Heritage Bank hailed for supporting Ibadan Golf Club
Heritage Bank Plc has been commended for its continued supports to Nigeria’s sports’ sector, especially backing the Ibadan Golf Club’s 30th anniversary event.
The event that attracted dignitaries and stakeholders from various parastatals also had the presence of the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Makinde and over 150 golfers who participated in the tournament during the weeklong celebration.
In a speech during the grand finale of the 30th anniversary of the club, the Captain of the Ibadan Golf Club, Oladiran Ibironke commended one of Nigeria’s most vibrant financial institutions, Heritage Bank and others for providing financial support to ensure the success of the event.
“Special thanks to Heritage Bank Plc., the anniversary’s major sponsor for enlarging our coast financially in order to make the anniversary elaborate and eventful. You will forever be remembered in the history of Ibadan Golf Club,” he stated.
Ibironke also praised the efforts of the founding fathers of the club while tracing the history of how the sporting club has continued to blossom.
He stated that tremendous transformations had occurred within the club since inception 30 years ago.
“We are celebrating 30 years today because some great minds came together and established what we are celebrating today.
“From the history that we heard, they started from Ibadan Recreation Club before moving over to where we are today in 1990,” Ibironke said.
Speaking on the 30th anniversary, the Ag. Group Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank, Ozena Utulu noted that the Bank is delighted to be the lead sponsor and to be associated with Ibadan Golf Club, stating that the sponsorship is hinged on its brand’s passion to support sports, especially golf in promoting health, wellbeing, and nation building.
She stated that Heritage Bank, as the sponsor of Ibadan Golf Club’s 30th anniversary, is working assiduously towards achieving its vision of becoming a bank known for promoting healthy lifestyles and the general wellbeing of the society at large.
“Heritage Bank believes in development. We have the tenacity to develop and sport is a way of developing Nigerians both young and old. We want to encourage the golfers; I believe that this type of games is capable of helping them to keep healthy and fit,” Utulu stated.
L-R: Certificate recipients of Ynsprye Project- Oluwasegun Ikoya; Deborah Johnson; Ozena Utulu, Head, Brand Management and Sustainability Heritage Bank; Fela Ibidapo, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications; Uchenna Mike Olisa, Head Product Development, Heritage Bank; other recipients- Derrick Ugwuegbu; Ayomide Soloja and Abayomi Bello, during the graduation and Certificate presentation to the 1st batch of Project Ynspyre graduates, as the bank partners Silverbird Group in Lagos.
Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria most innovative banking service provider has joined forces with Silverbird Group to empower and deepen its supports to young entrepreneurs in the Nigeria creative and entertainment industry.
This, the bank said, is in line with its culture as timeless wealth partners, which would impact positively on the nation’s socio-economic development, as the graduates are empowered with job and mentorship opportunities at the Silverbird Group.
During the first batch of the Ynspyre Project, Heritage Bank and Silverbird graduated five young talented minds in a three (3) months rigorously internship training programme to equip them with the necessary skills for their future engagements.
Over 3000 people sent their entries but only five were picked and trained in their different field of choice. Amongst the lucky interns are: Derrick Ugwugbu–Reporter/Anchor; Deborah Johnson–Radio Presenter; Oluwasegun Emmanuel Ikoya–Disk Jockey (DJ); Ayomide Solaja–News Presenter and Abayomi Bello–Cinematographer.
Speaking during the handover of certificate of completion, Fela Ibidapo, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications of Heritage Bank said as a forward looking financial institution its strength lays in the ability to spot and mould talents into great professionals.
He noted that the Ynspyre Project was established to train, nurture and arm young employees with the right skills needed to fast-track development and enable talents to flourish.
He urged prospective interns who have interest in participating in the Ynsprye Project to dial *745# to open a savings account with the chance to be amongst the next set of interns, whilst staying tune to Heritage Bank’s platform and Silverbird Television.
Meanwhile, Ibidapo explained that the aim of Heritage Bank being at the forefront of youth empowerment is to emancipate the latent entrepreneurial spirit in the teeming youths to unleash their support to the growth of the economy.
Ibidapo stated that being at the forefront of investing in human capital development for critical economy recovery, “we will continue to up our game to empower Nigerian youths who is one of the bedrock of any vibrant economy,” he added.
He disclosed that one of the channels churned out in partnering the youths to leverage their talents and contribute their quota to the growth of the economy, was the use of financial inclusion strategy which would be adopted to boost entrepreneurship development, as this is critical to Heritage Bank’s mission to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.
Uchenna Mike Olisa, Head, Producgt Development, Heritage Bank, who admonished the trained entertainers to make good use of their acquired skills, affirmed that platform would enable young creative minds to be more imbued with the requisite talents.
Mike Nwadike, Head, Silverbird Television hinted that lots of resources have gone into the training with series of creative sessions, strategy sessions, brainstorming meetings and re-evaluation, with the aim of ensuring that the participants are grounded in their respective skills.
Iyke Chinke, Head of Programmes, Radio commended Heritage Bank for their continued efforts to empower youths in the country. According to him, it is hard to find banks out there to give young people the opportunity but Heritage Bank has been championing it.
Heritage Bank in partnership with the Road Transport Employee’s Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) has launched the Travelers’ Accident Insurance Scheme (TAIS) to assist road accident victims across the country.
The scheme which was launched on Friday, aims to address deaths associated with inability of travelers involved in accident to offset hospital bills.
The Regional Executive, Abuja and North, Heritage Bank Plc, George Okoh-Oboh, speaking at the launch of the scheme in Abuja, commended the thoughtfulness of the Association in coming up with such program to save the lives of accident victims.
He stated that the partnership would help address the road safety crisis due to the tragic loss from a road crash death or severe injury which was compounded by the harm to families, social networks, and national economies.
According to him, the majority of victims are part of the working-age population (between 15 and 64 years old). In fact, road crashes have become the #1 killer of the young worldwide.
He pledged the continued support of the bank in ensuring the success of the scheme.
Okoh-Oboh said, “At Heritage Bank, we believe in this project and we are ready to support it as it seeks to address accidents on the road.
“This project will save lives of many Nigerians, so we are not just here to see what comes in but we are here to add value and ensure that it succeeds.”
The National President of RTEAN, Musa Muhammed in his remarks said that the scheme aims at promoting the welfare of passengers, while ensuring security for passengers’ property.
He explained that the scheme would provide support to passengers who may be involved in accident at the course of their journeys.
“This scheme covers all Nigerians involved in accidents that require medical attention while on a road trip.
“This is part of effort to assist and improve the Nigerians transport system,” he added.
According to him, the scheme will cover only parks owned and operated by members of the Road Transport Workers Association.
He further stressed on the need for the government to deepen investments in road infrastructure, while ensuring security along the major road.
Nicholas Tofowomo, Senator representing Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State at the 9th National Assembly, urged transporters to ensure that workers are properly licensed and vehicles insured.
This, he noted, would ensure the effective implementation of the scheme.
Winners have emerged at the Heritage Bank Plc, ‘YNSPYRE’ Cream Platform Promo held in Abuja.
CREAM Platform, Nigeria’s premiere creative reward platform officially kicked off its partnership with Heritage Bank’s YNSPYRE Initiative with the commencement of the CREAM Monthly draws on Friday – March 26th 2021, rewarding subscribers who dialed the *745*463# code, with lots of cash and other prizes.
The CREAM YNSPYRE Draw proper started off on a great note with random picking of numbers electronically and with some never-to-be-forgotten moments producing 5 winners who went home with the sum of N200, 000 each as well as a pledge by D’Banj to fully support their businesses and passion in a call session from D’banj to the lucky winners.
Recently, Heritage Bank doled out the sum of N1million to Damilola Adeyemi, a winner of an online giveaway competition to celebrate the bank’s product, Ynspyre ambassador, D’banj, which heralds launching of the Ynspyre Account set aside for talented young Nigerians in the different spectrum of the creative and entertainment industry.
At the draw held on Friday in Abuja, five winners were chosen from a pool of Heritage Bank’s customers that are currently on the Cream Platform and subscribers who dialed the *745*463# code for transactions.
The Cream Platform is chaired by popular Nigerian musician D-Banj (real name Oladapo Oyebanjo).
The event was attended by the Heritage Bank Regional Executive, Abuja and North, Mr George Okoh-Oboh; popular Nollywood Actress Tonto Dikeh; popular musician Mr Easi (real name Isaiah Ediae) and other top officials of the bank.
Speaking at the event, Okoh-Oboh described the partnership between Heritage Bank and Cream Platform as a game changer for the creative industry in Nigeria.
He said, “It’s been a smooth journey and the Bank has also set aside certain funds for the creative industry because we believe that is needed to support our youths.
“And so what we have done is to be able to put this out there so that we can select very talented youths working with D-Banj and once they meet certain criteria, we will be able to lend across to them as a bank.
“So the funds have already been set out and waiting this launch which we are having today. So it’s quite an interesting story for the bank and it’s a great day for us today.
In his comments at the draw, D-Banj who was physically present at the event, said that the Cream Platform has built a strong reputation for producing some of the brightest talents in the country over the last couple of years.
He said the purpose of the platform was to have a creative hub for Africa where people can upload their contents, be discovered and get funding support from Heritage Bank.
He said the platform would enable Nigerians discover their talents in areas such as entertainment, entrepreneurship, music, arts and other areas in the creative industry value chain.
He expressed optimism that the creative industry, if properly harnessed, has the potentials to reduce the level of unemployment in the country, boost wealth creation for the people and help the country generate the much needed foreign exchange.
He noted that with the creative industry accounting for one of the highest exports from Nigeria, time has come for operators in the sector to be supported with the finances.
He said, “This year will make it five years that the platform was launched and our main aim is to create a gateway to the creative hub of Africa. With so much talent in the country and the hub in the continent, we saw it as a platform for people to have that access to become whatsoever you desire.
“And it’s no news that Heritage Bank is our partner to provide the access and financial help that you will need.
The creative industry is one of the biggest exports in the last three years now whether you are looking at music, fashion, movies. But we need that financial help, that financial backing.
“So for a long time, we have been discussing with Heritage Bank to see how we can get the funds and get that help to the people.
“And today is going to be the first time that we are actually rewarding the customers. Heritage Bank went further to help us create the ‘YNSPYRE’ Product.
“This product is for the youths and the creative industry to help ease access to funding contents uploaded on the Cream Platform.”
In her comments, Dikeh urged D-Banj and the Bank to create more awareness about the product to enable many people to take advantage of the initiative.
She said as an advocate of youth empowerment, the initiative would help to harness the potentials if the youths and stimulate the much needed development of the creative industry.
Some of those that won at the digital draw such as Blessing (An Entreprenuer), Justice Isaac Precious (A footballer and musician) and John (A Caterer) expressed joy for emerging winners.
They also commended the bank and D-Banj for the coming up with the initiative.
Heritage Bank Plc has joined the rest of the globe to celebrate the World Water Day 2021 with plans to assist a community in dire need of clean water by installing a bore hole.
The theme for this year’s WWD 2021 is “Valuing Water,” which focuses on the importance of freshwater and presses for sustainable management of water resources. According to the United Nations, the day is aimed at raising awareness about 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water resources globally.
“The value of water is about much more than its price.” This day is celebrated keeping in line with Sustainable Development Goal number 6 which is aimed at achieving water and sanitation by all for 2030,” UN stated.
It further explained that global water demand is likely to rise by over 50 per cent by 2040.
To this effect, as part of efforts to implement the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) sustainable banking principle, Heritage Bank Plc has instituted a Corporate Social Responsibility’s (CSR) campaign project to assist a community in dire need of clean water by installing a bore hole.
This campaign project, according to the bank will be executed in two phases; the first involves nominations call for community that is in dire need of water will be put on its social platforms from 22nd March 2021, which will run for 30days.
The bank in a statement signed by the Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Fela Ibidapo, disclosed that thorough research will be conducted on communities that put up for nominations and the most in need will be chosen.
In furtherance, the community leaders would be engaged, which will herald commencement of the project and handing over the borehole to the community.
Speaking on WWD 2021, the MD/CEO of the Bank, Ifie Sekibo said the adoption of the campaign project shows how Heritage Bank values water and making clean water accessible to the under-privilege, living in urban slums and rural areas.
According to him, to access safe water resources globally, higher value must be given to protecting the ecosystem in ensuring good quality water supply.
Sekibo, who further canvassed for the implementation of Sustainable Banking Principle, tasked stakeholders to continually promote the need for more productive value of water, which would bring about developmental impact to society, while protecting the communities and environment in which financial institutions and their clients operate.
R-L: Fela Ibidapo, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank; Kyari Bukar, Lead Judge of The Next Titan; Lilian Olubi, Judge; Joshua Idiong, Winner, The Next Titan Season-7; Tonye Chris Parkes; Mide Kunle Akinlaja, Executive Producer, The Next Titan and Cole, Judge, Judge, Titan, during the presentation of N10million prize at the grand finale of The Next Titan Entrepreneurial Reality TV show Season-7, headline sponsored by Heritage Bank Plc, held in Lagos recently.
Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service provider, in its continued bid to support Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), has again empowered the winner of The Next Titan Season-7 with whooping sum of N10million.
An entrepreneur, Joshua Joseph Idiong who is the CEO of Josult Oil Processing Company, a palm oil processing company in Akwa Ibom State emerged the winner of the Next Titan Season-7, themed: The Unstoppable.”
The graduate of Federal University of Technology Owerri with Bachelor Degree in Environmental Science emerged winner after competing with Ifeanyi Nkwonta, Chidinma Eriobu and Ifeoma Benjamin at the grand finale in Lagos.
Idiong’s entry on the show was amongst the 18, 000 entries, followed by online auditions before the top 16 moved into the Titan House for 10weeks to compete against top notch young entrepreneurs in real-life entrepreneurial tasks.
The programme paneled by technocrats with perfect blend of entrepreneurial requisite skills trained each participant on enriching, rigorous and intellectually learning journey to equip them with the fundamental competencies required of seasoned entrepreneurs.
The frontline Panel of Judges from different spectrum of entrepreneurial fields were Kyari Bukar Co-Founder/CEO Trans-Sahara Investment; Lilian Olubi, CEO, Primera Africa Securities Ltd; Chris Parkes, Chairman/CEO, CPMS Africa and Tonye Cole, Co-Founder, Sahara Group.
The winner, who highly commended the headline sponsor-Heritage Bank Plc for its continued supports to entrepreneurs and sponsorship of the Next Titan, said, “Heritage Bank is an amazing bank that has stood strong on this show. My love for Heritage Bank stems from the fact that this is my second time on this show but before I came in, I have learnt so much from the show.
“This means that Heritage Bank is truly affecting the lives and businesses of entrepreneurs positively, alongside the viewers. This is a bank that has differentiated itself from other banks in boosting the strength of SMES in Nigeria.”
Speaking at the grand finale, MD/CEO of the Bank, Ifie Sekibo stated that the programme easily aligns with the primary focus of the management of Heritage Bank to promote every laudable entrepreneurial idea meant to broaden economic horizon of the country for the benefit of citizens and other residents of Nigeria.
L-R: Fela Ibidapo, Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Heritage Bank; Joshua Idiong, Winner, The Next Titan Season-7 and Mide Kunle Akinlaja, Executive Producer, The Next Titan presenting the 10million prize to the winner, at the grand finale of The Next Titan Entrepreneurial Reality TV show Season-7, headline sponsored by Heritage Bank Plc, held in Lagos recently
Sekibo who was represented by the Divisional Head, Corporate Communications, Fela Ibidapo further affirmed, “as a catalytic institution in the empowering of entrepreneurs in the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, Heritage Bank has continued to make relentless efforts in this space to empower entrepreneurs in Nigeria through championing several empowerment schemes like the HB Innovation Lab Accelerator programme (HB-LAB), Ynspyre Account, Youth Innovative Entrepreneurship Development Programme (YIEDP), Centre for Values in Leadership (CVL) on Young Entrepreneurship Business Training Programme (YEBTP), Young Entrepreneurs and Students (YES) Grant and Nigerian Youth Professional Forum (NYPF), Big Brother Nigeria, Lagos Comic Con, amongst others.”
The Executive Producer of the entrepreneurial Reality Show, Mr. Mide Kunle-Akinlaja in his address explained that the project was created and designed as a deliberate attempt to provoke the spirit of entrepreneurship of young Nigerians, not only the contestants on the show, but other multitude of aspiring entrepreneurs who can watch the show on TV.
He said that the Season-7 was designed to search for business ideas that are immune to any pandemic, innovations that break boundaries and technologies that can survive any lockdown.
“It does not matter what your business idea is all about or its focus, but you must be able to prove that your business has what it takes in terms of ideas or technologies to survive any future pandemic or lockdown,” the Next Titan Producer stated.
L-R- Victor Amakwe, Group Head, Private Wealth Management; Christiana Chukwu; Idowu Ilesanmi, both winners in the social media challenge of recitation of National Pledge in Pidgin English; and Cynthia Ndukuba, Head, Head Office Compliance Assurance, Compliance and Transaction Assurance during N1million cheque presentations to four winners of the videos recitation of “National Pledge” in Pidgin English, in celebration of Nigeria @ 60th at the bank’s head office.
Heritage Bank Plc, Nigeria’s Most Innovative Banking Service provider has rewarded the winners of the rendition of the October 1st National Pledge in Pidgin English in celebration of Nigeria’s 60th Independence Anniversary.
The four patriotic Nigerians, who emerged as the winners are Idowu Ilesanmi (Lagos); Christiana Chukwu (Lagos); Onovo Chukwuebuka (Edo) and Paul Eze (Abuja) received cash prize of N250, 000 each.
The bank slated an online competition for customers to make videos recitation of them presenting the “National Pledge” in Pidgin English and the four best videos were rewarded with total cash prize of N1million.
This was to commemorate the independence and inculcate patriotic spirit in the citizens on the importance to reflect on the past, what led them here and the bright future that awaits Nigerians.
Speaking on the reasons why they participated in the online pidgin language competition, Ilesanmi, one of the winners said having being brought up in Benin City where Pidgin English is natural to them and adopted by all and sundry hence, it was golden opportunity to participate as a patriotic Nigerian.
He commended Heritage Bank for the initiative, as Ilesanmi disclosed that the information of the competition was sourced from a colleague’s page owing to the fact that he was never a customer to the bank.
He advised that, young people should grab opportunities such as this which speaks to something they would do and get rewarded for. “Anyone who is interested in things that will encourage them to do what they have interest in, then Heritage Bank is where they should be,” Ilesanmi stated.
Another winner, Christiana Chukwu also appreciated Heritage Bank for picking her as a winner and she mentioned being fascinated with the Bank’s online applications in the likes of HB Padie and *745#, which has made transactions easier and seamless to her and other customers.
In a statement by the Divisional Head, Corporate Communications/Product Management, Fela Ibidapo said that the bank considered use of Pidgin English as a marker of identity and solidarity, also as means to promote local content use of language.
He affirmed that the importance of reciting the National Pledge in Pidgin English would help invoke in every individual their national pride of love, devotion and sense of attachment to out fathers’ land and alliance with every citizen who share same sentiment. This attachment could be a combination of different feelings relating to the country in terms of socio-cultural, ethnic, political and historical interests.
He reiterated, “We are not just excited, but we are also reflecting on what our commitment as individuals has been to our great country Nigeria. Looking inwards at our journey over the last 60years, we believe as an institution that this is the best time to reflect on the National Pledge and what it means to us as a Nation.”
To this end, Heritage Bank championed the movement to keep our commitment as a nation by rewarding those who recited the “National Pledge” in various creative ways.
L-R- Victor Amakwe, Group Head, Private Wealth Management; Christiana Chukwu, winner in the social media challenge of recitation of National Pledge in Pidgin English; and Cynthia Ndukuba, Head, Head Office Compliance Assurance, Compliance and Transaction Assurance during N1million cheque presentations to four winners of the videos recitation of “National Pledge” in Pidgin English, in celebration of Nigeria @ 60th at the bank’s head office.L-R- Victor Amakwe, Group Head, Private Wealth Management; Idowu Peace Ilesanmi, winner in the social media challenge of recitation of National Pledge in Pidgin English; and Cynthia Ndukuba, Head, Head Office Compliance Assurance, Compliance and Transaction Assurance during N1million cheque presentations to four winners of the videos recitation of “National Pledge” in Pidgin English, in celebration of Nigeria @ 60th at the bank’s head office.
