Business
Ekondo MfB Partners NAMB, Water.org To Launch WASH Loan Products
Cyril Ogar
In a move to support current Nigerian governments’ efforts to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system through grassroots-oriented funding, Ekondo Microfinance Bank (MfB) has launched EKWASH and EKPURELYFE loan products under the WaterCredit adoption programme in partnership Water.org and the National Association of Microfinance Banks (NAMB).
Speaking during the unveiling of the innovative products at Calabar, Cross River State, the Managing Director of the MfB, Mr. Charles Efedodama, said the initiative was more than a product, but represented the micro-credit lender’s commitment to improving lives.

He maintained that access to safe water and decent sanitation remained not just a basic need but a strong driver of health, dignity, productivity, and economic growth.
According to him, through the partnership with the NAMB and Water-org, Ekondo MfB is expanding financial access to households, small businesses, and communities, enabling them to invest in water connections, boreholes, toilets, and hygiene facilities.
The banker explained: “At Ekondo MFB, our mission has always been to create value and empower people.
Today, we are turning that mission into deeper impact. With Water.org providing technical expertise and NAMB strengthening industry collaboration, we are confident that this product will transform thousands of lives across Cross River State and beyond.
“To every family that will gain access to clean water, to every woman relieved from spending hours fetching water, to every child who can now stay in school — this is why we are here”, Efedodama stressed.
He commended the MfB’s partners, board of directors, employees and every stakeholder who made this launch of the WASH facility a reality, adding that “together, we are not just launching a product — we are launching hope, dignity, and a healthier future for all Nigerians.”
In his remarks at the event, Senior Relationship Account Manager at Water.org, Gilbert Okpono, enthused: “Today, we’re proud of Ekondo Microfinance Bank for the launch of it’s new WSS loan products captioned EKWASH and EKPURELYFE respectively, under the WaterCredit adoption programme in partnership Water.org and NAMB.
“This collaboration empowers communities with access to safe water and sanitation while promoting financial inclusion. Together, we’re not just launching a product—we’re driving healthier lives and sustainable growth”, he added.
Business
Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management Advocates Digitisation of Procurement Processes, Rolls Out New Website
By Joel Ajayi
The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (CIPSMN) has unveiled a revamped website as part of its broader push to accelerate the digitisation of procurement processes across the country.
The relaunch was announced at the institute’s 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday in Abuja, where the North Central Coordinator of CIPSMN, Abdul Mamman, said the initiative would strengthen real-time information sharing, expand member participation and align the profession with global best practices.
Mamman warned that organisations and professionals who failed to embrace digital procurement risked being left behind in an increasingly technology-driven environment.
According to him, the upgraded website is designed to provide members with timely feedback, wider engagement and access to real-time information within and outside Nigeria.
“By adopting digital procurement systems and platforms, we create opportunities to save time and efficiently analyse large volumes of activities involved in procurement,” Mamman said.
“When you are digitalised, your coverage is wider and information is shared instantly. That is why we are relaunching our website—to ensure broader participation and enable every member to access real-time information.”
He added that the institute was positioning its members to meet global standards in procurement and supply chain management through the adoption of emerging technologies such as blockchain, artificial intelligence and data analytics.
Mamman explained that the institute’s objective was to add value to procurement by promoting proper sourcing systems, relevant skills, recognised credentials and practical competence.
He also called on the Federal Government to strengthen procurement governance by inaugurating the National Council of Public Procurement, describing it as a critical policy-making body.
“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate the National Council of Public Procurement,” he said.
“Once inaugurated, the council will oversee procurement activities and report directly to the President, ensuring greater transparency and accountability.”
In his remarks, the President of CIPSMN, Alhaji Sikiru Balogun, said the AGM provided an opportunity to assess the institute’s progress and outline an action plan for 2026.
Balogun disclosed that a major priority for the coming year was securing presidential assent to a bill already passed by the National Assembly, seeking to amend the institute’s name from Purchasing and Supply Management to Procurement and Supply Management.
“The bill has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate. What we now seek is presidential assent,” he said.
“The name change is to align the institute with global best practices and reflect the true scope of the profession worldwide.”
Also speaking, the Registrar of the institute, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, described the 2025 AGM as successful, noting growing recognition of procurement as a critical driver of economic development.
Aliyu said the institute remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical conduct and best practices in procurement, a sector he noted accounts for a significant portion of the national budget.
He called for stricter professionalism in the sector, lamenting what he described as the encroachment of unqualified “mid-career professionals” into procurement roles.
“This is not ideal and is unethical,” he said.
“Our focus in the coming year is to ensure that the profession takes its rightful place, with qualified practitioners occupying procurement positions in both the public and private sectors.”
Aliyu expressed confidence that strengthening professionalism in procurement would support the economic reform agenda of the Tinubu administration and enhance transparency and efficiency in public spending.
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