Where are you at with your money goals?
January. The month that feels like it started in November and might never end. You’re still waiting for your salary, and the calendar is moving in slow motion. But beyond all of that, remember there’s that resolution you wrote at the end of last year.
So… how’s it going so far?
Are your plans already in motion? Are you still setting things up and waiting for the right moment to really begin? Or you haven’t checked your note pad since you wrote them down. Whatever point you might be right now, it is normal.
You might be thinking, “Isn’t it too early for this check-in?” But a quick revisit of your plans now can save a lot of stress later. After all, we all promised ourselves a fresh start this year.
The thing about resolutions is that they’re usually made in a very hopeful moment, but they have to survive good days, bad days, and the inconvenient days. This is especially true with money goals. Not because people are unserious, but because money is involved in almost everything. You don’t pause life to work on your finances. You work on your finances inside life.
The thing is, we often forget that the goal is not to be perfect in the first few weeks of the year. The goal is to keep coming back to what you said you wanted to do and support the intentions you have towards those goals by taking action. You can have good intentions but without actions it makes no difference.
When it comes to money goals, progress is usually small. It hinges on repeated choices and putting simple systems in place that make the right thing easier to do. Nothing too extra, just simple decisions that works.
If you need a financial partner that works with you and for you as you chase these goals, Vale is that partner. With simple money management tools designed to help you turn good intentions into habits that actually fit into your life.
It’s still early in the year. This is just a friendly check-in. Financial win is a real glow-up. And your goals are still worth keeping in sight.
NOW TO THE NEWS
Vale Invites users to join the Multi-Millionaire Challenge
Vale Finance has announced the launch of its Multi-Millionaire Challenge, a goal-based saving designed to help users build serious saving habits and work steadily toward long-term financial goals.
The challenge is part of Vale’s broader effort to make saving more structured, more rewarding, and easier to commit to, especially at the start of the year when many people are rethinking their money habits.
The Multi-Millionaire Challenge is built for users who want to move beyond casual saving and start working intentionally toward building long term wealth. It encourages participants to save consistently over time, turning what is usually a difficult discipline into a guided and goal-focused experience.
Participants also stand the chance to earn up to 13% interest p.a. on their savings, plus an extra 5% bonus, making the challenge not just a disciplined way to save, but also a chance to earn more value for their money.
Vale encourages both new and existing users to take advantage of the opportunity to turn consistent saving into an engaging and rewarding experience.
IMF backs Nigeria’s CPI data as inflation eases to 15.15%
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has endorsed Nigeria’s December 2025 inflation figures and the new inflation calculation method introduced by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), saying the changes align with international best practices and support economic stability.
According to the IMF, the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) data shows that inflationary pressure in Nigeria is easing. Headline inflation slowed to 15.15% in December 2025, down from 17.33% in November, and far lower than 34.80% in December 2024, a sign that price increases are cooling compared to last year.
The NBS recently updated how inflation is calculated, using a broader and more stable reference period. The IMF said this improves the quality and reliability of the data and makes Nigeria’s inflation figures more comparable with global standards.
While prices are still rising slightly month to month, the slower pace of increase suggests that cost-of-living pressures may continue to ease if the trend is sustained.
Naira weakens to ₦1,490 in parallel market as gap with official rate widens
The naira weakened in the parallel market to about ₦1,490 per dollar, widening the gap with the official exchange rate to its highest level in 11 months. While the official market recorded a slight improvement, pressure remains in the foreign exchange market due to strong demand and limited supply.
In the official market, the naira closed at ₦1,417.95 per dollar, slightly stronger than the ₦1,424.5 recorded a week earlier. However, in the parallel market, the currency weakened from around ₦1,477 to ₦1,489–₦1,490, pushing the gap between both markets to about ₦73, the widest since February 2025.
Although Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves rose slightly to $45.8 billion from $45.6 billion, supported by oil and investment inflows, the naira is still under pressure. This shows that despite improving external reserves, strong demand for dollars continues to strain the foreign exchange market.
Nigeria’s recovery is fragile without targeted policies — World Bank
The World Bank has warned that while Nigeria’s economy shows signs of recovery, growth remains fragile and may not improve living standards for millions unless targeted policies are implemented to reduce poverty.
Dr. Samer Matta, the World Bank’s Senior Economist for Nigeria, made this assertion at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) 2026 Macroeconomic Outlook presentation. He emphasized that macroeconomic stabilization alone is insufficient to ensure ordinary citizens benefit from economic gains.
Inflation, limited competition in key markets, and uneven fiscal spending across states continue to hinder the translation of economic recovery into tangible improvements for households. Subnational governments now control significant revenues, but much of the spending does not always align with citizen needs in critical areas like education, healthcare, and social protection.
Dr. Matta highlighted the need for coordinated policy measures beyond aggregate growth, including reducing inflation, improving the quality of government spending, implementing social protection programs, and supporting private sector-led growth. He stressed that monetary policy alone cannot bridge the gap between macroeconomic stability and real improvements in living standards.
The World Bank also cautioned that the upcoming election year could pose risks if fiscal and policy discipline are relaxed. Investing in human capital through early childhood education, primary healthcare, and vocational training is essential to unlocking Nigeria’s demographic dividend and ensuring that economic growth is inclusive and sustainable.
