Connect with us

Banking Sector

How Stanbic IBTC Has Succeeded in Attaining Gender Equity

Published

on

Stanbic IBTC - investorsking.com

Determined to foster gender parity and sustain its reputation as a gender-friendly organisation, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC continued to ensure that every female employee has equal opportunities for career growth within the group. 

There have been gales of promotions of deserving female employees to senior executive positions, which was perhaps unprecedented in the financial services industry. These female executives were promoted as a reward for their excellent performance and outstanding contributions to the growth of Stanbic IBTC. 

Some of the executive appointments comprised the elevation of Wunmi Ehis-Uzenabor to the position of Executive Director, Operations, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management; Busola Jejelowo as Executive Director, Investments, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management and Titi Ogungbesan as Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers. Others were Emi Agaba-Oloja and Sakeenat Bakare, who assumed the roles of Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Trustees; and Executive Director, Business Development, Stanbic IBTC Insurance, respectively. 

These promotions, which were in line with Stanbic IBTC’s corporate governance structure and succession policy, further showcased the financial institution’s pedigree as an equal-opportunity organisation. 

Stanbic IBTC has always been forward-looking in terms of its recruitment and succession policies. The organisation has always believed that females are as talented as their male counterparts. They also contribute immensely to the growth of the business and the society at large if given the opportunity. 

Proof of this belief is Sola David- Borha, who rose through the ranks to become the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank and later of the Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC before moving to Standard Bank Group where she became Chief Executive, Standard Bank Africa Regions, a role she held till her retirement in April 2021. 

Bunmi Dayo-Olagunju also transitioned from Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management to becoming the Executive Director, Engineering of the Bank. Other top females in the group include Funke Amobi; Head People and Culture Stanbic IBTC, Bridget Oyefeso-Odusami; Head Brand and Marketing , who are Non-Executive Directors at Stanbic IBTC Asset Management. Ibiyemi Mezu, Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Insurance Brokers, Bunmi Olarinoye; Executive Director, Stanbic IBTC Stockbroking, Olusola Carrena and Oyinda Akinyemi Executive Directors in Stanbic IBTC Capital, Omolola Fashesin; Head Risk and Capital Management a Non-Executive Director with Stanbic IBTC trustees and Nnenna Anyim Okoro; Head Consumer Sector, Wholesale Clients, Non – Executive Director Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers Limited.

“For us, achieving gender inclusiveness is not only a fundamental human right but also a business imperative. We have teams headed by females who are doing great things for the business. Stanbic IBTC has remained at the forefront of gender equality and inclusion by providing platforms through which women flourish and excel. We have continued to demonstrate our belief in a gender-balanced representation in all areas of society through women-focused initiatives,” Dr Demola Sogunle, the Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, said.

In 2020, the Bank temporarily changed its logo colour from blue to magenta to celebrate the UN Women HeForShe movement focused on women’s solidarity and gender equality. Also, the HeForShe campaign was massively supported by the institution to drive the narrative of improving the representation of women in leadership positions across the board.

Addressing the commitment of the Bank in ensuring a gender-inclusive workplace, Demola highlighted that Stanbic IBTC, as an organisation, remained at the forefront of championing women empowerment in Nigeria through laudable projects such as its seed funding initiative for women in agriculture in partnership with the United Nations, and the promotion of women-focused products such as the Blue Blossom account which is targeted at female entrepreneurs to help them drive business growth.”

 Evidence of Stanbic IBTC’s backing for the female gender is also inherent in its support for the Blue Women Network (BWN), a network of female employees of the Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC. Nnenna Anyims Okoro, Chairperson, BWN, said: “Stanbic IBTC has truly created an environment where women feel appreciated, rewarded, and are encouraged to blossom and achieve their full potentials. As a result of this support, the BWN can galvanise support, thereby creating positive impacts in society through our numerous corporate social initiatives and empowerment programs. Internally, the BWN as a network has supported female employees through various mentorship engagements and knowledge sharing resulting in the enhancement of their professional skills.”

The leading end-to-end financial organisation continues to challenge gender discrimination and stereotypes, thereby changing the workplace as we know it.

Is the CEO/Founder of Investors King Limited. A proven foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Businessinsider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and many more. He has over two decades of experience in global financial markets.

Continue Reading
Comments

Banking Sector

Unity Bank Marks Global Money Week, Engages Students on Financial Literacy

Published

on

Unity Bank

Unity Bank Plc has engaged students from all the geopolitical zones of the federation as it facilitated financial literacy training in 15 schools as part of activities to mark the 2024 Global Money Week.

The Financial Literacy Training was held as a strategy for driving financial inclusion of the Central Bank of Nigeria and Bankers Committee. Unity Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Tomi Somefun participated in the programme by facilitating training on financial literacy at NYSC Demonstration Secondary School, Calabar, Cross River State recently.

Mrs Somefun, who was represented by Unity Bank’s Chief Compliance Officer, Mrs. Patricia Ahunanya, provided the students with invaluable insights on the path to wealth creation, including imbibing savings habits, investing, and adopting money management skills early.

Her interaction with the students was aimed at instilling financial discipline and financial management skills for the attainment of financial independence and security while promoting a savings and investment culture. During the session, Mrs. Somefun acknowledged outstanding students and presented them with awards.

The Global Money Week (GMW) is an annual campaign dedicated to raising global awareness about the importance of promoting financial literacy among young people from an early age. The initiative focuses on equipping them with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviours essential for making informed financial decisions, leading to financial well-being. Each year, a minimum of 40,000 organizations participate in this endeavour, collectively impacting over 60 million children globally.

In Nigeria, the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Banker’s Committee in collaboration with Junior Achievement Nigeria, coordinates the activities for Global Money Week, which sees the participation of financial institutions with nationwide coverage.

Continue Reading

Banking Sector

CBN Halts Opay, Palmpay, Others Onboarding Amid Forex Scandal

Published

on

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) has directed four leading fintech companies, OPay, Palmpay, Kuda Bank, and Moniepoint to halt the onboarding of new customers pending further investigation.

This directive, issued by the apex bank, comes in the wake of allegations linking these fintech giants to illicit foreign exchange transactions.

The move has sent ripples across Nigeria’s burgeoning fintech landscape, raising questions about regulatory oversight and the evolving dynamics of financial technology in the country.

Representatives from two of the affected companies confirmed the CBN’s order, shedding light on the gravity of the situation.

While acknowledging the allegations, they highlighted potential misdirection, emphasizing that the majority of implicated accounts are affiliated with commercial banks rather than fintech platforms.

“I can confirm that 90% of the accounts implicated in the illicit forex transactions are with commercial banks, and only 10% are with fintechs. Why then has the CBN not extended this directive to the commercial banks? We face a widespread issue here, and targeting fintechs seems like an unfair focus on the more vulnerable targets,” one source explained.

This revelation underscores a broader concern regarding regulatory asymmetry within Nigeria’s financial ecosystem.

Despite fintechs demonstrating robust Know Your Customer (KYC) practices, they find themselves under intense scrutiny while traditional banks seemingly evade similar directives.

The controversy deepened with recent revelations from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which secured a court order to freeze over 1,100 bank accounts allegedly involved in illegal foreign exchange transactions.

Justice Emeka Nwite’s decision, issued on an ex-parte motion, underscores the urgency to address financial malfeasance within the country.

However, scrutiny seems disproportionately directed towards fintechs, leaving industry insiders perplexed.

“In terms of KYC, the fintechs are doing better than the banks, but all eyes seem to be on the fintechs whenever the issue of KYC occurs,” a source revealed.

This regulatory imbalance raises critical questions about the evolving role of fintech in Nigeria’s financial landscape.

Despite their innovative solutions and customer-centric approach, fintechs face a regulatory framework that appears skewed against them, favoring traditional institutions.

As Nigeria strives to maintain financial integrity and stability, stakeholders must address these regulatory discrepancies to ensure a level playing field for all participants.

The outcome of this saga will not only shape the future of fintech regulation but also define Nigeria’s approach to combating financial crime in an increasingly digitized economy.

Continue Reading

Banking Sector

Zenith Bank Shareholders Approve Holdco Structure

Published

on

Zenith Bank EGM

Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc unanimously approved the restructuring of the Bank to a holding company during a court-ordered Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held virtually from Zenith Heights, Zenith Bank Plc, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Friday, April 26, 2024.

In accordance with the Scheme of Arrangement dated March 28 2024, pursuant to Section 715 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA), 2020 between the Bank and the holders of the fully paid ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each in the Bank, the shareholders voted to transfer 31,396,493,787 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each held in the issued and paid-up share capital of Zenith Bank Plc to Zenith Bank Holding Company Plc (the HoldCo) in exchange for the allotment of 31,396,493,787 ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each in the share capital of the HoldCo in the same proportion to their shareholding in the Bank.

Similarly, the shareholders approved that each Existing GDR Holder receive, as consideration for each existing GDR held, one new HoldCo GDR.

The shareholders also approved that all of the shares held by the nominees of the Bank in Zenpay Limited, a direct subsidiary of the HoldCo, together with all rights and liabilities attached to such shares, be transferred to the HoldCo.

The Board of Directors were also authorised to delist the shares of the Bank and the Existing GDRs from the official list of the Nigerian Exchange and the London Stock Exchange respectively as well as re-register the Bank as a private limited company under CAMA Act 2020.

In his remarks during the EGM, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, thanked the shareholders for their unwavering commitment, which has been instrumental in the Bank’s outstanding performance over the years.

He expressed his delight at witnessing the transition of the Bank to a holding company, which is anticipated to position it advantageously for exploring emerging opportunities in the Fintech space while bolstering its digital and retail banking initiatives.

Also speaking during the EGM, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, lauded the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his pivotal role in creating an institution that has consistently been a trailblazer in the nation’s financial services industry.

Dr. Onyeagwu expressed his optimism about the Bank’s growth trajectory in the coming years as it transitions into a holding company structure.

According to him, “The HoldCo structure presents an opportunity for us to unlock value for shareholders in terms of opportunity in other sectors beyond banking. The first part is Fintech, where we have already received the approval and the license from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), which we are launching soon.

“It is going to be focusing on an area that we know has not been touched on by anyone. So it is more like us finding an open wide space where we can begin to operate, and with a HoldCo, what that means is that we have an opportunity to diversify our investment.

“We can begin to look at other business verticals that were restrained by the kind of authorisation we have. So, it presents a big opportunity for us to have a wider lens and scope in terms of what we can do. It will also position us to think of opportunities beyond Africa. We will be looking at key business verticals that have the potential to enable us to create value for shareholders.”

On the recapitalisation plan of the Bank, Dr. Onyeagwu stated that the Bank is on course to receive the needed shareholder’s approval in the forthcoming Annual General Meeting (AGM) slated for May 8, 2024, which will kickstart its capital raising effort in line with the CBN directive.

He expressed confidence in the Bank’s ability to raise the stipulated capital, stating that amongst its peers in the industry, Zenith was expected to raise the least amount due to its already robust capital base.

Continue Reading
Advertisement




Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending