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COVID 19: Decision Necessary to Sustain Business-Wigwe

Published

5 years ago

May 14, 2020

He started out his career at the Coopers and Lybrand Associates, Lagos, as a management consultant. He soon got to be a Chartered Accountant and subsequently went to work at GTBank. In his time at the bank, spanning over a decade, Herbert rose through the ranks to become the Executive Director Corporate and Investment Banking.

By his admission, he had seen some ups and downs, had some fears, experienced some turbulence and has equally tasted some very good side to the bargain. “There have also been very trying times. There have been days when we’ve had to roll on the floor and pray, and just beg God that certain things shouldn’t happen, when there’s been big changes in the macro.

“There was some information about an exposure which we had. The communication was that it was not a performing loan, and it was not true. Because of the size of the loan, it could have triggered an issue. We were a much smaller institution. And our reputation, particularly in banking, could affect the overall franchise. It could affect our stakeholders, our customers, most importantly our people, because they were going to be concerned about our professional future.”

He was quite concerned, he admitted at a point in time. I was absolutely petrified of failure and would do everything possible not to find myself in certain circumstances, he said. “People ask us why we spend so much time working. Apart from the fact that we truly enjoy what we are doing, I enjoy every second of what I do, but the thought of failure is something I don’t want to dream of. So, we are perpetually seeking ways to better prepare ourselves for those difficult moments in life.

‘’There were people who thought, ‘how are these guys going to pull it together?’ There were those who thought, ‘young people don’t work together very well, they are likely to quarrel.’ Several people thought like that, some also said: ‘It’s just a matter of time, something will happen.’

‘’In fact, there were some consulting firms that said they were not going to take on our mandate because these guys are just a bit too young for what they want to do. So that was the kind of vibe that we got, adding however that there were “more days of celebration with each passing thing, each success makes us so much more confident. So, it’s been mixed feelings, on the whole, there’s so much thanksgiving to God.’’ ”

That is largely the trajectory of the corporate world. Some prepare for it, while for some others, it is thrust upon them. What one makes of it is made manifest in space of time.

Within the period that he began to toil in the banking space, Wigwe had weathered some storms no doubt. In the period he rose to become an Executive Director in GTBank, to when he and his co-traveller, Aig-Imoukhuede bought ‘little’ Access Bank, and then went on to acquire Intercontinental Bank and very lately, Diamond Bank and Transnational Bank of Kenya, Wigwe in the course of these transactions, would have taken some hard decisions, rightly so, in the line of duty. Having therefore been acquainted with these developments over time in addition to other boardroom challenges, it has become a matter of routine, doubtless, that the challenges thrown-up by the outbreak of the COVID-19, serious as they are (make no mistake about that for no sector is spared), were not expected to sweep Wigwe of his feet. He has been prepared for a time like this.

Implications of COVID-19

As pervading and dangerous the COVID-19 pandemic impacts are, they bear repetition so that no one is left in doubt as to the danger the world faces.The pandemic, not being a financial issues per se, yet its impact has consumed and crippled all businesses, the banking industry not being an exception. The global business community, be it in the developed world, developing, countries, or emerging markets have been brought to their knees. Job loses every where are numerous. In the US where data is readily available, over 30 million people have filed for unemployment benefits, while in April alone, over 20.5 million were reported to be out of jobs and still counting. Spiralling death tolls have become the new normal, medicament and health care facilities have been stretched to their limits, even at that, no one knows when this shall come to an end. Uncertainty is now the new normal.

In situations like this, corporate chiefs and political leaders are taking proactive steps and making moves in the expectation that per chance, they may strike the cord that would mitigate the devastating impact of this ravaging scourge. To do nothing is to wait for a certain death, or imminent disaster. In Britain for instance, it was announced a few weeks ago that the government has offered to stand in for workers who were asked to stay at home with a promise to underwrite their salaries for a period of three months in the first instance. Some other developed countries have also offered similar, or other alternatives. Also in the US, Congress approved a $6 billion package that entitled households to about $2,000 monthly, with a proviso that it will consider a review upward as events unfold. So far, none of these measures put forward by the developed countries is available at home, or in most third world countries, save for pronouncements of palliatives being provided here and there with no specific modus operandi of how the service is administered.

‘We’ll not sack workers’

While some have taken to laying off employees, others have put a cut on the monthly payroll, Access Bank has taken the empathetic route of trimming operating costs instead of outright workforce downsising.

Wigwe, in statement, assured that Access Bank has put in place a robust business continuity process that is enough to sustain the bank’s performance going forward, saying the bank “was well prepared for COVID-19 early enough and created ways of working from home and working with our customers. We set up links with our customers and devised ways of reaching out to them three or four times a day. This happened even before we started working with the larger society and it enabled us to start fighting this pandemic”.

He said to remain accountable to shareholders and keep the business running, it has become necessary to rationalise cost structure, including salary and even service providers. In stating the obvious, Wigwe said no business was having it easy at this time. He said top global enterprises have taken various measures to ensure that they stay afloat of the situation, pointing out that this is a time when we all need to be more understanding and work towards eradicating the virus so that we can continue living our normal lives. Sometimes, everyone has to endure some discomfort in order to ensure that no one is left behind, and this sums up the rationale behind Access Bank’s decision, because in his words, “all shareholders, including employees, deserve empathy and consideration”.

Wigwe also took the exceptional step of leading by example. He offered to cut his pay by 40 per cent over the period that the pandemic is in force, saying the measure will be graduated down the line, with the assurance that no staff member would lose their jobs because of COVID-19.

He said: “To keep to this commitment, we have made a decision at the management level to restructure salaries. This will start with me, who will have a salary restructure of 40 per cent, while other employees will have their salaries slightly reduced as well. It has become essential to take this decision in the interim, considering the economic realities and hope to reverse it as soon as economic activities become stable.

“As an employer of over 30,000 employees, our employees are our greatest assets. We understand how difficult these times are and we are determined to ensure that our staff remain in employment,” Wigwe said in the statement.

Corporate social responsibility

Access Bank has been ranked as the overall best company in Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability in Nigeria for the year 2019 based on a result drawn from impact assessments of 910 organizations operating in Nigeria over the last 13 years. The ranking took into cognizance Access Bank’s participation in impactful national projects, its recognitions and ratings from international award bodies, investment in CSR and sustainability.

The bank has in place a corporate strategy and philosophy which places sustainability at its core, ensuring that projects and initiatives undertaken by the bank are impactful and strategically linked with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Under Wigwe’s leadership, the bank has also recorded outstanding results by undertaking several initiatives across the country.

Having launched the Nigerian Green Bond Market Development Programme in June 2018, Access Bank’s determination to promote sustainable growth through funding of projects at a lower cost of capital, led to the issuance of a N15 billion (USD41 million) corporate green bond in 2019. The issue is the first-ever Climate Bonds Initiative certified corporate green bond in Africa.

He certainly knows what it takes to be a leader. His work attitude, ethics and transparency and strategies in navigating uncharted terrain and circumstances in the global economy, have attested to him being a proven, tested and pragmatic leader. His approach to amicably resolving the challenges thrown up by the coronavirus scourge in marrying the corporate interest with those of the workforce, and leaving all interests well protected, should be commended. He rose to the challenge of the moment and proactively adopted measures to keep the financial institution going, not only that, but strong and competitive.Transparency is a strong virtue of leadership.

Clearly, one thing the ravaging pandemic has revealed, according to Barclays Bank boss, Jes Staley, is that having thousands of bank workers in big, expensive city offices, “may be a thing of the past”.

Staley pointed out that about 70,000 of Barclays’ staff members worldwide are working from home due to coronavirus lockdown measures, leading the bank to rethink its long-term strategy. So, it is not just Wigwe taking proactive and pragmatic steps to remain competitive, he is sure having a head start here by his bold and pragmatic approach.

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GTCO Plc Becomes the 1st Financial Services Institution in West Africa to Achieve Listing and Trading of its Ordinary Shares on the London Stock Exchange

Published

1 day ago

July 4, 2025

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Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc), Africa’s leading and most profitable Financial Services Group, has recorded a significant milestone in its growth and expansion journey with the successful admission of its Ordinary Shares to the Equity Shares (International Commercial Companies Secondary Listing) category of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange.

This historic achievement makes GTCO Plc, the 1^stFinancial Services Institution in West Africa to dual list its Ordinary Shares on both the Nigerian and London stock exchanges, and subject to certain criteria, it is expected that the Shares will be transferrable between the two exchanges.

The admission follows the successful pricing of its fully marketed offering (The Offering) on the London Stock Exchange to raise gross proceeds of $105million in exchange for 2.29 billion of new ordinary shares in the company, which was supported by a strong book of high-quality, long-term institutional investors.

Concurrent with the Offering, the Company also gave notice of its intention to cancel the listing of its existing GDRs on the certificates representing certain securities (depositary receipts) category of the Official List of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) and the admission to trading of GDRs on the London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities.

Building on the momentum of the successful first tranche of its equity capital raise programme in July 2024, which secured ₦209 billion, GTCO will deploy the proceeds from the Offering to strengthen its capital base, meet its recapitalization target, and fund strategic expansion across high-growth markets and priority sectors within and outside Nigeria.

It is expected that Admission and unconditional dealing in the Shares will become effective on or before 8.00 a.m. (UK time) on 9 July 2025 under the ticker “GTHC”. Following the cancellation of the GDRs listing, the Company intends to change the ticker symbol for the Shares from “GTHC” to “GTCO” and will issue a separate announcement in due course to that effect.

Commenting on the LSE Listing, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “Today marks a major milestone—not just for GTCO, but for the future we see for African financial institutions on the global stage. We are incredibly proud to be the 1^stFinancial Services Institution in West Africa to list our ordinary shares on London Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities, and even more honored by the trust placed in us by the investing community. For us, this was not just about raising capital. It was about validating the strength of our franchise, the clarity of our strategy, and the discipline with which we execute.”

He further said; “I would like to thank everyone who made this possible—our advisors and legal teams, our longstanding shareholders, the regulators both in Nigeria and in the UK, as well as the Nigerian government for creating an environment that supports our bold ambition and vision to be Africa’s leading financial services institution.”

GTCO’s fully marketed offering attracted long-term institutional capital, reflecting investor confidence in the Group’s fundamentals, governance, and strategic outlook. It also signals improving market sentiment, buoyed by ongoing economic reforms by the Federal Government and a return to traditional orthodox monetary policy by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which have gone a long way to stabilising the macroeconomic environment and gradually restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s long-term prospects.

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ZENITH BANK RETAINS TOP SPOT AS NUMBER ONE BANK IN NIGERIA BY TIER-1 CAPITAL FOR THE SIXTEENTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR IN THE 2025 TOP 1000 WORLD BANKS’ RANKING

Published

1 day ago

July 4, 2025

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Zenith Bank Plc has retained its position as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for

the sixteenth consecutive year, in the 2025 Top 1000 World Banks’ Rankings, published by The

Banker,FinancialTimesGroup,UnitedKingdom.ThisrankingplacesZenithBankPlcasthe

581st Bank globally, with a Tier-1 Capital of $2 billion.

The global rankings, published inthe July 2025 edition of TheBanker, was based on the 2024

year-end Tier-1capital ofbanks. Thisis theprimary basisformost internationalorganizations’

assessments of banks.

Commenting on this achievement, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame

(Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, OON, said, “We are thrilled to have retained our position yet again as the

Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 capital for the 16th consecutive year. This achievement is

a reflection of the bank’s robust financial performance, prudent risk management and steadfast

dedication to delivering exceptional value to our customers and stakeholders”. She thanked the

Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his visionary and transformative leadership which has

playedapivotalroleincultivatingaresilientandthrivinginstitution.Shealsoexpressedher

deepest appreciation to the bank’s esteemed customers for their continued loyalty to the Zenith

brand, the Board for the sound corporate governance, and the staff for their relentless & tireless

efforts in ensuring the bank’s success.

Tier-1 Capital describes capital adequacy, the core measure of a bank’s financial strength from a

regulator’sperspective.Accordingtotheranking,Tier-1Capital,asdefinedbytheBankfor

International Settlements(BIS) guidelines,includes loss-absorbingcapital, i.e.,common stock,

disclosed reserves, retained earnings, and minority interests in the equity of subsidiaries that are

less than whollyowned. A strongTier-1 capital ratio boostsinvestor and depositorconfidence,

indicating the Bank is well-capitalised and financially stable.

Accordingtotheaudited financialresultsforthe2024financialyearpresented totheNigerian

Exchange (NGX), the Bank recorded a double-digit growth of 86% in gross earnings, increasing

from N2.13 trillion in 2023 to N3.97 trillion in 2024. This growth was driven by a 138% increase in

interest income, supported by investment in high-yield government securities, and growth in the

Bank’s loan book. Zenith Bank’s profit before tax (PBT) rose by 67%, reaching N1.3 trillion in 2024

from N796 billion in 2023. This performance saw the bank record an unprecedented total dividend

payout of N195.67 billion at N5.00 per ordinary share in the 2024 financial year.

Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous

awards including being recognised as the 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 being listed in the World Finance Top 100 Global Companies in

2023.

Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for four consecutive years from 2021

to2024intheWorldFinanceBankingAwardsandMostSustainableBank,Nigeriainthe

InternationalBanker2023and2024BankingAwards.Additionally,ZenithBankwas

acknowledged as the Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria, in the World Finance Corporate

Governance Awards from 2022 to 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 BusinessDayBanks 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.TheBankalsoreceivedtheaccoladesofBestCommercialBank,NigeriaandBest

Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.

ZenithBankwasalsonamedMostResponsibleOrganisationinAfrica,BestCompanyin

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

theYear2024byNewTelegraphNewspaper;andBestinMSMETradeFinance,2023by

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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Body of Bank CEOs Delivers Critical Relief to Flood Victims in Niger State, Pledges Continued Support

Published

6 days ago

June 29, 2025

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Pix 1 L-R: Registrar & Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) Akin Morakinyo; Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Hassan Imam; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji; The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago; Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs and Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba; Managing Director Taj Bank Mr. Hamid Joda; and Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman during the donation of relief materials from the Body of Bank CEOs in Nigeria, aimed at supporting victims of the recent devastating floods in Mokwa Local Government Area held at the Niger State House in Abuja at the weekend.

The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago; Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs and Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba during the donation of relief materials from the Body of Bank CEOs in Nigeria, aimed at supporting victims of the recent devastating floods in Mokwa Local Government Area held at the Niger State House in Abuja at the weekend

Pix 3: L-R: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Hassan Imam; Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji; The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago; Chairman, Body of Bank CEOs and Group Managing Director/CEO, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Oliver Alawuba; and Managing Director Taj Bank Mr. Hamid Joda, during the donation of relief materials from the Body of Bank CEOs in Nigeria, aimed at supporting victims of the recent devastating floods in Mokwa Local Government Area held at the Niger State House in Abuja at the weekend.

In a heartwarming display of corporate social responsibility and solidarity, a consortium of Nigerian Bank CEOs, has pledged significant support to alleviate the suffering of flood victims in Niger State

The Executive Governor of Niger State, His Excellency, Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago on Saturday in Abuja received relief materials from the Body of Bank CEOs led by its Chairman, Mr Oliver Alawuba.

The gesture is aimed at supporting victims of the recent devastating floods in Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.

Oliver Alawuba who is also the Group Managing Director/CEO of United Bank for Africa(UBA), led the delegation to the Niger State Government house Abuja, where they presented essential relief items, including bags of rice, beverages, vegetable oil, and mattresses, valued at millions of naira.

The devastating floods, which have affected thousands of families in the region, have prompted the banking community to come together in a show of empathy and support to those displaced and affected by the disaster.

In his address, Alawuba expressed the banking industry’s deep sympathy for the affected communities and reaffirmed their dedication to sustainable support while pointing out that the gesture underscores the banking sector’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and humanitarian intervention especially in times of crisis.

He said, “Today, we stand with the people of Niger State in their time of need. We want you to know that we feel your pain and we give you our firm resolve to assist in rebuilding lives. This donation is just the beginning; we pledge continued collaboration with the Niger State Government to ensure long-term recovery and resilience.”

Other top CEOs and executives at the presentation included by the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Dame (Dr.) Adaora Umeoji, the Registrar and Chief Executive of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Mr. Akin Morakinyo, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Keystone Bank Limited, Mr. Hassan Imam; Managing Director Taj Bank Mr. Hamid Joda; Secretary to the Government of Niger State (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman senior government officials, banking executives, and media representatives, marking a significant step in public-private collaboration for humanitarian relief.

Governor Bago, who received the relief materials on behalf of the state, commending the banking sector for its timely intervention.

“This gesture reinforces the critical role of private-sector partnerships in disaster response,” Governor Bago stated. “We are grateful for this support and look forward to deeper collaboration in safeguarding our communities against future challenges. On behalf of the good people of Niger State, particularly the affected families in Mokwa, I extend our sincerest thanks for this timely and compassionate intervention,” Bago stated.

“The recent floods in the state brought immense hardship to the people, displacing families, destroying livelihoods, and disrupting communities and the banking sector, under the leadership of Alawuba and his esteemed colleagues, has demonstrated that beyond financial stewardship, they are true partners in national development and humanitarian service.

This donation is not just about the physical items; it is a symbol of hope, resilience, and the unwavering support of Nigeria’s financial institutions in times of need. It reassures our people that they are not forgotten, the governor stated.

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