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How Access Bank is addressing malaria eradication on the continent
Eradication isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when one imagines an established brand like Access Bank. However, as the American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson made the connection between health and wealth centuries ago, a world-class financial institution in the mould of Access Bank can definitely appreciate the all-encompassing importance of a healthy population.
From the socio-economic to the political, every aspect of living is affected by good health – or the lack of it – and is for this reason that Access Bank under the leadership of Herbert Wigwe has risen to the challenge of eradicating malaria, a disease that mostly threatens the health conditions of sub-Saharan Africa.
According to the World Health Organisation, the African region carries an excessively high share of the global malaria burden. In 2018 alone, the region was home to 93% of malaria cases and 94% of malaria deaths. Nigeria is the most affected country on earth, contributing about 25% to the global malaria cases despite the fact that malaria, a disease caused by the plasmodium parasite is both preventable and curable. Children under five years of age are the most exposed age group. Other vulnerable categories of people include infants, pregnant women and people who are immune-compromised.
Total funding for malaria control and elimination reached an estimated US$ 2.7 billion in 2018, with contributions from governments of endemic countries amounting to US$ 900 million. Access Bank without a doubt has made a dent in these figures through its landmark partnership with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria. This unique collaboration, called the Malaria-to-Zero Initiative is an innovative financing platform that aims to galvanise private sector resources and capabilities for sustained support towards averting at least 1 million malaria cases and deaths. This programme has been an important first step towards complementing government’s effort in achieving its malaria pre-elimination goals.
Since inception, an estimated 273,000 people have been reached, many for the first time in rural communities of Nigeria, not just with testing and treatment, but with potentially life-saving information that has been put in place to prevent the occurrence of malaria. 357 community groups have been empowered and engaged with the technical capacity to roll out useful community interventions. Over 1 million people have been reached across the length and breadth of Nigeria with information, education, and communication materials. Social media has been a useful strategy and as such, over 6 million impressions have been made across several platforms.
Low hanging fruits will always remain easy to pluck but the Malaria-to-Zero Initiative has been just as interested in harder-to-reach communities with about 15 of these communities finally receiving intervention programmes for the first time.
Malaria in pregnancy has been one of the most important contributions to malaria morbidities and mortalities, so the Malaria-to-Zero Initiative has been tactical as well, following the evidence and the data to provide almost 5,000 women with long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs). A notable increase in demand for malaria commodities (40%) has been recorded since the intervention kicked off. The data generated from the programme has been instructive. If anything, it points to the effectiveness of structured impact-oriented approaches that can be monitored and evaluated through repeated focus group discussions. For example, so far, 90% of the recipients of the long-lasting insecticide-treated nets report that they have put them to appropriate use.
In 2018, GBC Health’s Corporate Alliance on Malaria in Africa alongside a consortium of partners including the Private Sector Malaria Prevention Project, PSMP at John Hopkins Center for Communication, UK Aid and the National Malaria Control Programme of the Ghana Health Services, conferred the ‘Innovation Award’ on Access Bank for the institution’s active role in combating malaria on the continent. Reacting to the honor, the Bank’s Head of Sustainability, Omobolanle Victor-Laniyan highlighted the importance of cross-sector collaborations in eradication efforts and expressed intentions of Access Bank to intensify its effort.
“The only way to end or at least reduce the prevalence of malaria is by organising and strategically leveraging on the resources, capabilities and the proven expertise of private sector organisations. This is what Access Bank has been championing with the Malaria-to-Zero initiative,” she said.
According to the latest World Malaria Report released in December 2019, there were 228 million cases of malaria in 2018 compared to 231 million cases reported in 2017. This represents a decrease in about 3 million cases. The estimated number of malaria deaths stood at 405, 000 in 2018, compared with 416, 000 deaths in 2017. It will be interesting to see what the numbers look like as Access Bank continues to champion intervention efforts. There is a template now and other institutions can plug into Access Bank’s lead.
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (“St Financial” or “the Group”) today released its unaudited results for the half-year ended 30 June 2026, posting broad-based growth across key performance indices.
The Group’s gross earnings rose 31.5% to ₦279.6 billion over the corresponding period in 2025, led by a 33.7% jump in interest income to ₦223.6 billion as the loan book expanded and asset yields improved. Net interest income climbed 41.0% to ₦137.4 billion, while non-interest income grew by 23.3% to ₦56.0 billion, supported by notable increases in fee income and other operating income lines.
Sterling Financial continued to strengthen its balance sheet with total assets expanding by 19.3% to ₦4.67 trillion, supported by a 21.1% growth in customer deposits to ₦3.62 trillion and disciplined expansion in the loan portfolio. The Group’s profit before tax (PBT) rose 21.9% to ₦55.5 billion while profit after tax (PAT) rose 20.4% to ₦50.3 billion.
Return on average equity stood at 20.6% and return on average assets improved to 2.35% from 2.05%.
Sterling Financial’s shareholders’ funds increased 27.8% to ₦547.7 billion in the period under review, primarily reflecting the ₦96.6 billion raised through a public offer of 13.8 billion ordinary shares. The Group’s share price has also appreciated over 15% from its year-opening position, reflecting renewed investor interest in the franchise ahead of the results release. Basic earnings per share stood at 77 kobo, reflecting the enlarged share base following the public offer.
The Group’s performance is anchored by its ongoing modernisation of its technology stack and operating model across its commercial (Sterling Bank), non-interest (AltBank), and wealth management (SterlingFI) arms. That work is showing up in faster service turnaround, tighter unit economics, and greater headroom to absorb rising customer activity without loosening the Group’s risk posture.
The combination of a reinforced capital base, expanding deposit franchise, and broader earnings mix leaves Sterling Financial positioned to compound growth in the second half of the year, channelling capital where it earns most and continuing to lend into the real economy.
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ZENITH BANK NAMED AFRICA’S BEST BANK & NIGERIA’S BEST BANK AT THE 2026 EUROMONEY AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
Zenith Bank Plc has been named “Africa’s Best Bank” and “Nigeria’s Best Bank”, the latter for the second consecutive year, at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026, clinching the biggest and most coveted national and continental awards in banking. The awards were presented to the Bank on Thursday, 16 July 2026, at The Peninsula London Hotel, London. This dual recognition is a testament to the Bank’s sustained excellence in financial performance, customer service, digital innovation, and its contribution to economic development across Nigeria and the wider African continent.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are among the most respected in the global financial industry, evaluating banks on criteria including strategy, profitability, risk management, digital transformation and impact on stakeholders. Victory at the awards is regarded as a mark of the highest distinction in global banking. This year’s edition attracted a record of over 770 entries from world-class financial institutions including HSBC, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, Barclays, Standard Bank and DBS Bank of Singapore.
Commenting on the awards, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. AdaoraUmeoji, OON, said, “We are deeply honoured by theserecognitions from Euromoney. Being recognised as Africa’s Best Bank and Nigeria’s Best Bank reflects the trust of our customers, the dedication of our unicorn workforce, and our unwavering commitment to building a truly African global financial institution. These awards inspire us to do even more to deliver superior value, drive financial inclusion, and support the growth of businesses across Africa.”
The GMD commended the regulators across the various jurisdictions where the Bank has footprints for the enabling regulatory environment which has supported the Bank in achieving this feat.
She dedicated the award to the Founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, thanking him for his vision and excellence which have been instrumental to the Bank’s success.
Zenith Bank has continued to deliver strong financial results while accelerating investments in technology, artificial intelligence, and digital banking solutions. In the 2025 financial year, the Bank grew gross earnings by six per cent year on year to ₦4.19 trillion and delivered profit after tax of ₦1.04 trillion, while reducing its non-performing loan ratio from 4.7 per cent to 3.8 per cent. In keeping with its dividend policy, Zenith Bank rewarded its investors with a record-breaking total dividend of N10.00 per share (totaling N410.69 billion) for the 2025 financial year. This represents a 100% increase over N5.00 per share paid in 2024. The Bank has also deepened its pan-African presence and expanded trade and transaction banking capabilities to connect businesses across key markets.
Euromoney is the leading authority for global banking and financial markets, and this latest recognition adds to Zenith Bank’s growing list of local and international accolades, and further cements its position as one of Africa’s leading financial institutions.
The Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards, including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the seventeenth consecutive year in the 2026 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker and “Nigeria’s Best Bank” at the EuromoneyAwards for Excellence 2025. The Bank was also awarded Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022, and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020 to 2022, 2024 and 2025, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023; and was listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for six consecutive years from 2021 to 2026 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023, 2024 and 2026 Banking Awards. Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for five consecutive years from 2022 to 2026 and ‘Best in Corporate Governance’ Financial Services’ Africa for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.
The Bank’s commitment to excellence led to Zenith being also named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in The Banker’s Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 to 2025 at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, and Retail Bank of the Year for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022 and 2024 to 2025. The Bank also received the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards, Bank of the Year 2024 by ThisDay Newspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME Trade Finance, 2023 by Nairametrics. The Bank’s Hybrid Offer was also adjudged ‘Rights Issue/Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025.
Zenith Bank has also earned several non-financial awards, including Most Responsible Organisation in Africa, Best Company in Transparency and Reporting and Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment at the SERAS CSR Awards Africa 2024.
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GTBANK NAMED BEST OVERALL PERFORMING BANK IN NIGERIA IN THE BANKER’S TOP 1000 WORLD BANKS RANKINGS 2026
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (“GTBank” or the “Bank“), the flagship banking subsidiary of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group“), has been named the Best Overall Performing Bank in Nigeria in The Banker magazine’s Top 1000 World Banks Rankings 2026.
The recognition reaffirms GTBank’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions and reflects the Bank’s consistent delivery of strong financial performance, operational excellence, and sustainable growth. The rankings evaluate banks globally using audited financial results, assessing institutions across financial strength, operational efficiency, risk management, liquidity, growth, and profitability.
GTBank ranked 1st Overall as best performing Bank and also ranked 1st in Efficiency and Soundness. The Bank secured 2nd place in other metrics such as Return on Risk, Liquidity, Growth, Leverage and Profitability, demonstrating exceptional performance across all major Banking metrics
Speaking on the achievement, Mrs Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Being named the Best Overall Performing Bank in Nigeria by The Banker is a recognition that means a great deal to us, not just because of the prestige of the publication, but because of what it represents; the hard work of our People, the loyalty of our Customers, and the strength we continue to draw from being part of the Group. Ranking 1st in Overall Performance, Efficiency, and Soundness reflects our disciplined approach to banking, the synergies we harness across the GTCO Group, and our relentless focus on delivering real value. We do not take this recognition for granted. It deepens our resolve to keep raising the bar, to serve our customers better every day, and to remain a Bank that consistently delivers value to all its stakeholders, and to the GTCO Group we are proud to belong.”
This recognition reinforces GTBank’s position as one of Africa’s leading Banking franchises and reflects the strength of its business model, disciplined execution, and sustained investment in innovation. It adds to the Bank’s growing portfolio of international accolades and underscores its enduring commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences, driving sustainable growth, and creating long-term value for customers, shareholders, and the communities it serves.
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