Brand & Business

Unity Bank, AfriGo Explore Collaboration to Deepen Access to Electronic Payments

  L-R: Mr. Wale Ogunride, Zonal Head, Lagos and South West, Unity Bank Plc; Ebehijie Momoh, Managing Director, AfriGo; Mr. Ebenezer Kolawole, Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc; and Mr. Ugo Obasi, Chief Operating Officer, AfriGo during AfriGo team’s visit to Unity Bank Head office recently. By St. Johnson Adegboyega  Unity Bank Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing electronic payment adoption and financial inclusion by… []

Wema Bank Wins ‘Commercial Bank of the Year’ at 2025 Nairametrics Capital Market Awards

  By St. Johnson Adegboyega Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has been announced as the winner of the ‘Commercial Bank of the Year’ Award at the 2025 Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards (NCMC Awards). The announcement was made at the prestigious awards gala held on May 23rd at the Civic Center in Lagos, where standout… []

Union Bank, PAPSS Simplify Cross-Border Transactions

— File photo of Union Bank logo By St. Johnson Adegboyega    To deliver simpler, smarter banking solutions, Union Bank of Nigeria has partnered with the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) network, a Financial Market Infrastructure that provides hassle-free and convenient cross-border money transfers to some selected African countries. This revolutionary payment solution for implementing the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) is designed… []

Fitch Upgrades Fidelity Bank’s National Rating to ‘A+(nga)’, Affirms Long-Term IDR at ‘B’

— Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Managing Director/CEO of Fidelity Bank By St. Johnson Adegboyega Global credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has affirmed Fidelity Bank Plc’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at ‘B’ and upgraded its National Long-Term Rating to ‘A+(nga)’ from ‘A(nga)’. The upgrade, announced on May 29, 2025, reflects the bank’s strengthened capital buffers and improved profitability, signaling continued positive momentum in its performance. According… []

Children’s Day: Chiderije Mbah Set To Run Wema Bank’s Affairs For 24 Hours As 12-year-old Wins One Day MD/CEO 

— Chiderije Mbah poses with Wema Bank MD/CEO, Mr. Moruf Oseni By St. Johnson Adegboyega  In a heartfelt celebration of 2025 Children’s Day, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s most innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has unveiled 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah as its One-Day Managing Director/CEO for May 27, 2025, as part of a special initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of Nigerian… []

Tunji-Ojo Calls for Innovation-Driven Public, Private Sector at Access Bank GLS

L-R: Kemi Nanna Nandap, Comptroller General of Immigration; Paul Usoro (SAN), Chairman, Access Bank Plc; Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Honourable Minister of Interior; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman Access Holdings Plc; Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Holdings Plc; and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank Plc, at Access Tower, Victoria Island, during the Guest Lecture Series hosted by Access Bank in Lagos. Hon. Dr. Olubunmi… []

Fidelity Bank Plc Wins 2025 DBN Innovation Award for MSME Support

–Fidelity Bank logo By St. Johnson Adegboyega  In recognition of its exceptional contributions to innovative financial solutions for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Fidelity Bank Plc has been awarded the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award in the Deposit Money Bank (DMB) category. This prestigious accolade celebrates Fidelity Bank’s commitment to addressing the unique challenges faced by MSMEs, a vital segment in… []

CBN Reassures Public on Banking Sector Stability

— File photo of CBN office By St. Johnson Adegboyega  The attention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been drawn to certain publications and social media reports containing misleading information regarding the operations of a regulated financial institution. The CBN wishes to categorically reassure the public, depositors, and stakeholders that the Nigerian banking sector remains resilient, safe, and sound. Like all other regulated… []

Fidelity Emerges Fastest Growing Brand as Value More Than Triples– Wasiu Alli

  –– By Wasiu Alli Fidelity Bank Nigeria has emerged as the fastest-growing Nigerian brand as the lender’s value more than tripled, displacing Stanbic IBTC, a new report by Brand Finance, a London-based brand valuation consultancy revealed. The bank’s emergence highlights the lender’s expanding market influence and strong investor confidence as the financial institution continues to deliver value for its customers amid tough economic conditions…. []

Fidelity Bank CEO’s Share Acquisition Signals Strong Confidence in Tier-One Lender

— Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe By St. Johnson Adegboyega  In a decisive move underscoring unwavering confidence in Fidelity Bank Plc’s resilience, Managing Director and CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe has acquired an additional 18 million shares of the bank, valued at approximately ₦366 million. According to a regulatory filing posted on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) Disclosures portal, this strategic investment was executed… []

Access Bank Retains Title as Nigeria’s Most Valuable Brand for Fourth Consecutive Year

— Access Bank By St. Johnson Adegboyega  Access Bank PLC has once again emerged as Nigeria’s most valuable brand, securing the top position for the fourth consecutive year in the latest “Nigeria 25 2025” ranking by Brand Finance, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy. This achievement reaffirms Access Bank’s sustained brand leadership and its impact on the financial landscape through innovation, customer-centricity, and strategic growth…. []

With ₦193.5 Billion Tech Investment, Access Holdings Sets Benchmark in Fraud Prevention

  By St. Johnson Adegboyega As global financial fraud surges to over $485 billion in annual losses, Access Holdings PLC is setting a new standard in Africa’s banking industry through aggressive and strategic investment in technology aimed at combating the growing threat. With Nigeria’s financial sector experiencing a spike in digital fraud, particularly through mobile and online channels, Access Holdings has emerged as a front-runner… []

Access Bank Secures DFIs’ USD 100 Million Facility led by German DEG for MSMEs and Gender Equality in Nigeria

— L-R: Roland Siller, Chief Executive Officer, DEG, and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Access Bank, at the signing of a USD 100 million senior loan facility to support Nigerian MSMEs, small corporates, and women-led businesses, held on the sidelines of the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire… recently. By St. Johnson Adegboyega  Access Bank Plc has successfully closed a USD 100 million… []

“Buy Africa, it’s not inferior”: Ogbonna, Mene, Zubairu Chart Path for Developing Continental Trade at Africa CEO Forum

— L-R: Wamkele Mene, Secretary General of the AfCFTA; Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC); Trudi MAKHAYA, Partner, BCG, and Roosevelt Ogbonna, Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank, shortly after their conversation on ‘Fast-tracking African Integration: The Private Sector Imperative’, held at the Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire… recently. At the Africa CEO Forum, leaders from across the continent gathered to discuss… []

Fidelity Bank Reclaims Trillion-naira Market Cap as Stock Rises to ₦21

By St. Johnson Adegboyega  Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reentered the trillion-naira market capitalisation club, after its share price rose by 5.3%, climbing from ₦19.95 to ₦21.00 on May 13, 2025, according to data from the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX). This latest development also brings the total number of Nigerian companies with a trillion-naira market capitalisation to 19. According to a report published… []

Global Money Week: Unity Bank Deepens Commitment to Financial Literacy with Nationwide Youth Outreach

— Global Money Week: Representative of Unity Bank MD, Mr. William Odigie, Zonal Head South- South, South East addressing students at Boys Model Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State   By St. Johnson Adegboyega  In demonstration of its commitment to financial empowerment targeting Youths, Unity Bank Plc has again championed the cause of financial literacy by facilitating Training in 13 secondary schools across Nigeria to commemorate… []

Fidelity Bank grows PBT by 167.8% to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025

Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc By St. Johnson Adegboyega Fidelity Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading Tier-1 financial institutions, has announced a remarkable financial performance for the first quarter of 2025, recording a Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N105.8 billion, representing an impressive growth of 167.8% compared to N39.5 billion in Q1 2024. The bank’s unaudited financial statements, released on the Nigerian Exchange… []

Unity Bank Launches GenFi, Targets Children, Teens with Gamified Banking Platform

  By St. Johnson Adegboyega  In a bold move to redefine promotion of financial literacy, Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, has unveiled GenFi, a new digital banking platform tailored to empower kids and teenagers between the ages of 8 and 18 with essential financial skills. The launch follows a report by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which found that only 38% of Nigerian adults… []

Okobi, Esomeju, Otaigbe Join Global Leaders to Discuss Sustainable Finance, Economic Transition at UNEP FI’s Regional Roundtable

  — By Adeola Idris As part of its continued commitment to sustainability, Access Holdings PLC will be amongst the leading participants in the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) Regional Roundtable on Sustainable Finance for Africa and Middle East. Taking place from May 6-7, 2025, in Marrakech, Morocco, the event will bring together regulators, policymakers, and key stakeholders from the financial sector… []

Zenith Bank Fetes Shareholders With Dividend Payout Of N195.67 Billion, Promises Qnantum Leap In Future Dividends

L-R: Executive Director, Mr. Adamu Lawani; Executive Director, Mr. Akin Ogunranti; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON; Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR; Executive Director, Mrs. Adobi Nwapa; Executive Director, Mr. Henry Oroh; and Executive Director, Mr. Louis Odom during the 34th Annual General Meeting of Zenith Bank Plc held at The Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos Shareholders of Zenith… []