{
  "id": 17703740,
  "title": "FirstBank, Pointek partner to boost digital inclusion via financing",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/01/firstbank-pointek-partner-to-boost-digital-inclusion-via-financing-17703740",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-01T23:52:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/firstbank-pointek-partner-to-boost-digital-inclusion-via-financing/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "FirstBank in Nigeria has teamed up with retail giant Pointek to introduce FirstEASE, a new buy-now-pay-later service designed to make it easier for people to purchase essential mobile devices, electronic gadgets, and home appliances. This partnership aims to boost digital inclusion throughout the country. At the launch event in Lagos, Abdenego Ugwueke, the Group Head of E-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, explained that the collaboration seeks to help customers who struggle with the financial strain of buying advanced technology devices. \"Living in an information age, people need intelligent devices to access abundant online information,\" Ugwueke said. He added that modern devices require more memory, speed, and compute power, increasing their cost. \"It becomes increasingly difficult for people to afford these devices all at once,\" he added. FirstEASE offers flexible installment plans, ensuring full transparency for consumers seeking financing to buy tech equipment and household appliances from Pointek outlets. Group Head of Personal Banking at FirstBank, Chukwuka Okonkwo, highlighted the product's competitive advantage, stating that it uses artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to assess customer eligibility. This allows for repayment spread over six months at a low interest rate of just 3 percent, making it the cheapest option available. Okonkwo emphasized the ease of purchasing phones, laptops, and electronic equipment from Pointek and paying over six months. \"All Nigerians, tell me who will give you this at 3 per cent? 3 per cent, that is the cheapest, right?\" he added. Jide, a seasoned journalist with over 12 years of experience, reported on this business-related story.",
  "summary": "FirstBank Nigeria has partnered with retail giant Pointek to launch FirstEASE, an innovative buy-now-pay-later financial solution aimed at expanding access to essential mobile devices, electronic gadgets, and home appliances while driving digital inclusion across the country. Speaking at the launch event recently in Lagos, Group Head, E-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, Abdenego Ugwueke,…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}