q4:25. The breakdown of the 19 different
sectors that make up the domestic economy shows the agriculture;
manufacturing; construction; information & communication; trade; and
finance & insurance as the biggest drivers of Nigeria’s GDP growth in
Q1:26. These sectors accounted for 82.4% of real GDP growth rate during
the quarter.

Given the lower-than-projected real GDP growth in Q1:26, the economy may
now well grow by 4.13% y/y in 2026 from our initial forecast of 4.22%
y/y, and 3.87% y/y in 2025. Electioneering activity; continuous
government investment attraction drive; and improved spending on
infrastructure should continue to keep the non-oil sector active during
the year. Meanwhile, we retain our expectation that crude oil production
will likely average 1.7m bpd in 2026 from 1.64m bpd recorded in 2025 and
we do not see production touching the 2.0m bpd psychological benchmark
until at least 2030.”

The headline PMI rose to 54.1 in May from 52.4 in April, signalling a
solid monthly improvement in business conditions and one that was the
most pronounced since August 2025. The health of the private sector has
now strengthened in four consecutive months. Central to the solid
improvement in business conditions were marked and accelerated
expansions in both output and new orders during May. Rates of growth hit
seven- and nine-month highs respectively. Anecdotal evidence pointed to
improving customer demand and the launch of new products.

Output growth was recorded across all four broad sectors covered by the
survey. Improving demand, and the prospect of further growth in the
months ahead, led companies to expand their purchasing activity and
inventories in May. Here too, rates of expansion quickened from April
and were sharp. Efforts to secure inputs were helped by an improvement
in vendor performance, as prompt payments, goods arrangements with
suppliers and better road conditions helped to speed up deliveries.
Employment continued to rise only slightly midway through the second
quarter, although sustained job creation has now been recorded in each
month for a year. Meanwhile, backlogs of work increased for the fourth
successive month amid customer payment delays, material shortages and
power failures.

Increasing fuel costs following the outbreak of war in the Middle East
continued to drive up purchase prices in May. Purchase costs rose
rapidly again, despite the rate of inflation easing to a three-month
low. Purchase prices increased at a much quicker pace than staff costs,
which rose modestly again in May. Where companies increased staff pay,
this was often to provide help with higher living costs, and those for
transportation in particular. In line with the picture for input costs,
output prices continued to rise sharply in May. Here too, however, the
rate of inflation eased to the lowest since February. Plans to increase
advertising and expand operations through the opening of new branches
and introduction of new products were behind optimism in the year-ahead
outlook for output. Sentiment dipped, however, and was the lowest for a
year.

AMEC Launches GEO Principles To Bring Rigour To AI-led Communications Measurement

0

New global principles and practitioner guide set out a responsible way
to measure how organisations are found, interpreted and represented in
AI-generated answers

AMEC, the International Association for the Measurement and Evaluation
of Communication, has launched the AMEC GEO Principles and a companion
resource, _A Practitioner’s Guide to GEO Measurement_, to help
communications professionals measure the growing influence of AI-led
discovery, generative search and large language models.

The resources respond to a fast-changing information environment in
which AI-generated summaries, conversational search and zero-click
discovery are increasingly shaping how organisations, brands and issues
are found, understood and trusted online.

GEO, or Generative Engine Optimisation, is increasingly used to describe
how organisations appear in AI-generated answers and discovery
environments. AMEC’s principles are designed to help practitioners
assess this responsibly, without reducing measurement to simplistic
rankings, vanity metrics or opaque scores from individual tools.

The principles were developed over more than six months through AMEC
Agency Group collaboration, AMEC board review, academic scrutiny, vendor
and practitioner feedback, and iterative testing. The work was led by
primary contributors James Crawford of PR Agency One [1], Mary Elizabeth
Germaine of Ketchum [2], Ben Levine of FleishmanHillard TRUE Global
Intelligence [3], Matt Oakley of Hotwire Global [4], Amber Daugherty of
Big Valley Marketing [5] and Rob Key of Converseon [6], with input from
AMEC’s Academic Advisory Group and wider AMEC members.

The resources were launched at the AMEC Global Summit in Dublin on 20
May, during a panel chaired by Rayna Grudova-de Lange, Founder and CEO
of InsightHQ [7].

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/jmg-solar-installs-hybrid-solar-power-system-for-st-catherine-specialist-hospital-in-abuja/

The AMEC GEO Principles set out a practical framework for measuring
AI-led discovery across three connected areas: upstream reputation
signals, including earned coverage, third-party commentary, reviews,
expert content and owned assets; search and content readiness, including
whether an organisation’s digital presence is credible, accessible and
structured for interpretation by search engines and AI systems; and
downstream AI outputs, including how an organisation appears in
AI-generated answers, citations, framing, omissions and potential
reputational risk.

The principles also introduce baseline evidence requirements, including
repeatable prompts, documented methods, transparent assumptions and
clear limitations. They reinforce that AI outputs should be treated as
directional evidence rather than absolute truth, and caution against
relying on any single score, platform or tool.

James Crawford, managing director of PR Agency One and AMEC Board
Director, said:

“Anyone working in PR or communication will know how quickly clients
and boards have started asking how GEO and LLM outputs should be
measured. There is excellent innovation taking place, but there are also
uneven standards, overclaiming, vanity metrics and methodologies that
are not always transparent enough.

“AMEC has a responsibility to bring discipline to that conversation.
These principles give the industry a more rigorous way of looking at
AI-led discovery: one that recognises its importance, but also its
limits. The most useful measurement will come from triangulating
evidence: the reputation signals that feed the information environment,
whether organisations are technically and editorially discoverable, and
what AI systems then present to users.”

Johna Burke, CEO and Global Managing Director of AMEC, said:

“As AI increasingly shapes what people see, trust and act upon, the
communication industry must hold itself to higher levels of
transparency, evidence and accountability.

“The AMEC GEO Principles were built through global collaboration
across agencies, practitioners, academics, technology leaders and
AMEC’s international community because no single organisation,
platform or perspective can fully define or measure AI-driven discovery
alone.

“This initiative reflects the collective expertise, scrutiny and
commitment of professionals across regions who understand that rigorous,
transparent and ethical evaluation is essential to maintaining trust in
the AI era.”

JMG Solar Installs Hybrid Solar Power System For St-Catherine Specialist Hospital In Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria – St Catherine’s Specialist Hospitals Limited is a
Limited Liability Company that specializes in Healthcare service
delivery. Founded in 1999 in Port-Harcourt, another branch was opened in
Abuja in 2016, in a quest to deliver quality healthcare services to more
Nigerians and foreigners alike.

St. Catherine’s Specialist Hospitals Limited boasts a team of highly
experienced and skilled medical staff, as well as support staff, who
work together to ensure that the hospital becomes a world-class hospital
and actively participates in medical tourism.

In view of achieving its goal of delivering world-class health services,
St’ Catherine Hospital, Abuja, desired a stable and efficient power
supply with the goal of achieving increased reliability/uptime,
maintaining eco-friendly initiatives and reducing energy bills

JMG Solar [1], the renewable energy division of JMG Limited [2], was
thus engaged and has successfully completed the installation and
commissioning of a hybrid solar power system for St Catherine Specialist
Hospital located in Wuse 2, Abuja.

The project was designed to enhance energy reliability, reduce
electricity costs and support the hospital’s eco-friendly energy
initiatives. With healthcare facilities requiring uninterrupted
electricity for critical operations, hybrid solar power systems are
increasingly becoming a reliable energy solution across Nigeria.

With diesel consumption reducing from 2000litres per month to 1000litres
over the period of 4months since the installation of the hybrid
solutions, the hospital has effectively saved about 14 million naira on
diesel purchase in the 4 months of using the solar system.

Power spend went from N7million a month (without Solar) to N5 million a
month (with Solar), leading to a monthly savings of N2million, after
deducting lease fees. All at no CAPEX to St’ Catherine.

Following detailed load analysis conducted, JMG Solar [1] engineered and
deployed a hybrid solar system consisting of 92.8kWp solar photovoltaic
generation, 65kW hybrid inverter capacity and 160.8kWh lithium battery
storage.

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/orijin-brings-culture-to-life-at-ojude-oba-2026/

The installation includes 160 Longi solar panels rated at 580W each,
three 20kW Deye hybrid inverters and one 5kW inverter, as well as 30
Deye lithium batteries providing 160.8kWh of energy storage capacity.
The system is installed by mounting the solar panels on the roof and
integrates a smart monitoring system built into the inverter for
real-time performance monitoring.

The hybrid solar system is capable of producing approximately 11.13MWh
of solar energy per month, equivalent to about 133.63MWh annually,
allowing the hospital to cover 100 percent of its energy demand through
solar power and energy storage.

Beyond improving power reliability, the project contributes to
environmental sustainability by reducing approximately 53,091 kilograms
of carbon emissions annually.

Commenting on the project, Chisom Okoye, JMG’s representative on the
project, said:

“The 65kW hybrid solar solution with 92.8kWp solar power and 160.8kWh
lithium battery storage has been successfully installed and commissioned
at the client’s facility. The system is fully operational and
delivering reliable energy performance.”

Through its solar power division, JMG Solar continues to deliver hybrid
solar power solutions for residential, commercial and industrial
customers across Nigeria, helping organizations improve energy
efficiency while reducing operational costs and environmental impact.

For more information on electrical and mechanical solutions and
services, please visit www.jmglimited.com

Orijin Brings Culture To Life At Ojude Oba 2026

Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State 

Guinness Nigeria Plc, through its iconic Orijin brand, today joined thousands of sons and daughters of Ijebuland, dignitaries, cultural enthusiasts, and tourists at the 2026 edition of the Ojude Oba Festival in Ijebu-Ode, delivering an immersive cultural experience that celebrated heritage, identity, and the enduring spirit of community.

Orijin Brings Culture To Life At Ojude Oba 2026

Returning as the official alcohol sponsor, Orijin’s presence at this year’s festival brought to life the brand’s renewed cultural platform, which evolves the conversation from last year’s “The Roots Run Deeper” toward how culture and identity are expressed today, boldly, creatively, and unapologetically. From the elegance and pride of the Regberegbe age groups to the splendour of horse-riding families, fashion, music, and movement, Ojude Oba once again proved itself one of Nigeria’s most powerful expressions of living culture.

Speaking at the festival grounds, Otunba Deji Osibogun, Member of the Ojude Oba Planning Committee, said:

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/pitcher-awards-announces-2026-winners-marking-a-landmark-year-for-pan%e2%80%91african-creativity/

“It fills us with great pride to see Orijin at the heart of Ojude Oba once again. This festival is a living archive of our history, culture, and tradition, and Orijin has positioned itself meaningfully at the centre of it all. The brand does not merely sponsor Ojude Oba; it honours it. Orijin understands that culture is sacred, and through its consistent presence and the quality of what it brings to the festival, it is helping to carry our heritage forward with the dignity it deserves. We are proud to have Guinness Nigeria as a partner in telling the Ijebu story to Nigeria and the world.”

Speaking on Orijin’s activation at the festival, Rotimi Odusola, Corporate Relations and Legal Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, said:

“Ojude Oba is one of the most powerful examples of culture in motion, and being part of it through Orijin is a privilege we do not take lightly. Our purpose at Guinness Nigeria is to help Nigerians celebrate life, every day, everywhere and there are few moments more deserving of celebration than this. We are proud to stand with the people of Ijebuland and to continue shaping how our culture is experienced and celebrated today.”

Also speaking at the event, Ramanathan Solayappan, Marketing Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, added:

“Everything Orijin brought to Ojude Oba this year was designed to amplify the spirit of the festival, from the immersive experiences to the activations on ground. Orijin is rooted in African originality, and Ojude Oba is one of the truest expressions of that originality. We are honoured to celebrate it alongside the people who give it life.”

The 2026 Ojude Oba Festival drew thousands of attendees from across Nigeria and the diaspora, with traditional rulers, age-grade groups, equestrian families, and cultural performers turning out in full splendour to pay homage to the Awujale of Ijebuland and to celebrate the rich heritage of the Ijebu people.

 

Pitcher Awards Announces 2026 Winners, Marking A Landmark Year For Pan‑African Creativity

Mozambique Makes a Big Debut with 1 Grand Prix and 4 Gold Wins

LAGOS, Nigeria — The Pitcher Awards, the pan‑African benchmark for creative excellence, has announced the winners of its 2026 edition, celebrating groundbreaking work from across the continent and beyond. This year marks a historic milestone as the festival welcomed entries from Mozambique and the United States of America for the very first time, underscoring its expanding global reach and commitment to celebrating creativity without borders.

Reflecting on this year’s achievements, Dr. Nnamdi Ndu, Chairman of
the Pitcher Festival, said:

_“The 2026 Pitcher Awards showcase the extraordinary evolution of
African creativity. This year’s winners demonstrate a boldness,
cultural depth, and technical mastery that continue to elevate our
region on the global stage. Welcoming new countries into the
competition—and seeing them excel—reinforces our belief that
creativity truly has no borders. We celebrate every winner and look
forward to an unforgettable 10th edition in 2027.”_

Gold and Grand Prix winners were unveiled during the official streaming
premiere, while all Shortlist, Bronze, and Silver recognitions are
available on the festival website.

2026 Grand Prix & Gold Winners

Grand Prix

  • Culture – Corporate Image & Reputation Management — NoVita by The Bar Africa for NuVita Biscuits, Kenya
  • Heritage – Outdoor Ambient & Installations — MozaMbique Has 2M by Create Mozambique for 2M Beer, Mozambique

Gold

  • Care – Public Health & Safety — _La caravane d’excision – The FGM Caravan_ by L’Agence X for Mouvement femmes et paroles, Côte d’Ivoire
  • Channel – Use of Media — _MozaMbique Has 2M_ by Create Mozambique for 2M Beer, Mozambique
  • Culture – Corporate Image & Reputation Management — _Portrait of a Nation_ by Create Mozambique for Millennium Bim, Mozambique
  • Culture – Use of Cultural Insights — _Maggi Tales of Ramadan_ by All Seasons Zenith for Maggi, Nestlé Nigeria
  • Culture – Use of Cultural Insights — _NoVita_ by The Bar Africa for NuVita Biscuits, Kenya
  • Culture – Use of Cultural Insights — _MozaMbique Has 2M_ by Create Mozambique for 2M Beer, Mozambique

Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/06/01/savannah-energy-posts-strong-four-month-performance-with-8-increase-in-nigerias-daily-production/

  • Entertainment – Entertainment Film — _First Beach_ by Dentsu Creative for Corona Africa, South Africa
  • Effectiveness – Business Impact — _2M SAMMA FRESH_ by Create Mozambique for 2M Beer, Mozambique
  • Heritage – Film — _The Origin of Wonder_ by Dentsu Creative Kenya for Magical Kenya, Kenya Tourism Board
  • Heritage – Outdoor Activations — _BUSiness UNUSUAL_ by The Quollective for Kiira Motors Corporation, Uganda
  • Heritage – Outdoor Ambient & Installations — _Martell on the Move_ by PHD Nigeria for Pernod Ricard, Nigeria
  • Heritage – Print — _The Sun‑Powered Print Ad_ by Dentsu Creative South Africa for Corona Africa

Special Awards — 2026

  • Digital Agency of the Year: digitXplus, Nigeria
  • Media Agency of the Year: PHD Nigeria
  • Advertising Agency of the Year: Create Mozambique
  • Media Network of the Year: OMD
  • Advertising Agency Network of the Year: Dentsu Africa
  • Independent Network of the Year: The Quollective Africa
  • Regional Holding Company of the Year: Omnicom Media Group
  • Brand of the Year (National): 2M Beer Mozambique
  • Brand of the Year (Multinational): Martell
  • Marketing Company of the Year (National): Kiira Motors Corporation, Uganda
  • Marketing Company of the Year (Multinational): AB InBev

    Appreciation for the International Jury

    The Pitcher Festival extends its deep appreciation to the international
    jury, composed of industry leaders from across Africa and beyond, who
    meticulously judged, curated, and benchmarked the 2026 entries. Their
    expertise and dedication ensured that this year’s awards upheld the
    highest standards of creative excellence.

    The category juries were led by the following Jury Presidents:

  • Care — Kerstin Trikalitis, CEO & Co‑Founder, Out There Media
  • Channel — Dozie Okafor, MD/CEO, PHD Nigeria & President, MIPAN
  • Craft — Yash Deb, Co‑Founder & Creative Partner, The Bar Africa, Kenya
  • Culture — Anand Badami, SVP & Growth Lead, Emerging Markets & Innovation, Publicis West Africa
  • Digital — Karim Yermeche, CEO, Lotus Conseil, Algeria
  • Good & Effectiveness — Dawn Rowlands, CEO, Dentsu Africa
  • Entertainment — Steve Babaeko, CEO/CCO, X3M Ideas & Vice President, Area Director for Africa, IAA
  • Heritage — Maxwell Ngari, Chief Creative Officer, Dentsu Creative East Africa

A Celebration of African Creativity

The 2026 edition once again highlighted the imagination, discipline, and
creative excellence shaping the future of African storytelling. Winning
entries will be featured globally as part of the Pitcher Showcase, the
festival’s traveling pop‑up exhibition.

As the Pitcher Awards prepares to celebrate its 10th edition in 2027,
the festival looks ahead to an even grander celebration of a decade of
creative excellence.

Explore all winners and recognized work at www.PitcherFestival.com [7]
or continue with more festival updates.

Savannah Energy Posts Strong Four-Month Performance With 8% Increase In Nigeria’s Daily Production

Ahead of its Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) on 1 June 2026, Savannah Energy PLC, the British independent energy company focused around the delivery of Projects that Matter, has provided a trading update on its Nigerian operations and other markets in Africa for the four months to 30 April 2026, reflecting continued operational progress and a strong focus on cash discipline.

Savannah Energy Posts Strong Four-Month Performance With 8% Increase In Nigeria’s Daily Production

It reports that following the completion of the SIPEC Acquisition in March 2025, the production expansion programme underway at its Stubb Creek has delivered an 8% increase in average gross daily production to 3.1 Kbopd for the period, compared to 2.8 Kbopd during the same period in 2025. Its group average gross daily production for the four-month period stood at 15.7 Kboepd (FY 2025: 18.8 Kboepd) with gas production volumes constrained as a result of the ongoing drilling and operational activity, and customer gas demand.

The update shows that its Revenues increased by 17% year-on-year to US$104.1 million, compared to US$89.1 million in the same period last year. It also shows that its trade receivables balance declined by 22% to US$395.2 million from US$507.2 million at year-end 2025.

It also reported cash balances of US$64.7 million during the four-month period, compared to the 31 December 2025 figure of US$42.8 million, with its net debt standing at US$641.7 million compared to the 31 December 2025 figure of US$658.6 million.

According to the update, Savannah’s cash collections for the four months ended April 30 amounted to US$183.5 million, a 48% increase from the US$89.1 million it received during the same period in 2025.

Savannah also reported that it has entered into a new £32 million unsecured loan facility with NIPCO plc, its largest shareholder. The facility is structured in two tranches: £20 million available immediately and £12 million available from July 1. The loan carries a 4.5% annual interest rate and has a 36-month term.

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The facility includes a conversion option that allows Savannah to repay the loan through the issuance of new shares at 8 pence per share. NIPCO cannot require conversion, and Savannah is under no obligation to issue shares. The transaction constitutes a related party transaction under AIM rules.

The report highlighted the operational progress being made across key African assets, including Uquo and Stubb Creek, as well as continued advancement of its wind, solar and hydropower projects. It reports that drilling and completion activities at the Uquo NE well location have now been concluded, with rig-down operations currently underway ahead of mobilisation to the next well.

It also reports that the flowline installation is in its final stages, with tie-in activities ongoing at the Uquo CPF, while tie-in works at the well pad are expected to commence shortly, with first gas targeted for early July 2026, supporting the higher forecast gas production expected in H2 2026. Site construction activities at the Uquo South exploration well location, it said, are progressing well, with the site expected to be ready by early June 2026, just as conductor piling operations are also ongoing in preparation for the rig move from the Uquo NE location.

In Niger, Savannah reports that its Parc Eolien de la Tarka project has made significant progress to date, with the Minister of Energy confirming that the project is on the Government’s list of priority projects. It expects the timing and sequencing of further development activities in relation to the project to be linked to the timing and outcome of the Company’s ongoing discussions with the Government of Niger regarding the R1234 PSC and the potential recommencement of oil activities.

In Cameroon, negotiations with the Government are at an advanced stage regarding a Joint Development Agreement for the up to 95 MW Bini a Warak hybrid hydroelectric and solar project. This is expected to replace the Memorandum of Agreement signed in April 2023 and secure the terms under which Savannah will collaborate with the Government of Cameroon to further develop the project.

Andrew Knott, CEO of Savannah Energy, said:

“Savannah continues to deliver against the nine core focus areas we set out for the business at the start of 2025. In Nigeria, we have seen a significant improvement in cash collections, with a 48% year-on-year increase in the first four months of the year, alongside a 17% year-on-year increase in Revenues and a 22% reduction in our trade receivables balance since year-end 2025. This reflects our ongoing focus on disciplined cash collections and receivables management, which remains a key priority for the business this year.  Operationally, we are advancing a number of important projects, including the drilling of two new gas wells at the Uquo field, and the production expansion programme at Stubb Creek which has already delivered an 8% increase in average daily production (compared to the first four months of 2025). In our power division, we continue to progress our greenfield wind, solar and hydro portfolio. Alongside this, we continue to pursue further value-accretive acquisitions across both hydrocarbons and power, with several opportunities under active discussion.  We are also pleased to have secured a new £32 million loan facility from NIPCO plc (“NIPCO”), our largest shareholder, strengthening our financial flexibility and further underpinning our confidence in delivering continued operational, financial and strategic progress through 2026 and 2027.”