• The FirstBank CR&S Week is a dedicated week designed to offer opportunities for employees to give their time & resources to defined causes in line with the Bank’s CR&S strategic approach;
• The FirstBank CR&S Week is held in Nigeria and 7 other countries: United Kingdom, Ghana, DRC, Guinea, Sierra Lone, Senegal and Gambia;
• Since its maiden edition in 2017, the FirstBank CR&S week in 2017 is fast becoming a household name in the Bank’s host economies.

In furtherance of its continued commitment to impacting the lives of individuals in its host communities across 7 Countries: Nigeria, United Kingdom, Ghana, DRC, Guinea, Sierra Lone, Senegal and Gambia. First Bank of Nigeria Limited has announced the Fifth edition of its Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability (CR&S) week, scheduled for 22- 27 August 2022.

The event which is themed:  “Kindness…. A Way of Life” reflects the single-minded purpose to make a difference in the world by inspiring and institutionalising kindness. SPARK is an acronym for Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness and it is a values-based initiative designed to raise consciousness that we can choose to be kind.

The FirstBank CR&S Week is a dedicated week designed to offer opportunities for employees to give their time & resources to defined causes in line with the Bank’s CR&S strategic approach. The CR&S Week will offer employees opportunities to give their time & resources to defined causes. The Week’s activities are an aspect of the Bank’s Employee Giving & Volunteering Program, which was instituted to encourage employees to give back to the community as well as inculcate in them the integral corporate culture of giving.

The Bank held the maiden edition of the CR&S week in 2017 with a focus mainly on three key initiatives/activities which were giving and visits to orphanages/less privileged homes/IDPs; career counselling day; and Staff Promoting Acts of Random Kindness (SPARK) initiative – which is now Start Performing Acts of Random Kindness. The CR&S week has become more successful in subsequent years and it is fast becoming a household name in the Bank’s host economies.

There are five main activities to be implemented during this year’s CR&S Week in Nigeria, FBNBank UK and across the SSA markets. These activities include SPARK APP, Kind Comments Day, Visits to orphanage/less privileged homes, SPARK School Engagement, and Women Economic Empowerment. The major highlight of the Week will be the launch of the SPARK APP. The app is strategic in the Bank’s journey to institutionalize “A Day of Kindness” on a national level, and globally position the Bank as a Corporate Citizen in leveraging new media to drive sustainability practices.

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Ayobami Adedeji Business 2022-08-25

 In a clear demonstration of its industry leadership and consistency in providing superior financial returns, Zenith Bank Plc has announced its audited results for the half-year ended 30 June 2022, recording an astounding double-digit growth of 17% in gross earnings from N346 billion reported in H1 2021 to N405 billion in H1 2022. This is in spite of a very

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Ayobami Adedeji Business 2022-08-24

United Bank for Africa on Monday announced the appointment of Oliver Alawuba as its Group Managing Director, overseeing the entire Group’s banking operations across its twenty African country network and globally in the United Kingdom and three other countries.

In a regulatory filing with the Nigerian Exchange Limited, UBA said the institution in 1997 and has held a series of senior positions, including as the CEO of UBA Ghana, the CEO of UBA, Africa and most recently, as Group Deputy Managing Director.

He replaced Kennedy Uzoka who retired from the group, having served out his term as the Group Managing Director of the lender.

“I am very pleased to announce Oliver Alawuba as the new Group Managing Director of the UBA Group. Oliver has extensive experience in Nigeria and our African network and is well equipped to advance our pan-African and global strategy.

“I have no doubt that Oliver will build on the legacy of Kennedy Uzoka, who has exemplified transformational leadership by championing a customer-first philosophy; launching our twentieth operation in Africa, UBA Mali; acquiring a wholesale banking licence for UBA UK in the United Kingdom; and opening our fourth global operation, UBA Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates,” the communication signed by the Company Secretary, Bili Odum quoted UBA Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu as saying.

On his part, Alawuba expressed his commitment to his new role as Group Managing Director said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to lead this great institution and would like to thank the UBA Group Chairman and the members of the Board of Directors for the confidence they have put in me to deliver the mandate.”

Alawuba takes on his new position from August 1, 2022, subject to approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The lender also announced the appointment of Muyiwa Akinyemi, as Deputy Managing Director. Muyiwa joined UBA in 1998, as a Senior Banking Officer in UBA’s Energy Bank, and has served the Group in Nigeria and our broader Africa network for twenty-four years.

Other executive appointments, according to the regulatory communication by Odum, are; Sola Yomi-Ajayi, Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking.

Yomi-Ajayi has been with the Group since 2004 and has considerable international experience, culminating in her appointment as CEO of UBA America.

Ugochukwu Nwagodoh, Executive Director, Finance and Risk Management. Ugo joined the Group from PwC in October 2004. He has since held a series of significant roles in the areas of performance management, compliance, financial control and reporting.

Alex Alozie, Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer, joined the Group in 2019 and has driven the Group’s digital transformation and operational efficiencies.

Emem Usoro, Executive Director, North Bank. Emem joined the Group in 2011 and has served in a series of senior regional appointments across Nigeria, covering the retail, corporate and public sectors.

The Board also announced the retirement of the following Executive Directors, who have completed their tenor, many of whom will continue to serve the broader Group upon regulatory approval of a holding company structure.

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Ayobami Adedeji Business 2022-08-03

 Zenith Bank Plc has been ranked as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine. For the thirteenth consecutive year, the Bank retained its position as the number one Tier-1 bank in Nigeria with a Tier-1 Capital of $2.75 billion, emerging as the 460th Bank globally.

The ranking, which was published in the July 2022 edition of The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group, United Kingdom, was based on the 2021 year-end Tier-1 capital of banks globally. Zenith Bank's financial performance for the year was underpinned by double-digit growth of 10% in gross earnings, with an improved market share in both retail and corporate sectors despite a very challenging macroeconomic environment aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Commenting on the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: "This ranking is a testament to our resilience and doggedness as an institution despite economic headwinds and a persistent challenging macroeconomic environment. Indeed, being ranked as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the thirteenth year in a row underscores our commitment to sustaining the superior performance we are renowned for and creating value for our highly esteemed customers.” He expressed his appreciation to the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CON, for his guidance and for laying the foundation and building the structures of an enduring and very successful institution; the Board for the outstanding leadership they provide; the staff, whose drive and commitment sustains the exceptional performance; and the Bank’s customers for their unflinching loyalty to the Zenith brand.

Tier 1 Capital describes capital adequacy, which is the core measure of a bank's financial strength from a regulator's point of view. According to the ranking, Tier 1 Capital, as defined by the latest Bank for International Settlements (BIS) guidelines, includes loss-absorbing capital, i.e. common stock, disclosed reserves, retained earnings and minority interests in the equity of subsidiaries that are less than wholly owned.

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Ayobami Adedeji Business 2022-07-25

Dangote Cement’s sales Director, Funmi Sanni has stated that the ongoing cement promo of the company is a way of giving back a whopping sum of N1 billion to its loyal customers.

She said customers are kings and Queens and that the customers’ have done so much to ensure the dominance of Dangote Cement in the market, and as such, giving back to them in monetary terms is just a way of saying thank you for their patronage.

Sanni, described the promo as a huge investment aimed at rewarding new and existing consumers, “especially in these trying times of our nationhood with the much needed financial and material palliatives.”

She said the promo is also targeted at stimulating the economy that has been negatively impacted by COVID-19 and global energy crisis to move towards much needed recovery especially in the construction/real estate industry sector.

She explained: “To emerge as one of the lucky winners, all you need to do is to pick out the scratch card inserted in the bag; scratch the panel at the back of the card to reveal what you have won; go to any of the over 200 redemption centers to collect an instant prize. Collect cards, spell D-A-N-G-O-T-E and win a star prize of N1 million instantly. Additionally, if you find an eagle in one of the letters, you will automatically win N5 million.”

Sanni said N125 million worth of prizes are expected to be won monthly, among which there will be 25 multi-millionaires. “The good thing about this promo is that a consumer stands the chance of winning the N1 million repeatedly. There is no limit to the number of times you are expected to win. All you should do is to continue to buy Dangote Cement.”

Sanni also revealed that Bag of Goodies Promo Season 3, which runs from July 5 to October 31, 2022, promises to be a blast as there are over 32.3 million mouth-watering prizes to be won, including television sets, refrigerators, rechargeable fans, 2KVA generators, and millions of airtime gifts of major networks in Nigeria.

Interestingly, every single bag of Dangote Cement to be produced daily through the promo period will contain scratch cards for various gifts to be won by consumers.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Group Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos stated that the Bag of Goodies Promo series is designed to continuously reward loyal Consumers who have stayed faithful and remained the backbone in the cement business. He said these consumers have contributed in no small measure to make Dangote range of cement products the first choice for construction purposes across the country.

Puchercos explained: “We are offering life-changing prizes, which have immense economic values as they can be used to kick-start small scale businesses. These prizes are targeted to help many families recover from the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, which adversely affected their sources of livelihood.”

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Ayobami Adedeji Business 2022-07-12

The Ojude Oba Festival 2022 planning committee has commended Nigeria’s beverage giant, Rite Foods limited for its commitment to promoting the cultural heritage of the Ijebu people through the sponsorship of the Ojude-Oba Festival 2022 tagged “The Return of the Ojude-Oba”.

The beverage giant known for refreshing consumers with various flavors of revitalizing carbonated soft drinks, energy drinks, tasty on-the-go sausages and fruit drinks across the country and continent is the official beverage sponsor of this year’s Ojude-Oba festival.

The commendation came at a press conference which was held at the Awujale’s palace in Ijebu Ode on Friday to officially flag off the festival slated to hold on Monday, July 11^th 2022 at the ancient town of Ijebu Ode.  

Chief Dr. Fassy Yusuf, the Baagbimo of Ijebuland and festival coordinator, while speaking at the press conference said that Rite Foods Limited has demonstrated its commitment to promoting the cultural heritage of the Ijebu people through the sponsorship and urged the company to maintain its record of celebrating the peoples’ cultures.

“Rite Foods Limited has always come through for us in situations like this and we must commend them for the effort to promote the cultural heritage of our people. It is our prayer that the company keeps growing in leaps and bounds,” the festival coordinator echoed.

Boluwatife Adedugbe, Brand Manager, Beverage and Bakery, Rite Foods Limited restated her company’s commitment to the promotion of cultural heritage of its people and communities in which it operates. According to her, Rite Foods Limited prides itself as true sons of the soil by joining all sons and daughters of Ijebuland to celebrate the age long festival to honor the paramount ruler of the land.

“For us at Rite Foods Limited, Ojude-Oba is about celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Ijebu people, most especially by paying homage to the paramount ruler of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II. We will always commit to celebrating the Ijebu people and our royal father who bestrides the traditional institution of his people like a colossus; he is an incorruptible leader and statesman who personifies a sagacious, courageous, charismatic, dependable and reliable leader which aligns with our values of excellence and integrity at Rite Foods Limited”, she stated.

The Brand Manager also used the occasion to announce that the festival will provide an opportunity for consumers to experience its newly launched refreshing Sosa fruit drink.

“The platform will be used as another avenue to make a laudable statement on the Rite Foods Ltd just launched refreshing Sosa Fruit Drink”, she added.  The sosa fruit drink is available in five flavors – Orange; Apple; Orange, Passion, Mango; Mixed Berries; and Cranberry. All flavors are available for consumers in 35cl and 1Litre packs.

The annual Ojude-Oba Festival is a spectacular celebration of the Ijebu nation of southwestern Nigeria. This age-long cultural heritage and festival of the Ijebus has been in existence for over 2 centuries and the festival is a classic example and manifestation of religious tolerance in Ijebu land.

The host of the festival, the Awujale of Ijebuland, HRM Oba Alaiyeluwa (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona (CFR) Ogbagba II, will be joined by the special guest of honor, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu and other top dignitaries, traditional rulers and captains of industries from across the country.

Rite Foods Limited which prides itself as a company with the highest number of brands in its sector is set to win the hearts of multitudes of consumers from all walks of life with its array of refreshing brands to give quality satisfaction to all who would grace the Ojude-Oba Festival 2022.

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Ayobami Adedeji Business 2022-07-05