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JA Nigeria Partners for Growth, Impact

Published

4 years ago

April 21, 2021

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Grooms Digital Entrepreneurs

Empowers Young People
The trajectory of Junior Achievement

Nigeria reaching over 1 million youths is one that has embraced diverse support of individuals, groups, and organisations. The continuous tenacity applied to impacting the lives of youths especially in a time where the pandemic brought many to economic recession is one that can best be described as apt. Our programs are helping young people recover from loss, stay updated and learn in-demand skills that could help them become more attractive to the labour market. The support of Board members such as First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Sigma Pensions, Schlumberger, Citi, Channels Television, Agile Communications, Deloitte, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and partner organizations such as Union Bank, Google, ACT Foundation, Facebook, Slum2school gave life to these programs.

JA Nigeria kicked off the year with a financial literacy program themed ‘Break Free’ – #JAPA. ‘Break free’ was tailored toward impacting the lives of young professionals on matters regarding money management. Burdened with the fact that COVID-19 affected the finances of many, we organised a program aimed at helping young people gain financial freedom. With the support of Sigma Pensions, ‘Break free’ gave insight on basic finance understanding finance concepts such as saving, pension, and investments, and strategies to live a debt-free life.

As you know, one of JA’s aims is to build a generation of digitally inclined youths. To make this happen, youths need to learn diverse strategies on how to stay safe online. Due to the pandemic, more young people embraced online activity and this led to the implementation of the Safe Online Spotlight Series with Facebook. Although Safe Online has since been implemented, the COVID-19 outbreak made the implementation even more necessary. This program seeks to help young minds stay aware of online bullies, fraud, and other internet-like dangers that could pose a threat to them while surfing the Internet. JA Nigeria is glad to have Facebook support this program that helps protect young people from online dangers.

In the light of impact and choosing to challenge diverse societal abnormalities that could serve as barriers to the successes of women, JA Nigeria celebrated International Women’s Day. An offshoot of marking the IWD 2021 was the weekly ‘Girls4Tech’ program sponsored by Mastercard. This program was designed to inspire female teenagers between the ages of 8-14 as taking STEM-related courses could encourage more girls to consider a career in STEM. Did you know that in Nigeria, only 20% of girls are enrolled in STEM-related courses? This reveals the urgency for programs like ‘Girls for Tech.’ Recall, “An equal world is an enabled world.”

Our GoogleIT Support program is on the run! Organisations are counting on young people who can think outside the box and we delight in building young people to not only think creatively but to see how their potentials can cause a global impact. This program is a 4-6 month program that aims to equip young graduates and ‘out of school’ youths with 21st century professional IT skills needed for the job market. At Junior Achievement Nigeria, we are intentional about leaving no stone unturned as regards matters that can contribute to a thriving economic environment for youths. According to a statement by Adebowale Akinbobola, one of the beneficiaries of the JA Nigeria Google IT support program, he stated; “I am looking forward to the other modules and I appreciate JA Nigeria for this opportunity. I say cheers to greater impact from JA Nigeria and also for myself”.

In 2020, JA Nigeria started the #NoStudentLeftBehind campaign to support young people in developing skills that they need to be economically independent even in trying times. We look forward to more donations; this would accelerate our goals towards ensuring that there are No Students Left Behind.

In another development, JA Nigeria implemented its Financial Literacy Day program as part of the celebration for Global Money Week. Global Money Week is a worldwide celebration held in March to empower the next generation to be confident and money-savvy global citizens. The event which is in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria was held simultaneously in select schools across the country in efforts to create a financially literate generation. Similarly, through a partnership with Prudence Foundation. Primary school students were exposed to the basics of money management through the implementation of the ‘ChaChing’ program. ChaChing uses the ‘Earn. Save. Spend. Donate.’ mantra to teach these students life-long learning about financial management.

Furthermore, in line with JA Nigeria’s mission of providing business and economic education for young people, a recycling program titled ‘Every Can Counts’ will be implemented with the support of Novelis/GZI. ‘Every Can Counts’ is an educational program for primary and secondary school students, where they will be taught and motivated to know about the meaning and value of aluminum recycling, the importance of putting recycling into practice, and how this can help them become entrepreneurs who care about a sustainable future.

JA Nigeria, however, solicits support from well-meaning Nigerians, philanthropists, and corporate organisations to partner with us to accelerate our impact by helping us raise a generation of conscientious business leaders leading a vibrant economy and ultimately help young people to own their economic future.

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ZENITH BANK TO EXIT CBN’S REGULATORY FORBEARANCE BY 30TH JUNE, ASSURES SHAREHOLDERS OF CONTINUED DIVIDEND PAYOUT

Published

2 days ago

June 19, 2025

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Zenith Bank Plc, Nigeria’s biggest bank by Tier-1 Capital, has assured shareholders and investors of its readiness to satisfy all relevant conditions to exit the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) regulatory forbearance by June 30, 2025. The bank also expressed confidence in meeting shareholders’ dividend expectations in the 2025 financial year.The clarification comes on the back of heightened scrutiny of Nigerian banks’ capital health following the new CBN directive that suspends dividend payments and tightens oversight for banks with outstanding forbearance-related loans or breaches of the Single Obligor Limit (SOL).In a statement presented to the Nigeria Exchange (NGX) Group on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, the Bank stated that its exposure under the Single Obligor Limit (SOL) forbearance relates solely to a single obligor, pointing out that this exposure will be brought within the applicable regulatory limit on or before June 30, 2025. The bank also confirmed that the forbearance granted on other credit facilities applies to only two (2) of its customers, noting that it has made substantial provisions in respect of these facilities and taken appropriate and comprehensive steps to ensure full provisioning by June 30, 2025.The bank further emphasized its strong financial footing, stating that it has successfully raised and surpassed the new regulatory capital requirement of N500 Billion, and is therefore well positioned to continue delivering value to all its key stakeholders.Zenith Bank has continued to distinguish itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service offering, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The bank has remained 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.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 fifteenth consecutive year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine. 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 four consecutive years from 2021 to 2024 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in the International Banker 2023 and 2024 Banking Awards. Additionally, Zenith Bank has been acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards for 2022, 2023 and 2024 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 saw it being named the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands for 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year 2023 and 2024 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 in 2024 at the BAFI Awards. 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. Zenith Bank was also named 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; 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

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National Credit Guarantee Company Limited: Powering Inclusive Growth Through Risk-Sharing Guarantees

Published

1 week ago

June 13, 2025

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The National Credit Guarantee Company Limited (“NCGC” or the “Company”) is set to commence operations on 01 July 2025, as a specialised financial institution established to unlock access to credit and drive inclusive economic growth across Nigeria’s real economy. With an initial capital commitment of ₦100 billion, recently announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NCGC is positioned to reshape how Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), manufacturers, and strategic sectors access much-needed financing.

For decades, Nigerian businesses especially micro, small and medium scale enterprises have faced significant challenges accessing loans due to collateral barriers and high-risk perception. NCGC is bridging that gap. By providing partial credit coverage, the company will offer banks and other financial institutions a safety net, allowing them to lend more confidently to eligible borrowers, particularly in underserved and high-growth sectors.

NCGC does not lend directly to businesses. Instead, it partners with Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) including commercial banks, microfinance banks, fintechs, CBN-licensed institutions and other development financial institutions to share lending risk and support broader financial inclusion. The model is simple but powerful: enable lenders to do more by reducing the risk that prevents them from reaching viable, underfunded borrowers.

Key Beneficiaries

NCGC’s framework targets a wide range of beneficiaries:

· MSMEs across all regions

· Local manufacturers and value chain operators

· Credit consumers

· Youth and women-led enterprises

· Export-oriented and non-interest-based businesses

· Large enterprises within priority sectors

Our Core Services

NCGC offers three primary services:

· Partial Credit Guarantees – Covering up to 60% of outstanding principal on qualifying loans.

· Co-Guarantees – Collaborating with other institutions to jointly share lending risk.

· Technical Assistance – Providing capacity-building support for lenders and borrowers to enhance credit readiness and portfolio quality.

Guiding Principles

The company’s operations are underpinned by globally accepted credit risk-sharing principles:

· Risk-sharing, not risk transfer

· Strategic issuance to preserve borrower discipline

· Tiered eligibility to promote inclusion and developmental impact

· Full alignment with CBN regulations

These principles ensure every guarantee issued is responsible, irrevocable, and impact-driven.

Product Suite

NCGC offers a diverse set of guarantee products:

· Individual Guarantees – For high-value, project-specific loans.

· Portfolio Guarantees – For pool of loans in homogeneous sectors (e.g., agro-processing, creative economy).

· Performance Bond Guarantees – For businesses seeking to meet contract-based obligations.

Sectoral Coverage

Our guarantees are available across critical sectors including:

· Agriculture & Agribusiness – From inputs to processing and logistics.

· Renewable Energy & Green Economy – Including solar, clean tech, and mini-grids.

· Manufacturing & Infrastructure – Targeting value-added production and light industry.

· Digital & Tech Enterprises – Including startups, fintechs, SaaS, and logistics tech.

· Solid Minerals and Metal – Metal fabrication, recycling, beneficiation, coating, etc.

· Textile – Fashion, leather works, jewelry

· Export-Oriented SMEs – Especially in non-oil sectors.

· Women & Youth Enterprises – Including all women-owned businesses (promoter age not more than age 65).

· Islamic Enterprises (coming soon) – Non-interest, Shariah-compliant financing models.

A New Era of Credit Confidence

NCGC is more than just a financial institution; it is a catalyst for Nigeria’s economic transformation. By incentivizing lenders to serve more businesses safely and sustainably, NCGC is enabling job creation, driving productivity, and fostering a more self-reliant economy.

Its operational model is built to:

· Unlock access to finance for real sector growth

· Create jobs and alleviate poverty

· Drive inclusive economic outcomes

· Strengthen the MSME ecosystem

· Build trust and scale in Nigeria’s credit markets

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Ecobank Adire Lagos Exhibition Fair Opens in Grand Style … Dignitaries Grace the Venue

Published

2 weeks ago

June 7, 2025

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Left: Founder, Chief Responsibility Officer, Ruff ‘n’ Tumble/ Founder, Betti-O School of Fashion, Adenike Ogunlesi; Managing Director/Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal and Lagos State First Lady, Her Excellency, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu at the ongoing Adire Lagos Exhibition Fair holding at Ecobank Pan African Centre, Lagos

Ecobank Nigeria has officially launched the much-anticipated fourth edition of its Adire Lagos Exhibition Fair, a vibrant cultural and commercial event dedicated to promoting Nigeria’s indigenous fashion industry and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). The four-day fair runs from June 5 to 8, 2025, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre, 270B1 Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos. Visitors are welcomed daily from 10:00 AM.

Over 130 vendors are showcasing a diverse range of Adire designs, fashion items, and lifestyle products. The fair attracts a wide audience, including fashion enthusiasts, cultural professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs, and shoppers from across Nigeria and beyond.

Notable dignitaries who have so far graced the fair include the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mrs. Toke Benson-Awoyinka, who represented the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Lagos State First Lady, Her Excellency Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; the wife of the former Ekiti State Governor,Erelu Bisi Fayemi ; Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Adijat Motunrayo Adeleye-Oladapo; former Chairman of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, Emmanuel Ikazoboh; founding President of the FinTech Association of Nigeria (FANI), Dr. Segun Aina; and the owner of Nike Art Gallery, Nike Davies-Okundaye, among others.

Omoboye Odu, Head of Small and Medium Enterprises at Ecobank Nigeria, expressed delight at the strong turnout, stating, “This year’s exhibition promises a dynamic blend of established brands and emerging designers who embody innovation, cultural pride, and export potential.” She further emphasized the fair’s role as a major Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by Ecobank.

“The Adire Lagos Exhibition Fair is a key CSR initiative, offering SMEs a platform to showcase their products free of charge while fostering economic growth and national unity. Last year’s event attracted over 20,000 visitors in four days, with one vendor making N30 million in sales—equivalent to six months’ revenue—demonstrating the fair’s strong commercial potential.”

Exhibitors also praised the growing appeal of Adire designs. Ms. Fadilat Lawal, Managing Director of Sanyaolu Trading Stores, Abeokuta, highlighted the durability and cultural symbolism of Abeokuta Adire. Ms. Cynthia Uma, Creative Director of Cecesignature Unisex Clothing, Lagos, emphasized Adire’s growing global recognition as a revenue driver for her business.

The Adire Lagos Exhibition Fair continues to serve as a premier platform for celebrating Nigeria’s cultural heritage while empowering local artisans and entrepreneurs to thrive.

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