The General Overseer of Champions Royal Assembly, Prophet Joshua Iginla is set to storm the city of Lagos with a two-day power packed crusade.
This crusade, which will be the first of its kind is tagged Swimming in Greatness and is said to be coming up on April 21st to April 22nd, 2020 at Yard 158, plot 54 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos.
Prophet Joshua Iginla is one prophet who is known for his unique utterances, accurate prophecies, healing ministry, hence, this crusade won’t be short of any of this.
L-R: CEO, Linda Ikeji TV, Linda Ikeji; Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo, Founder / CEO, House of Tara International, Tara Fela- Durotoye at “Giving her Wings”; a platform to mentor, build and connect young women entrepreneurs, organised by the Bank in Lagos Friday.Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; Founder / CEO, House of Tara International, Tara Fela-Durotoye; CEO, Linda Ikeji TV, Linda Ikeji at “Giving her Wings”; a platform to mentor, build and connect young women entrepreneurs, organised by the Bank in Lagos Friday.CEO, Bubez Foods, Ijeoma Ndukwe; Founder / CEO, House of Tara International, Tara Fela-Durotoye; Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank Plc, Nnamdi Okonkwo; CEO, Linda Ikeji TV, Linda Ikeji, at “Giving her Wings”; a platform to mentor, build and connect young women entrepreneurs, organised by the Bank in Lagos Friday.
Harvey Mackay, an American businessman, author and syndicated columnist with Universal Uclick once said “A smart manager will establish a culture of gratitude.” This was the order of the day during the 27th Convocation and Award Dinner organized by the management of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Ikorodu, recently in Lagos at the Airport Hotels Ikeja Banquet Hall.
The event which serves as non-student award night as well as the school 10th Rector Professor Samuel Olayinka Sogunro’s last convocation was ordinarily meant to confer Honorary fellowship awards on some outstanding individuals with Aare Afe Babalola (founder Afe Babalola University) and Alhaji Babatunde Rotinwa (Chairman, Lagos state Local government service commission) to be this edition’s recipients. It was also meant to be a gathering away from the school premises by the staffs to dine and wine while the management will appreciate a few of the staffs.
It was a carefully planned event which was meant to give surprise awards to some staffs who are kept in the dark about the planned award, the cat was however let out by the rector when he was delivering his speech. The Rector explained in details the reason behind the award and how the winners were chosen.
In his words Professor Sogunro said “The 11th Governing Council of the Polytechnic approved that excellent performance must be recognized and awarded to stimulate continuous excellent output. So, a ‘Productivity Committee’ to determine winners across schools/faculty, departments and units was set-up. Selflessness, creativity, innovation, focus, results and others like that are the major criteria used in selection”, he concluded.
There are two categories of awards which are; Productivity and Excellence. Mr. Steven Adesemoye of the Mass Communications Department was awarded the overall best as the Most Outstanding Staff of the year. The award reads for his contributions towards the overall development of the Polytechnic.
In his remarked a visibly surprised winner said “What can I say? I am naturally a workaholic. I was not doing my things for reward. So, this came to me as a pleasant surprise.
“I appreciate God for His mercy. I appreciate the Management under the leadership of Professor Oluyinka Samuel Sogunro for finding me worthy of this award. I promise to triple my efforts in taking the Polytechnic of excellence to the next level. I dedicate the award to all struggling women across the globe.”
He explained further “Though, this is not my first. In 2005, I was awarded Best Staff (Technical) under the directorship of Mr Olawumi Anthony Gasper. But this very one is the biggest and somehow remarkable.” Concluded an elated Adesemoye.
It is the believe that the of the school management that such honours will go a long way in encouraging staffs to put-in more effort towards giving their best at all times to the development of the students in their care.
Pics From left: Dean, School of Communications & Liberal studies- Mr Segun Daisi, President, LASPOTECH Alumni association – Dr Yinka Adewusi, Deputy Rector (academics) – Mr Olumide Metilelu, Most Outstanding Staff – Steven Anu’ Adesemoye, Permanent Secretary, Office of Special Adviser on Education – Dr Shamsideen Allison and rector LASPOTECH- Mr Oluyinka Sogunro at the 27th Convocation Dinner and Awards held at the Banquet hall of Airport Hotel on Saturday
A Form 2 high-flyer Naomi Higgins, who passed her Junior Certificate Examination (JCE) with flying colours, has received a tertiary scholarship from Nigerian televangelist Temitope Balogun Joshua, commonly known as Prophet TB Joshua.
Higgins joins thousands of students worldwide who have received scholarship ranging from primary to tertiary education sponsored by Prophet TB Joshua, founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) and Emmanuel TV partners.
The 14-year-old brilliant student, will be the second one from Botswana to benefit from the same initiative following Mary-Jean Nleya who was sponsored by Prophet TB Joshua and Emmanuel TV partners to pursue her Bachelor of Laws and attained Magna Cum Laude at the University of Pretoria in South Africa.
Nleya was also sponsored by Prophet TB Joshua to pursue her Master’s Degree at Harvard University under the Harvard Law School and was also given an opportunity with the help of the Prophet to get an internship at International Criminal Court at The Hague in the Netherlands.
Higgins received her sponsorship during an all-paid expense trip by Prophet TB Joshua two week ago after a special invitation at SCOAN which is located in Lagos, Nigeria following an article which was published by Mmegi newspaper.
Higgins, who is currently doing her Form 4 at Selebi-Phikwe Senior Secondary School (SPSSS) was the only student at Nxakato JSS who attained grade A even though she sat for JCE whilst doing Form 2.
In an interview with Mmegi, Higgins said that words were not enough to describe her happiness when she received an invitation to SCOAN by Prophet TB Joshua.
She said that during her first encounter with Prophet TB Joshua she was shivering and all in tears. He added : “Prophet TB Joshua is a holy man and everything at SCOAN was godly. I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity to meet him in person.”
Higgins further said that she was still shocked that everything that happened to her in the past weeks started off with a small achievement of her passing JCE.She hopes to be a cardiologist and said that to her surprise during her one-on-one with Prophet TB Joshua, he offered her a tertiary scholarship to study what she wants when she finishes her BGCSE.
She also said that Prophet TB Joshua also appointed Nleya to be her mentor, role model and contact person for the prophet. Higgins clarfied that :“Nleya was the one who showed Prophet TB Joshua the article.
She is the same person who is going to assist me to apply for Harvard University or any other university, which is best in Cardiology across the globe.” She added that the scholarship would cover everything including tuition fees, living allowance and accommodation.
She also mentioned that Prophet TB Joshua gave her $3, 000 (about P33,000) so that she can purchase educational material to help her prepare for the BGCSE final examination. The intelligent girl was so determined to study harder at school because there was no way she was going to miss an opportunity to go to Harvard University.
About her stay in Nigeria, Higgins said she was over the moon because it has been her long term goal to be part of the congregants at SCOAN. She said that she would always cherish the moment because she was treated like a very important person (VIP) and accommodated in an executive suite just like in a five-star hotel.
The brilliant student described their experience at SCOAN as something out of this planet especially, the part where they visited the spiritual prayer mountain. The ever smiling student said that to make the journey to SCOAN even memorable was the part where she had to board on an aeroplane for the first time in her life.
She said that she would always thank God for everything, day and night, for making her dream come true earlier than expected. Higgins’s mother Ruth Higgins, who was equally elated, thanked Mmegi for writing an article about her brilliant daughter.
She said that it was through the article that her daughter was discovered by the Prophet TB Joshua who offered her the tertiary scholarship. She further said that if her daughter finishes her Form 5, provided she performs ell, she will go to any University of her choice and Prophet TB Joshua will wholly cover the scholarship.
Ruth added : “I don’t know how to describe the feeling as it is out of this world. The ball is in her court now to work extra harder in order to pass her BGCSE.” The delighted mother said that the bursary gives them assurance as parents that their daughter ‘s dream of studying Cardiology at Harvard University would come true provided she meet the University entry credentials. Ruth was certain that her daughter would pass BGCSE with merit because she is a hard worker and well-disciplined girl.
She expressed gratitude to Prophet TB Joshua for awarding Naomi the tertiary education scholarship and to God for giving her abundance of blessings. Ruth also thanked one of the beneficiaries of Prophet TB Joshua’s education bursary Nleya who discovered her daughter.
She shared that they learnt that Nleya also received scholarship from Prophet TB Joshua and Emmanuel TV partners years back when she was just an ordinary visitor at SCOAN. She also described Nleya as a guardian angel who made her daughter’s dream turn into reality. Naomi’s father, Kenneth Higgins said that he was extremely overjoyed of his daughter’s achievements. He said that his daughter’s achievements have brought admiration to his family.
Kenneth said: “This is what all fathers dream of and this is what we want for our families. I give all the honour and glory to the almighty God and Prophet TB Joshua for this grace from God. I am very much humbled by the kind gesture.” He said that Naomi’s achievements would go a long way in motivating her fellow peers on the importance of taking education seriously and to aim high and reach great heights.
I travel to meet Dr Adesola Adeduntan in Edinburgh, where he has been invited to give a keynote address at the Edinburgh School of Business about the role of financial institutions in driving financial inclusion. Fittingly, as you land in Edinburgh, you are greeted by billboards from different investment funds advertising their credentials in responsible and sustainable investment and how environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations underpin their activities.
With economists and politicians questioning capitalism and the Western liberal model, today the emphasis is very much on a stakeholder-based approach, whereby growth and prosperity is more equally attributed and takes into consideration the needs of the wider community. Sustainable investment has become de rigueur among corporate jargon.
Dr Adesola Kazeem Adeduntan, CEO of First Bank of Nigeria, is a veteran in the Nigerian banking and corporate world. His overriding message, clearly expressed throughout his interview responses, and also at the various talks he gave during the day (at the Business School and at a law firm), is on the importance of doing good if you’re to do well – financially – in Nigeria and indeed, Africa.
A telling sign
FirstBank is actually the oldest bank in Africa. It was established in Lagos in 1894 as the Bank of British West Africa. Last year it celebrated its 125th anniversary. It is also the biggest bank in Nigeria in terms of assets and branch network.
For Adeduntan, a veterinary doctor by training, it becomes clear, once we have settled down for our discussion, that the institution’s longevity is a telling sign: it not only proves the bank’s resilience, it also shows that it has the right structures in terms of governance and the right business model, with the country’s development at its core. The theme of the anniversary celebrations was about how the bank has been woven into the fabric of Nigerian society.
The clear message to the industry is that while it is possible to make a quick buck, you can only enjoy the sort of longevity it has if you conduct your business with the interests of the country at heart.
Nonetheless, it’s apparent Adeduntan does not want to dwell too long on past glories. Using the analogy of a car, he says that there is a reason why the windshield is large whilst the rear-view mirror is small.
The challenge of fintech
As in most sectors, traditional ways of doing business have been coming under increasing disruption from ever-evolving technology. The banking industry is no exception and seems to be under siege from an expanding fintech onslaught.
I ask him if he is worried that non-financial companies will be entering the banking sector, especially given the recent change in regulation by the Central Bank that allows non-traditional finance institutions, namely mobile operators, to enter the fray.
He says he is not worried as his bank has one of the best defined strategies when it comes to financial inclusion and that it has the largest digital banking network in Nigeria.
Much of this has been developed through the bank’s FirstMonie Agents system: 46,000 agents represent the bank across the country. Currently, 9m customers transact on their USSD platform (by mobile phone, both smart and analogue) in addition to 3m customers transacting on the FirstMobile platform.
The agent network, the biggest of its kind in the country, enables the bank to provide services to the most remote rural communities; and because it doesn’t need to have an extensive branch network, it means that these services can be supplied at a fraction of the cost of a ‘legacy’ banking model.
Financial deepening
Adeduntan prefers to use the phrase ‘financial deepening’ when talking about the unbanked. Financial inclusion has increased from the low 20s to approximately 40% in Nigeria over the past seven years and is expected to double to the mid-80s within the next five years.
He says ‘financial deepening’ occurs when financial inclusion starts playing an important role in economic development. It’s about layering additional products on the current agency banking network – services such as micro-credit, micro-insurance and micro-pension.
The aim is to provide value-added services whilst at the same time increasing the savings rate; this aspect, which is critical in driving investment rates, has been one factor behind Asia’s rapid growth.
It is in this area, he says, that the bank has a vital role to play and a distinct advantage over new entrants. Technology, he emphasises, will play a crucial part in broadening financial inclusion. In addition, it is important to partner and collaborate with different stakeholders such as NGOs and other organisations dealing with the bottom of the pyramid, to help them reach out to different groups and also improve financial literacy.
Last year saw a boom in venture capital investment into Nigeria. For example, $400m was invested in a number of fintech start-ups during November alone. Is he not worried that these fintech players, with their lower cost base and ability to use technology, AI and big data to overcome traditional hurdles, are going to take the majority share of the pie when it comes to servicing the unbanked?
He says that will only be the case if the banks do not manage to reinvent themselves. In Edinburgh, he actually spent a large part of his day visiting tech hubs around the university in the city and speaking to fintech companies. FirstBank, he adds, has a number of partnerships with fintechs as well as its own Digital Laboratory developing new solutions for the bank.
Nevertheless, he firmly believes that the ‘legacy banks’ will still continue to play a very central role, especially “in this part of the world where banks are quite dominant and they have significant buying power”.
In terms of settlements and deposits, he sees many of these new players as partners they can work with, even if in some areas they will be competitors.
Scope for growth
Despite the impressive strides made by the banking sector in Nigeria, Adeduntan believes there is still a massive scope for growth for the sector. He points out that none of the country’s top banks have made the Top 10 Banks in Africa list, despite Nigeria being the continent’s largest economy.
He thinks that with the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, “we are entering a very interesting period for the banking sector, not only in Nigeria but Africa in general”.
On the domestic front, does he expect further consolidation? “Within certain thresholds,” he answers. “Anything that would allow the strengthening of the entire banking sector, I am sure the Governor of the Central Bank would be positive about.”
He also points to demographics and the high rate of the unbanked as great opportunities for the growth of the sector continentally. “According to UNICEF, two billion babies will be born in Africa in the next 30 years,” he says. “And in places like DRC [where FirstBank has a presence] financial penetration is as low as 5%.” Put the two sets of figures together and, in theory at least, you get vast opportunity. But he adds the all-important caveat that demographics are only good if managed properly.
Supporting national champions
It hasn’t all been plain sailing for the bank, however. Adeduntan inherited a bank with several large exposures in the oil & gas and energy sectors, at a time when the oil & gas prices fell considerably, resulting in the devaluation of the naira against the dollar.
He says his management weathered the storm, reduced NPL levels to under double digits, and has strengthened the risk infrastructure, thus enabling the bank to better deal with cyclical downturns in future.
Discussing the role of large companies in the commercial landscape, Adeduntan says it is essential to have big banks like FirstBank, just as it is vital to have national champion companies that have the scale and wherewithal to make transformative investment. Such companies require financial institutions of similar scale to support them. The Dangote Group’s investment into what will become the continent’s largest oil refinery is a case in point, he adds.
Role of the Central Bank
We move on to the regulator and the role of the Central Bank. Does he think that it is too interventionist, dictating how much banks should lend, where they should place their assets?
Adeduntan refused to be drawn into criticism of the regulator, with whom he says he, and other bank CEOs, have a strong relationship. But he did say that the role of a central bank in the development of an emerging economy is clearly different from the role of a central bank in a developed economy.
“It is not unusual that the Central Bank intervenes in critical sectors allied to the loan to deposit ratio. It’s about economic growth; it’s about development; it’s about channelling credit in sectors that are very important for the national economy.
“Let us take agriculture – again, we are one of the biggest lenders into that sector. We found the Central Bank intervention in some of those critical sectors extremely useful and not just for us as a bank, but for the country as a whole. When you look at intervention in agriculture, you have to put it in the context of the size of the population. Nigeria is a country of 200m people today. The business of feeding 200m people is a strategic business. Everything that is being done to ensure that at least we are self-sufficient in food production is strategically important. We find the Central Bank intervention in those areas quite useful and of national importance.”
He reflected the positive attitude of many Nigerian entrepreneurs to the country’s future. He says he has a lot of time for the Economic Advisory Council – composed of credible business leaders and economists – that has been put together by President Muhammadu Buhari. And despite reports that the government is not economy-minded, he thinks that it is a pro-business government.
Ethical banking
It is nearly 10.00 in the evening when we finish our talk, his day having started at 07.30am. We go back to sustainability and the role of financial services to make sure they are lending to institutions that are ethical about their business and operating in a sustainable manner.
He says that the journey has started even if it is still early days. “But ultimately,” he says, “this is where we are headed. The Nigerian Sustainable Banking Principle speaks to this particular question. I think it’s evident from the points that I’ve made today, you can say that FirstBank is a bank that is happy to forego a few basis points in terms of its net margins, if that means it is contributing to development in a more ethical and sustainable way.
“We’ve always made a point that profitability is very important for us at FirstBank, but economic growth and national development is equally very important and speaks to the sustainability question.”
Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s leading financial institution, has again emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the recently released Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020.
For the third consecutive year, Zenith Bank has been ranked as the number one banking brand in Nigeria with a brand value of $287 million and market capitalisation of $1.62 billion, ranking 392 in the 2020 global ranking of banks.
The ranking was published in the February 2020 edition of The Banker magazine of the Financial Times Group in conjunction with London-based Brand Finance.
According to the publication, brand value is the licensing rate that a third-party would need to pay to use the bank’s brand. All brand values in the report are for the year ending December 31, 2019.
Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The bank, with a knack for setting the pace and raising benchmarks, is a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.
In an apparent show of its resilience and market leadership, Zenith Bank recently announced an impressive result for the year ended December 31, 2019, with profit after tax (PAT) of N208.8 billion, achieving the feat as the first Nigerian Bank to cross the N200 billion mark.
Consistent with this excellent performance and in recognition of its track record of exceptional performance, Zenith Bank was voted as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co. The bank was also recognised as Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards. Most recently, the bank emerged as the Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the Thisday Awards 2020.
A delegation from the Bank of Beirut led by its Managing Director, Sophoklis Argyrou, yesterday paid a courtesy call on the management of Fidelity Bank PLC to seek areas of collaboration between the two institutions. While receiving the guests, Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank PLC, Nnamdi Okonkwo noted the role Bank of Beirut is playing in the growth and development of the economy of Lebanon. Pointedly he commended the Bank for its innovation and provision of efficient banking services and competitive products targeting not only the affluent but youths and SMEs just like Fidelity Bank.
Okonkwo said Fidelity Bank will leverage the visit to foster growth, open up windows of opportunity across the middle East, chart a new course for the Bank and build a strong global brand.
Executive Director, Operations and Information, Gbolahan Joshua; Managing Director/CEO, Fidelity Bank PLC, Nnamdi Okonkwo; Managing Director, Bank of Beirut Ltd, Sophoklis Argyrou, and Bank of Beirut Chief Representative Officer, Nigeria, Camille Chidiac when a delegation from the Bank of Beirut paid a courtesy visit on the management of Fidelity Bank to build and foster long term business relationship with the Bank… recently
What exactly happened to your money and how did it happened?
It is sad. It is a nightmare that I am yet to get over. I will forever regret the day I decided to open an account with GTB. I had an account with Zenith Bank already, but I went to Ifo market one day and these ladies wearing GTB T-shirt were going after everybody in the market cajoling them with account opening form to have an account with the bank.
I collect the form thinking it won’t be a bad idea if I have two bank accounts. That was the beginning of my nightmare.
What happened next?
After a while, my account number was sent to me…and I later went to activate the accounts at their Sango Ota branch, after which I began my little transaction on the account.
How then did your money disappear?
My father is a very kind person, a lover of his children and very passionate about their future. Sometimes in July 2019, he had deposited N250, 000 in to my account number (04-23-86-07-36), for my university admission processes. In fact, it was at the peak of the crisis that I knew that the account which I thought I opened in Sango was actually domiciled at Ikotun Egbe, in Lagos State.
Precisely on Saturday, 20th of July, 2019, I received a text message supposedly from the bank on my phone to “upgrade some information on my account.” I innocently obliged and that was the genesis of the nightmare. Within 18 hours, the entire N250, 000 in the account was transferred to various accounts.
What did you do next?
The shock was too much for me. My father told me he kept the money in my account to keep it away from spending. So, I actually did not know how to tell him. I later confided in my Mum, who now followed me to the Bank in Sango to complain and to obtain the statement of account.
What did you see in the statement?
The statement of account obtained from the bank showed that on 20th July, 2019, the sum of N80, 000 was yanked off the account via POS/WEB Purchase Transaction 766634-134659-CASABELLA INTERNATIONAL. The next day, 21st July, 2019, there was an NIBSS Instant Payment of N5, 000 Outward to a First Bank of Nigeria, FBN Leramo Akinwumi Olamide. This was followed immediately by another N5, 000 to the same account.
The third transaction of the day was a double transfer of N50, 000 each NIBSS Instant Payment Outward to UBA/ Agbokun Ayoka. This was followed by another transfer of N20, 000; and N10, 000 respectively to the same UBA account of Agbokun Ayoka.
The last tranche of the fraud was a USSD transfer of N20, 000 to Amuokuyo Success Imengowen, leaving a paltry N2, 500 in the account.
That was how I lost everything!
What did you do after this?
My Mum eventually told my father. Though he took it calm, but I really pitied him. I initially ran out of the house, because I could not continue to face him. But he came to look for me and brought me home.
Later he told me he wrote to the Complaint Team of GTB, but nothing came out of it.
What lesson did you learn from this?
Lesson? It was my worst nightmare. I will never forgive GTB. In fact, the account is still there, I never bother to close it. They can eat it if they like. But vengeance belong to God. I know God will visit the bank and pay them back.
Top Nigerian lender, Fidelity Bank Plc was Friday honoured for its innovative digital banking solutions and consistent support for Micro Small Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the country at the 2019 Silverbird Man of the year awards.
Fidelity Bank received the Financial Sector Award of Bank of The Year at the ceremony, which held at the Convention Centre, Eko Hotels, Lagos. Organized by Silverbird communications and instituted 14 years ago, the Man of The Year awards is used to recognize individuals and institutions that have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians.
The award was received on behalf of the bank by Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Obaro Odeghe who dedicated the award to customers and other stakeholders, stating that it will further spur the bank to greater heights in the delivery of financial services.
“We are delighted to be the first winner of the newly introduced Financial Sector Category of the Sliverbird Man of The Year. We are encouraged to continue to contribute our best to providing banking and financial services, supporting businesses and contributing to the development of the Nigerian economy”, he said.
Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Governor of Sokoto State received the Silverbird Man of the year award, while the Silverbird extraordinary personality award was presented to the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki.
Other personalities to receive awards include business magnate, Femi Otedola; Showbiz Promoter, Paul Okoye and Jacky Hathiramani who all received the extraordinary achievement awards.
Ace comedian, Ali Baba; Bruce Onobrakpeya; Nyekachi Douglas (Miss World Africa); Olutosin Araromi (MBGN – Universe); Mohammed Adamu, Inspector General of Police, were also honoured.
Executive Director, Corporate Bank, Fidelity Bank Plc, Obaro Odeghe leading Team Fidelity to receive award on behalf of the Bank from the Coordinator, National Think Tank Nigeria, Prof. Steve Azaiki at the 2019 Silverbird Man of the Year Awards Ceremony where Fidelity Bank was adjudged the Bank of the year in Lagos recently
Honorees of the Silverbird posthumous award are former Nigerian president, Shehu Shagari; Adeniran Ogunsanya; Alfred Rewane, and Chuba Okadigbo, former Senate President.
Past winners of the Silverbird awards are late Dora Akunyili, Nasir El- Rufai, Nuhu Ribadu, Adams Oshiomhole, Mike Adenuga, Godswill Akpabio and Aliko Dangote.
Others are Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Peter Obi, Babatunde Fashola, Emmanuel Uduaghan and Willie Obiano.
Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged commercial bank operating in Nigeria with over 5 million customers who are serviced across its 250 business offices and various digital banking channels. The bank is focused on select niche corporate banking sectors as well as Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and its currently driving its retail banking businesses through its robust digital banking channels.
The United Bank for Africa (UBA) last Friday, officially added a new touch point to its network. UBA operates in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the USA and France. The new branch in Afriland towers on the Lagos Island was commissioned by the Executive Governor of Lagos state, his Excellency Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Chairman of UBA, Mr Tony O. Elumelu.
The Governor who congratulated the UBA management and Afriland for the beautiful edifice said the bank has remained a principal stakeholder in the development of Lagos, constantly creating jobs and opportunities for Nigerians.
The Chairman, UBA Group, Mr. Tony Elumelu, who received the Governor as well as the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu expressed gratitude to every other guest who took time off their busy schedules to grace the event.
He explained that the project to build the new business office in Afriland towers was borne out of the need to solidify past successes recorded by the bank, as well as create new vistas for the growth of businesses. He explained that Afriland properties, developers of Afriland Towers is set to develop new projects aimed at catapulting Lagos into the state of excellence.
He said, “It is interesting to note that Afriland has been developing some iconic properties, and today is a wonderful and joyous moment to see that this building which has a lot of rich history, is back to life. We call it the rebirth, and we appreciate all the planning that has gone into the creation of this beautiful and clean world-class masterpiece’. Elumelu hinted at plans of Afriland to develop more iconic properties in the near future, adding that given its expertise and its pedigree, the people of Lagos were in for a huge surprise.
Elumelu said, “Indeed, this is just a tip of what we want to do at Falamo in Ikoyi. We are going to develop a world-class integrated complex at Falomo, and everyone will be pleased at the outcome.
On his part, the Lagos State Governor, congratulated UBA and Afriland on the major feat of developing a beautiful edifice such as Afriland, adding that Tony Elumelu is known for coming up with great ideas that boost employment opportunities for Nigerians.
He said, “This is a historic event today and it is a great honour to be here to see the kind of possibilities that can be achieved when you set your mind to it, and what you can turn an un-earning asset into. It is very interesting to note that that this house, formerly called the Raymond House has a rich history, and this is quite nostalgic for me because like some of you may know, I used to work with UBA and this place was the head office where everyone wanted to be because everything happened here. Im happy to know that it has such a rich history dating back to over a century ago.
Continuing Sanwo-Olu said, “I want to commend you and I am happy that Afriland has turned this into a very beautiful and modern 21st Century building with a high level of detail, and beautiful structure. Infact, I call it a work-life like environment – this is what it should be, coming to an environment that caters for you in all areas and for your healthy living.”
While stating that the building was bringing back the old glory of Lagos, the governor added that it will put plans in motion to use the Afriland template to develop some of its old buildings.
“We plan to rebuild some of our old structures in Lagos state such as the old Oluwole market, the children’s hospital at Martins street, among others. We will also be building a cable car project into Lagos Island and all the buildings that have gone down will be rebuilt to meet up with international standards that Afriland has shown us here today,” Sanwo Olu added.
Chairperson of Avon Healthcare Limited, Dr. Awele Elumelu; Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation, Mr. Tony Elumelu; and Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu; during the commissioning of a new UBA Business Office located at the newly remodeled Afriland Tower by the Governor in Lagos on Friday
The Oba of Lagos, who congratulated UBA for continuing to contribute positively to the economy as a financial institution that cares about the communities in which it operates.
The Managing Director, Afriland Properties, Uzo Oshogwe, gave a brief history of Afriland Towers, noting the former Raymond House was built in 1886. She added that the rebirth of the Towers showed that the company believed in the potential that could be achieved at the edifice.
The new ultra-modern Afriland Tower Business Office is equipped with state – of – the art facilities, designed to ease banking transactions for its visitors. Facilities provided in the new office include ATM galleries amongst others
