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Fidelity Bank Lifts “World’s Greatest Maths” Teacher, Offers Him Employment

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Pix 1. MD/CEO, Fidelity Bank PLC with the ​ “World’s Greatest Maths” Teacher, Michael Sowunmi

 

MD with the Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA) beneficiaries

  1. Head, CSR& Sustainability, Fidelity Bank PLC, Chris Nnakwe (3rdright) and CEO, Gazelle Academy, Muna Onuzor, consultant to Fidelity on CSR with YEA beneficiariesYEA Beneficiaries

Fidelity Bank Plc has brought succor to physically challenged Chemical Engineering graduate, Mr. Micheal Sowunmi who is fondly referred to as “the world’s greatest teacher” on account of his love for teaching.​

​ Mr. Sowunmi has been offered employment by top lender Fidelity Bank as a facilitator at the bank’s training academy known as CREST Academy. This much was revealed by the bank’s CEO Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo during the bank’s 2019-year end /customer appreciation party which took place at the weekend in Lagos. Okonkwo said the move was consistent with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy aimed specifically at uplifting the less privileged members of society.​

According to him, the theme of the party ‘Give them wings’ was crafted to underscore the bank’s CSR initiatives and interventions. “Sowunmi’s case is not an isolated one we have indeed demonstrated our passion for lifting people several ways as you have seen tonight with the case of Tim Godfrey and DJ Slim V and the Fidelity Youth Empowerment Academy”, he explained.

​ Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ernest Ebi, also gave lucid insights into the philosophy behind the bank’s Youth Empowerment Academy (YEA), which he described as a veritable platform to make beneficiaries financially independent and self-reliant. “Fidelity Bank is making the youths turn their passion into a pay cheque through empowerment programmes which includes vocational training in fashion, make-up, coding, catering and more” he said.

Ebi said that the programme seeks to empower Nigerian undergraduates with vocational skills and enterprise training which are relevant for self-reliance. Over 2000 students have benefited from​ YEA programs at University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi; Federal Polytechnic Oko; Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt, and Bayero University, Kano. Some beneficiaries who have since started their own businesses were recognized at the event.​

On Tim Godfrey, Okonkwo said the bank is fully supportive of him in spite of the fact that he does not play secular music, just as it has thrown its weight behind DJ Slim V who was discovered from a chance encounter at somewhere in the eastern part of the country. “Today, we have given them a platform this big to perform and showcase their craft to the admiration of all.​ We urge you to patronize them so they can grow. These energies they are displaying could have been channeled to negative vices” he stated.

The annual event which lasted to the wee hours of Friday last week had in attendance key stakeholders, customers and prospects including public office holders, traditional rulers, regulators and policy makers. KCee of 5 Star Music, Niniola, Timaya and Flavour performed at the party whilst comedians, Bovi and Larry J thrilled with rib cracking jokes. Some of the dignitaries at the event were Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf-Gawuna, Deputy Governor of Kano State, Mr. Ernest Ndukwe, Chairman MTN Nigeria​ among others.

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FIRSTBANK PARTNERS UNGC TO DRIVE SUSTAINABLE FINANCE AND UNLOCK CAPITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT

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FirstBank, the West Africa premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has strengthened its partnership with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) to reaffirm its commitment to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development. This ongoing partnership was reinforced at the recently concluded Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) hosted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in Seville, Spain.

 The FfD4 Conference brought together global leaders, policymakers, and private sector experts to discuss innovative solutions to address the growing SDG financing gap and unlock capital for development in fragile and underserved regions.

FirstBank’s Chief Risk Officer, Patrick Akhidenor, represented the bank at the conference and highlighted two FirstBank flagship initiatives driving resilience finance in Nigeria: The Solar Equipment Financing initiative and the revamped FirstGem Fund. The Solar Equipment Financing initiative offers tailored financing options for the purchase and installation of solar power systems, ensuring access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions. The FirstGem Fund, a women-focused proposition, provides single-digit interest loans to women entrepreneurs without collateral requirements, targeting funding gaps in critical sectors.

‘’We are committed to driving sustainable finance and unlocking capital for development,” said Patrick Akhidenor. “Our partnership with UNGC and participation in the FfD4 Conference demonstrate our dedication to innovative finance solutions that address the SDG financing gap.”

Sanda Ojambo, CEO of UNGC, emphasized the need for innovative, inclusive financial models for underserved regions. “The private sector must play a central role in shaping fit-for-purpose, scalable finance solutions,” she said. “De-risking tools and blended finance can help unlock capital and drive meaningful impact.

FirstBank’s partnership with Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and its SMEConnect hub demonstrate its capacity to lead efforts in sustainable finance. The bank provides training, networking, and tailored financing to SMEs across various sectors, including education, healthcare, and retail

 

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Access Holdings Reaffirms Strategic Growth Plan from Expansion to Optimisation

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Access Holdings PLC, the parent company of Access
Bank, has reaffirmed its long-term strategic blueprint anchored on a deliberate and
structured progression: scale, optimise, and sustain.
This roadmap, which has driven the Group’s aggressive expansion across Africa and
into key global markets, is now entering a crucial optimisation phase, expected to unlock
significant value for stakeholders as the organisation heads toward 2027.
Speaking on the strategy, Bolaji Agbede, Acting Group Chief Executive Officer, noted:
“Our approach has always been clear: scale first through strategic expansion, then
optimise through consolidation, synergy realisation, and operational efficiency. During
the scale-up phase, a considerable amount of funding is required to drive investments in
people, systems, infrastructure, and acquisitions.
“But as we move deeper into the optimisation phase, we will begin to see the full benefits
manifest, especially in terms of profitability, capital efficiency, and shareholder returns.”
Access Holdings’ five-year strategic plan, which runs through to 2027, also places
financial inclusion and impact at the core of its growth agenda. By expanding digital
access and scaling low-cost delivery platforms, the Group aims to onboard millions of
previously unbanked and underserved individuals and MSMEs across Africa into the
formal financial system. This is part of a broader strategy to enhance intra-Africa trade,
empower smallholder businesses, and strengthen the value chain across key sectors
including agriculture, commerce, and manufacturing.
The Full Year 2024 financial results demonstrate that the Group’s investments are
already yielding meaningful outcomes. Gross earnings rose to N4.878 trillion from
₦2.594 trillion in 2023, while profit before tax increased by 19% to N867.0 billion. Total
assets surged by 55.5% to N41.498 trillion, reinforcing Access Holdings’ position as one
of Africa’s most formidable financial services institutions.
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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

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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 1stFinancial 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 1stFinancial 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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