Author: Daily Post Nigeria

AI-powered financial platform introduces Naira and US Dollar virtual and physical cards for seamless local and cross-border transactions.

Mastercard and BMONI, an AI-powered financial platform focused on simplifying access to money, have announced a collaboration to introduce a new generation of virtual and physical payment cards designed to enable seamless local and global transactions for consumers in Nigeria.

Powered by Mastercard’s global payment network, the solution enables users to instantly create multiple Naira and US dollar-denominated virtual and physical cards that are globally accepted and ready for use within seconds, with all card management handled seamlessly within the BMONI app. The collaboration marks one of the first locally issued international card programs in Nigeria, enabled by new card issuance models introduced by Mastercard to accelerate digital payments adoption among fintech companies in the market.

With Nigeria’s e-commerce market projected to exceed $26 billion by 2030, the demand for globally accepted, instantly issued digital payment solutions continues to grow.

 BMONI’s card offering, built on Mastercard’s trusted network, responds to this shift by enabling users to operate more seamlessly across currencies and everyday spending.

Dr. Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager, West Africa at Mastercard,, said: “Nigeria’s digital economy is growing rapidly, consumers need payment solutions that keep pace. Our collaboration with BMONI brings together Mastercard’s trusted global network with an innovative platform like BMONI to deliver real value consumers, instant card access, multi-currency flexibility and seamless transactions across borders.” 

Ashwin Ravichandran, Head of Product at BMONI, said: “At BMONI, our focus has always been simple which is remove the friction between people and their money. This collaboration with Mastercard allows us to deliver global access and a level of control that simply has not existed before.”

Beyond enabling access, the solution introduces greater control over how users manage their finances. By allowing the creation of multiple cards for different purposes, including everyday spending, subscriptions, travel, savings, cross-border payments and remote work, users can better organize and track their financial activity in real time. It is a practical step toward the speed, convenience and global acceptance, that Nigerian consumers increasingly expect from their financial tools.

The BMONI Mastercard is available now. Users can download the BMONI app via the App Store or Google Play, complete identity verification and begin creating cards instantly.

-END-

About BMONI

BMONI is an AI-powered financial platform designed to simplify how individuals access, manage, and move money. The platform enables users to create and manage multiple Naira and US Dollar cards, supporting everyday transactions, cross-border payments, and personalized financial control through a seamless digital experience.

For more information, visit www.bmoni.com

Media contact: marketing@bmoni.com

About Mastercard

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

www.mastercard.com

Media contact: kanyi.mwangi@mastercard.com 

BMONI and Mastercard collaborate to unlock instant card access for consumers in Nigeria

Media personality Ebuka Obi-Uchendu has opened up about his struggle with smoking addiction and how he was able to overcome it.

Speaking in a recent episode of the ‘MENtality’ along with singer Banky W and social media influencer Aproko, Ebuka revealed that he started smoking in JSS3.

He explained that he smoked for 13 years and was taking two packs of cigarettes daily.

“I started smoking JSS3. I smoked for 13 years. By the time I entered university, I was smoking two packs a day. I was a heavy smoker,” he recalled.

Ebuka said that he eventually gave up the addiction after making deliberate efforts to overcome it.

Similarly, Banky W revealed that he got addicted to pornography while trying to overcome promiscuity.

He explained that he thought turning to pornography would make him less promiscuous.

“I was trying to battle pornography and decided that instead of moving from woman to woman, I should just be watching pornography,” he said.

Ebuka added that a lot people also made the similar mistake switching to a new  addiction in a bid to avoid the previous one.

On his part, Aproko doctor said many negative addictions developed as a result of people seeking escapism.

“Human beings have two ambitions. The first is to avoid pain. The second is to chase pleasure. A lot of drug use comes because a lot of people are trying to avoid pain,” he said.

The trio emphasised on self-regulation and self-discovery as important tools for overcoming negative addiction.

I started smoking in JSS3 – Ebuka Obi-Uchendu

Nigerian billionaire businessman and socialite, Obi Cubana, has reportedly quietly deleted all posts connected to the City Boy Movement from his Instagram page.

Obi Cubana has been facing backlash from ordinary Nigerians for publicly backing the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He was appointed as the South-East Coordinator of the pro-Tinubu organization. At the time of filing this report, there has not been any official statement from him concerning the development.

DAILY POST reports that the City Boy Movement is a youth-driven political advocacy and civic engagement platform dedicated to promoting the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

It was formed to mobilize grassroots support, with the aim of empowering young Nigerians and bridging the gap between the government and local communities.

The group is said to have hosted campus tours, rallies and food drives to distribute cash grants and relief materials to vulnerable households across Nigeria.

Obi Cubana reportedly deletes City Boy Movement posts from his Instagram Page

Nollywood actress Sophia Chisom, popularly known as Soso, has said actors are supposed to engage in onscreen kisses solely for professionality and not seeking pleasure.

The actress stated this while reacting to the complaint by some actors that they have never had a good kiss in the movie industry.

Speaking in an interview with TVC, Soso said it is difficult for any male colleague to get a good kiss from her because she doesn’t involve her tongue during onscreen kisses.

She explained that she often close her teeth and use just her lips when shooting a kissing scene, stressing that she’s very conscious of who she exchanged saliva with.

“I don’t know if people kiss with their tongues but I do not kiss with my tongue. My teeth are always close during kissing scenes so it is just the lips. But because it is an act, we have to make it believable.

“Some people kiss with their tongues but I don’t think it is okay to swap saliva with every single person that you shoot with. Besides, it is a job. So whenever I see a colleague complaining that they didn’t get a good kiss it is weird. You are not supposed to get a good kiss, it is a job,” she remarked.

Recently, some Nollywood actors including Saga Adeolu, Soso’s frequent collaborator, have come out to say that onscreen kisses are not pleasurable, stressing that they are yet to get a good kiss in the movie industry.

I don’t use my tongue during onscreen kissing – Actress Soso

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Friday struck out a suit seeking to bar Senator Ireti Kingibe from participating in all activities of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) following her alleged suspension from the party by the Wuse Ward Executive of the party in Abuja. The trial judge, Justice Peter Lifu, held in […]

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The Defence Headquarters, DHQ, has denied allegations that the Nigerian military is undermining democratic authorities, insisting that the Armed Forces remain committed to constitutional order and civilian rule.

The clarification was made by the Director of Defence Information, Brig. Gen. Tukur Gusau, in a statement issued in Abuja, where he described the claims as false and misleading.

Gusau stressed that the military remains professional and loyal to the Constitution, noting that its operations across the country are carried out strictly in line with lawful directives and in support of national security.

“The Armed Forces of Nigeria remain loyal to the Constitution and democratic institutions of the country. Any suggestion that the military is undermining democratic authorities is false, misleading and unfounded,” the statement said.

He further urged Nigerians to disregard misinformation capable of creating unnecessary panic, reaffirming the military’s commitment to protecting the nation’s territorial integrity while respecting democratic governance.

Military not undermining Nigeria’s democratic authorities – DHQ

The National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has been described as a major bridge builder that has continued to strengthen national unity and grassroots development across Nigeria since its establishment in 1973.

The Osun State Coordinator of the scheme, Ekeng Ita Kubiangha, stated this during a rally organised in Osogbo on Friday to commemorate the 53rd anniversary of the NYSC.

Kubiangha said the scheme, founded on May 22, 1973, had continued to demonstrate its relevance in addressing national and community challenges through the deployment of corps members across the country.

According to him, “The NYSC has played a critical role in promoting national integration and manpower distribution among states and local government areas.

“Every local government you go to in Nigeria, you will see a corps member there serving.”

He added that the movement of young graduates from one part of the country to another had helped in fostering understanding among diverse ethnic groups and improving service delivery in communities.

“If you see the level of manpower shifting from one place to another, you will realise that the NYSC has done this nation so much good,” Kubiangha stated.

The coordinator commended the Osun State Government for its support towards the welfare of corps members serving in the state.

He maintained that despite challenges confronting the scheme, the NYSC had remained focused on its mandate of nation-building and youth development.

“NYSC has not lost focus. Independent National Electoral Commission, National Orientation Agency, National Population Commission, UNICEF, World Health Organisation and the nation itself cannot do without NYSC,” he said.

Kubiangha acknowledged concerns relating to insecurity in some parts of the country but noted that the scheme had continued to thrive despite such difficulties.

“I will not say there are no hiccups. There are hiccups. Hiccups from fear of insecurity, but God has been faithful to the scheme,” he added.

Earlier, the Director of NYSC South West Area Office 1, Osogbo, Olubukola Abiodun, said the scheme had come to stay because Nigerians could reflect on its contributions over the years.

Abiodun noted that since its inception in 1973, the NYSC had impacted several sectors of national life, particularly education and healthcare, while also preparing graduates for the realities of the labour market and future employment opportunities.

NYSC remains national unity bridge builder after five decades — Osun coordinator

The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has secured a N3 billion special intervention grant from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cyber Sciences (ARCS). The university management disclosed this in a statement issued by the Director of Strategic Communication and Corporate Documentation, Dr […]

The post TETFund approves N3bn AI, robotics centre for Federal University Lokoja appeared first on Tribune Online.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) has distributed school uniforms and learning materials to pupils of Kondawa Nomadic School in Jama’are Local Government Area of Bauchi State, while also recruiting three teachers to address acute staff shortages at the school. The intervention, carried out on Thursday, was led by CITAD’s Executive Director, Y. […]

The post CITAD recruits teachers for Bauchi public school to tackle shortage appeared first on Tribune Online.

Former Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has revealed how he convinced former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to greet President Bola Ahmed Tinubu during the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. Fayemi disclosed this during an interview on Edmund Obilo’s YouTube channel uploaded on Thursday, explaining that Obi was initially reluctant because […]

The post How I pushed Peter Obi to greet Tinubu at Vatican — Fayemi appeared first on Tribune Online.