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.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has announced the 2026 rollout of its social impact initiative called #BeatTheDistance.This is a nationwide intervention aimed at supporting school children in underserved communities through the provision of bicycles to ease their daily commute to school.

Marking the second edition of the initiative, GTCO will distribute 3,000 bicycles to schoolchildren across six states in Nigeria—Ebonyi, Jigawa, Benue, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, and Ekiti. The programme builds on the impact of its inaugural rollout in 2019 and underscores the Group’s commitment to improving access to education through practical, community-focused interventions.

By helping to reduce the transportation challenges faced by students who travel long distances to attend school, the initiative seeks to improve school attendance, support learning outcomes, and create opportunities for young people to pursue their education with greater ease and confidence.

Speaking on the initiative, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr Segun Agbaje, said: “Education remains one of the most powerful tools for transforming lives and creating opportunities. Through the #BeatTheDistance Initiative, we are supporting students whose determination to learn is often tested by the distance they travel each day to access education. By providing these bicycles, our goal is to create an environment where more children can achieve their full potential by reducing fatigue, improving attendance at school, and expanding learning outcomes for children of school age.

He further added: “At GTCO, we believe that meaningful impact comes from addressing real challenges within communities. #BeatTheDistance is one of the ways we are investing in the future by supporting young people and helping to create conditions that enable them to succeed. We remain committed to initiatives that promote inclusion, expand access to opportunities, and contribute to sustainable development.”

The initiative forms part of GTCO’s broader commitment to social impact and sustainable development, particularly in the areas of education, youth empowerment, and community advancement. By helping students spend less time commuting and more time learning, #BeatTheDistance continues to deliver practical support where it is needed most, empowering young people to pursue their education and unlock their full potential.

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  ZenithBankPlcreaffirmeditscommitmenttoadvancingtrade,investmentandeconomiccooperation

  betweenCanadaandAfricaastheHeadlineConferenceSponsorofthe6thCanada-AfricaBusiness

  Conference, held on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.

  OrganisedbytheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,theconferencebroughttogetherahigh-level

  Canadian business delegation representing 31 companies, alongside senior government officials, business

  leaders, investors, policymakers, diplomats and development partners. The gathering set out to strengthen

  commercial relations between Canada and Africa and to position Nigeria as a strategic gateway for Canadian

  businesses seeking opportunities across the continent.

  The Canadian delegation comprised companies and institutions operating across financial services, security,

  mining andcritical minerals,legal andprofessional services, infrastructure, technology, healthcare, education

  and clean energy. Among those present were GardaWorld, Dentons, Baywood Group, Element, Trilliant and

  other leading Canadian enterprises exploring commercial opportunities and strategic partnerships in Nigeria.

  The Executive Director of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr. Akin Ogunranti, who delivered the keynote address on behalf

  of the Group Managing Director/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, described the conference as a timely

  platform for deepening commercial partnerships between Canada and Africa amid shifting global economic

  realities. He underscored Africa’s readiness to lead the next phase of global economic growth, stressing that

  thecontinent now possessestheinstitutions,policy frameworks andpartnershipsrequiredtoturn its immense

  potential into shared prosperity.

  “The question is not whether Africa is rich in potential. It is whether we can turn that potential into prosperity

  our people can feel. For the first time, the answer is yes, because of the machinery we are now building,” he

  said.

  RepresentingtheGovernorofLagosState,HisExcellencyMr.BabajideSanwo-Olu,thePermanent

  Secretary, Ministryof Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade andInvestment, Mr. Babatunde Onigbanjo,reaffirmed

  the State Government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for investment and international

  partnerships, and highlighted Lagos’ position as Nigeria’s commercial hub and gateway to African markets.

  “Canada bringstothe tableconsiderable expertise,capital, innovation,and astrong traditionof institution

  building.Africa,andindeedLagos,offerscale.Weoffertalent,creativity,marketopportunitiesandan

  increasingly sophisticated business environment. Together, these strengths create a compelling foundation

  for transformative partnership,” he said.

  Speaking at the event, the Deputy High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, Mr. Carlos Rojas-Arbulú, noted

  thattheconferencereflectsthegrowingmomentuminbilateralcommercialcollaborationbetweenboth

  countries. He said: “The relationship between Canada and Nigeria is not new. It is rooted in diplomacy, trade,

  education,culture,migration,andshareddemocraticvalues.Buttoday,Ibelieveweareenteringanew

  chapter: one that is more ambitious, more practical, and more human.”
• TheChairoftheBoardoftheCanada-AfricaChamberofBusiness,PaulaCaldwellSt-Onge,highlighted

  Nigeria’sgrowing economic significance,saying: “Nigeria’s growth isnot theoretical.It is alreadybeing built by

  Nigerian entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions, innovators and companies whose ambition reaches

  across Africa and around the world.”

  She also acknowledged Zenith Bank’s role in advancing the conference’s objectives, stating: “Zenith Bank is

  not only oneof Africa’s leadingfinancial institutions, it isthe capital behindwhat you seehere today, and it

  represents the skill, ambition, discipline, innovation and excellence that this conference seeks to showcase.”

  Theconferencefeaturedhigh-levelpaneldiscussionsonCanada-Africacommercialrelations,investment

  opportunitiesacrossprioritysectors,andtheimplementationoftheAfricanContinentalFreeTrade Area

  (AfCFTA). The sessions brought together policymakers, business executives and industry experts to identify

  practicalpathwaysforstrengtheningcommercialpartnershipsandacceleratingsustainableeconomic

  development.

  The conference is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s attractiveness as a destination for Canadian investment,

  while opening new opportunities for technology transfer, private sector collaboration, job creation and long-

  termeconomicgrowth.ItalsoreinforcesNigeria’spositionasastrategichubforbusinessesseekingto

  access opportunities across Africa under the AfCFTA, supporting the country’s ambition to expand its role in

  regional and global trade.