Great visions attract the best people, and so is the case at Ecobank Nigeria. The Nigerian franchise of the Pan-African financial institution is making good on its mission to empower Nigerians with all the tools to take control and make the most of their finances. With the recent revamp of its full-stack mobile banking solutions – *326#, Ecobank Mobile app, OmniLite, Omni Plus, EcobankPay and NQR, the Bank’s Marketing and Corporate Communications department is being built up to connect customers to greater value in banking and to ensure that the innovative products are effectively articulated to the public.
Led by the seasoned Pan-African financial services expert Mr. Patrick Akinwuntan, Ecobank Nigeria has been bolstering its digital capabilities and human capital with the goal of delivering optimum value for clients and shareholders across several value chains. It is in this line that Mr. Babajide Sipe was recently appointed to Head the Marketing and Corporate Communications department for Ecobank Nigeria. An experienced Marketing & Brand Manager, Mr. Sipe’s multi-faceted career, which cuts across several fields, industries and regions within the country and abroad will come to play in leading and enriching the Bank’s Marketing and Communications efforts with in-depth expertise, top-notch creativity and an extensive breadth of value-adding networks.
Under Mr. Akinwuntan, who is both the Managing Director and Regional Executive for Ecobank Nigeria, the Bank has strongly positioned itself as a key stakeholder and supporter in the growth of the real sector of the Nigerian economy. Recently, Ecobank announced that it would be empowering MSMEs with N100 Billion Naira, a special fund set aside for business growth and to reduce unemployment in Nigeria; and also the Ecobank Female Entrepreneurship Initiative (EFEI) targeted at boosting female entrepreneurship, amongst others.
Ultimately, Ecobank’s goal is to remain the go-to bank for Pan-African trade facilitation and payments. This would mean leveraging the full value of its unrivalled Pan-African footprint covering 33 African countries to create greater market access and financing opportunities. The Marketing and Corporate Communications department, under the leadership of Mr. Sipe thus has a huge task to position the Bank for the future. With the fine blend of experience, expertise and cutting-edge solutions, growth seems certain, if not near.
In a bid to foster positive business relationships, Fidelity Bank makes concerted efforts aimed at collaborating with the private and public sectors. The Bank had in the past paid courtesy visits to industrialists and top government officials such as the Governors of Ogun State, Lagos State, Oyo State, Imo State and Osun State, as well as the Founder of BUA Group, Abdulsamad Rabiu.
Just recently, EXCO members of the Bank led by Managing Director/CEO, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator (Dr.) Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan. The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the existing relationship and support government’s economic initiatives.
L –R. Senator representing Katsina South Senatorial District, Senator Bello Mandiya; Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank Plc, Alhaji Hassan Imam; President of the Senate, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan, CON.; Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mrs. Nneka Onyeali- Ikpe; and Senator representing Jigawa North West Senatorial District, Senator Abdullahi Gumel when EXCO members of Fidelity Bank led by Mrs. Nneka Onyeali –Ikpe paid a courtesy visit to the Office of the Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Distinguished Senator (Dr.) Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan…recently
We have always nursed the fear that certain key figures within the All Progressives Congress will cause the untold embarrasement for the party with the way the just concluded All Progressives Congress Local Government Council Primaries elections. It is worrisome that these personalities are not taken into consideration the presidential ambition of our revered National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as their actions is destroying the fabrics of dignity of our great party.
Majority of Executives and Members of All Progressives Congress in Amuwo Odofin voted overwhelmingly for Dipo Olorunrinu in the Primaries elections which held on Saturday, 29th May 2021. This was followed by the publication of his name (Hon Dipo Olorunrinu) in The Nation (Page 6) and Guardian Newspapers likewise online Newspapers on 4th June 2021.
The people’s joy was elated on the news of his candidature. Hon Dipo Olorunrinu has exhibited so much benevolence as a poltical figure in Amuwo Odofin.
As stakeholders, we want to graciously appeal to our National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in resolving this issue that is capable of affecting the fortunes of the party in Amuwo Odofin on the following grounds;
1. Hon Dipo Olorunrinu has shown so much committment to the growth of the party since he joined over two years.
2. He is currently spearheading the campaign of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu Presidential ambition across the Badagry Division with a functional Secretariat at 204 Road, House 5 in Festac Town.
3. Despite that he has been out of office for over two years, all his humanitarian programs such as free school bus, economic support programs for petty traders, youth reformation programs, health support programs, etc for Amuwo Odofin community are still going on.
4. He financially supported the last membership registration of our great party. He also mobilized new members in large numbers for registration.
5. He has acted as a bridge builder between major ethnic groups in Amuwo Odofin.
6. He has remained very peaceful since the primaries despite obvious provocations from one of the Aspirants.
7. He has gotten the commitment of the Igbo communities to not only support but financially support all APC Candidates in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
8. Those who have lost their shops in the various demolition exercises of major markets (Agboju and 23 Road Market in Festac Town) are strongly hoping that Hon Dipo Olorunrinu will bring succour when he assumes office as the Chairman. They mobilized their respective families to register in the membership registration because of Hon Dipo Olorunrinu.
9. Hon Dipo Olorunrinu have the requisite experience, knowledge, intelligence, expertise, network, etc to revamp Amuwo Odofin from state of dearth infrastructures.
8. The retirees have expressed so much joy when the name of Hon Dipo Olorunrinu was published as the Chairmanship Candidate of All Progressives Congress because Festac Town have lost its glory under the present administration.
9. We are stating emphatically that Hon Dipo Olorunrinu is the most preferred and credible Candidate for All Progressives Congress in the forthcoming Local Government Council elections.
10. Any attempt to substitute Hon Dipo Olorunrinu for Valentine Buraimoh will jeopardize all our efforts in strengthening the party not only in numbers but financially.
11. Hon. Dipo Olorunrinu has been taking good care of party Apex Leaders, Local Government and Wards Executives since Hon Valentine Buraimoh refused to support the party.
Our revered National Leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are passionately appealing that you should not allow certain high ranking members of our party mislead you into taking a decision that will not only affect the fortunes of our party in Amuwo Odofin but across Lagos as we gear up towards 2023.
We have remained Loyal despite all the sufferings endured under Valentine Buraimoh. Our only hope for taking Amuwo Odofin to a greater height is Hon Dipo Olorunrinu. So he shouldn’t for any reason be substituted.
Issued by;
APC AMUWO ODOFIN STAKEHOLDERS
APC YOUTH VANGUARD FOR PEACE
5th June 2021
Please be informed that you are now required to pay a fee of N6.98 to your mobile network provider for every banking transaction carried out on all Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, USSD banking platforms.
This means that when you access any banking service using Unstructured Supplementary Service Data, a fee of N6.98 will be charged to your bank account, which is in turn remitted in full by your Bank, to your mobile network provider.
Please note that Airtime and Data purchases via USSD are exempt from this charge.
FirstBank of Nigeria Limited, Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has been ranked the second ‘most admired financial services brand’ in Africa – for the second straight year – at the 2021 Brand Africa 100: Africa’s Best Brands Event, held on Africa day, 25th May 2021.
Brand Africa is an intergenerational movement to inspire a great Africa through promoting a positive image of Africa, celebrating its diversity and driving its competitiveness. It is a brand-led movement which recognizes that in the 21st century, brands are an asset and a vector of image, reputation and competitiveness of nations.
With over 127 years of being woven into the fabric of society, FirstBank has been at the forefront of promoting growth and development in the country, extending its financial services footprints – through its subsidiaries – to over half a dozen countries across 3 continents. The Bank’s international business presence includes FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing.
Through the years, the Bank’s leading digital banking services and innovative products like FirstMobile, USSD, Firstmonie Agent amongst many others, have been essential to promoting cashless transactions in today’s digital age. FirstBank’s digital savviness extends to the social media platforms where it has been ranked by Financial Brand as the number one on Instagram in Nigeria and second globally based on the highest number of fan base/followers and it’s clearly poised to reclaim number 1 position across all parameters.
Appreciating the recognition on behalf of the Bank, the Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, said, “we are grateful to Brand Africa for the back-to-back recognition as the ‘Second Most Admired Financial Services Brand in Africa’. This is a testament to the impactful role we are playing in promoting socio-economic development in Africa, which includes being at the forefront of bridging the financial inclusion gap as well as our commitment to supporting Small and Medium Enterprises because of the critical role they play in economic growth and development”. He further noted that FirstBank has created a functional ecosystem for SMEs to thrive through various value adding solutions and value propositions.
Only recently, First Bank of Nigeria Limited was awarded the 2021 ”Retail Banking CEO of the Year Nigeria”, ”Most innovative Retail Banking App Nigeria” and ”Best CSR Bank Nigeria” awards by Global Banking and Finance magazine.
The Federal government has suspended the operations of Twitter, the microblogging and social networking service, in Nigeria.
Lai Mohammed, minister of information, announced the suspension in a statement issued on Friday.
The suspension of the social networking service was also shared on the Twitter handle of the federal ministry of information.
According to the statement, the minister cited “the persistent use of the platform for activities that are capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence”.
However, the platform is still active within Nigeria.
It is a known fact that the Nigerian government has been on a running battle with twitter microblogging social networking company over the company’s decision to remove some insensitive tweet through the handle of the president and the indefinite suspension is the new stage of the war between the two.
The Catholic Bishop of the Sokoto diocese, Matthew Kukah, has faulted the regime of the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), for its refusal to declare bandits as a terrorist group.
Kukah, in his homily at the burial of Rev. Fr. Alphonsus Bello, which held at Our Lady of Apostle Catholic Church Independence Way, Kaduna, on Wednesday, also said Nigerian leaders had no blood in their hearts.
“Those who govern us are allowing this killing of citizens in their innocency because they have no blood in their hearts,” Kukah said.
The late Bello was kidnapped alongside Rev. Fr. Joseph Keke and murdered by bandits on May 21, 2021, in Katsina.
The cleric noted that there was nowhere in the world where killings of human beings were so manifested as it was in Nigeria.
Kukah said, “There is nowhere citizens can be slaughtered in the whole world without the government showing empathy and concern.
“The continuous barbaric slaughter and murder of our people in their innocency suggests that our beautiful Presidential Villa, National Assembly, government houses, are not evidence of civilization.
“How did Nigeria come to this tragic situation? We know who they are, who they believe in and where their inspiration comes from. The government has never declared the kidnappers to be a terrorist group.
“There is no ambiguity about those who are killing our people and why they are doing so and where their inspiration comes from. We hear and live with stories of complicity at the highest level. We as Christians can only rely on the faithful Word of God.
“Is it possible that you have a country where people have sworn with Qur’an and Bible to uphold the principles of governance that they will do everything within their power to protect and defend the integrity of Nigerians and suddenly we are where we are today?”
Kukah added, “I think the President and governors of Nigeria should address Nigerians and say, fellow Nigerians I have sworn that I will not protect you from foreign invaders, kidnappers and being killed.
“You are on your own. Your security is in your own hands. Keeping you safe is not our immediate priority. Foreign bandits or anyone can come at will kill, loot, rape, kidnap and murder you. They can wipe out your communities, destroy your homes, your farmlands, property.
“They can kidnap or murder your children at will. They can rustle your cattle. If they kidnap your children, wives or husbands, we will consider you criminals for negotiating for their release. We are preparing a law that could see you go to jail for 15 years for this heinous crime against your fatherland.”
The Chairman of the Oyo State of South-West Security Network, aka Amotekun, Gen. Kunle Togun (retd), on Wednesday advised residents of South-West states to be vigilant because of the presence of foreign Fulani herdsmen in forests in the region.
The Amotekun Commandant, who was a director at the Directorate of Military Intelligence, said the foreigners might unleash terror on the region.
He noted that the Fulani, who were mainly from Mali, Niger Republic, Chad and Burkina Faso, had been residing in the forests for some years.
The Amotekun boss said this on Wednesday while speaking at an annual lecture organised by the students of the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan.
He spoke on the theme, “Security challenge: Holistic approach and the significance of regional security dimensions.”
Togun said, “The people who are supposed to administer Nigeria to move forward are biased in the aspect of religion. The Fulani that I grew up to know were the native Fulani.
“But these ones causing problems are non-Nigerians. They are from Futa Jallon, Mali, Bourkina Faso, Chad, Niger Republic. Some of these people were Tuaregs, who used to ambush traders in the olden days and robbed them of their money and property.
“These foreign Fulani, somebody has told them that Allah has given Nigeria to them as their heritage and they are coming here to come and take what Allah has given them.”
The Amotekun boss advised people in the six states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ekiti and Ondo States to be security conscious.
Toogun said the commercial motorcyclists, who had infiltrated the region, were foot soldiers sent to study the topography of the region.
The leader of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele who was represented by Mrs Bolanle Aina, ex-House of Assembly candidate for Abeokuta South constituency II of Ogun State, Igbalaye Wasiu Ayodele, the president of National Association of Online Security Reporters, NAOSRE, Oyewale Femi were among dignitaries who attended the wedding of Adeyemi Obadimu, the publisher of Newsextra on Saturday in Ifo.
Also in attendance were the Nigerian Guild of Investigative Journalists, NGIJ vice president on Information and strategy, Bashorun Israel Bolaji, popular Ibile Lemi crooner, Okiki Bright, as well as top-notch journalists across Nigeria.
The family of Sanni entrusted Balikis, the bride into the hands of the groom’s family, the Obadimu of Egba decedant, during the wedding fatiha held at Jam-bed multipurpose hall in Ifo local government of Ogun state.
During the traditional marriage, the couple received the blessings of their parents in the presence of family, friends, and well-wishers.
The groom, a renowned journalists with vast experience in reporting politics, business and sports. He is also an advocate of youth inclusiveness in governance. He went to ESTG University in Benin Republic, Cotonu, where he studied Mass Communication.
The bride, Olayemi balikis an entrepreneur who graduated from Osun State College Of Education, where she studied Social studies/Yoruba has be versatile despite the economy disadvantage.
Veron, as the groom is fondly called by admirers and colleagues said he had always known he would marry ‘the love of his life’ since they met years ago. The immense wedding was a way of reiterating his love to her.
The couple described the marriage as a dream come true for them given the mutual love, respect, and understanding they have shared in previous years.
In a Public Announcement coming from the corporate communications department of FirstBank, Nigeria’s leading bank, the rumor that the bank offices in the South-Eastern part of the country has been shut was refuted. Below is the statement made available to us;
Public Announcement
This is to inform the public that our South East branches are fully open for business. Please disregard any news making the rounds that is contrary to this.
Thank you.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading financial inclusion services provider in Nigeria for over 127 years.
With over 750 business locations and over 100,000 Banking Agents spread across 99% of the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria, FirstBank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services to serve its over 30 million customers. The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing.
The Bank has been handy at promoting digital payment in the country and has issued over 10million cards, the first bank to achieve such a milestone in the country. FirstBank’s cashless transaction drive extends to having more than 10million people on its USSD Quick Banking service through the nationally renowned *894# Banking code and over 4.5 million people on FirstMobile platform.
Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities that are available in Nigeria, an internationally competitive world-class brand and a credible financial partner.
FirstBank has been named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row (2011 – 2016) by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group; “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” for seven consecutive years (2011 – 2017) by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards and “Best Bank in Nigeria” by Global Finance for 15 years. Our brand purpose is always to put customers, partners and stakeholders at the heart of our business, even as we standardise customer experience and excellence in financial solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, in consonance with our brand vision “To be the partner of the first choice in building your future”.
Our brand promise is always to deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on our inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First in every respect.
