Lagos, January 18, 2025 – Ecobank Nigeria has partnered with the Nigerian Consumer Credit Corporation (CrediCorp) to offer affordable and flexible loans to customers. These loans can be used to finance a variety of needs, including paying school fees, rent, maintenance costs, medical bills, car purchase & repairs, asset purchase, and more. The program is available to civil servants and private-sector employees whose salaries are paid through Ecobank. New customers can also benefit upon presentation of employer undertaking to pay subsequent salaries through Ecobank. Starting this January, the initiative provides flexible repayment options and a streamlined loan application process. CrediCorp, a Development Finance Institution (DFI) established by the Federal Government, is focused on enhancing access to consumer credit for Nigeria’s workforce. Under the partnership, CrediCorp will provide funds to Ecobank, for on-lending to qualified customers. The arrangement covers personal loans, as well as asset financing for items like solar systems, home appliances, phones, laptops etc. and vehicle conversions to compressed natural gas (CNG). Adeola Ogunyemi, Head of Consumer Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, expressed excitement about the collaboration, emphasizing that it would provide salary earners, both in the public and private sectors, with better access to financial products. She said, “This collaboration is an excellent opportunity to serve our customers, and we believe it will improve the quality of life for many Nigerians. Eligible customers can use the loans to purchase electronics, solar systems, or CNG vehicle conversions, as well as for other essential expenses like school fees, rent, upkeep, medical bills, and car maintenance. We encourage working-class Nigerians to open an account with Ecobank to benefit from this initiative.” The loans come with affordable interest rates, a two-year term, and a repayment plan that ensures equal monthly installments, including principal and interest, do not change throughout the life of the facility, regardless of the economic situation of the country. Ecobank Nigeria is part of the Ecobank Group, a leading pan-African banking organization. The bank provides a full range of financial services to individuals, businesses, and institutions through its network of over 240 branches and 35,000 Xpress Point agencies across Nigeria.

…Set to reward 131 Nigerians in first monthly draw of 2025* Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, is set to reward 131 customers across Nigeria with N11,000,000 in cash prizes, in its first 5 for 5 Promo Season 4 monthly draw of the year happening in Warri, Delta State, on January 24, 2025. Launched in 2021, the 5 for 5 Promo is a reward initiative introduced by Wema Bank to reward its diverse range of customers for active loyalty to the brand, its products, and offerings. The 5 for 5 Promo selects winners from the Bank’s pool of active and transacting customers, via thoroughly regulated electronic live draws. The first 3 seasons saw the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo disburse over N150,000,000 to 2,378 Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, and with the launch of Season 4 on October 1, 2024, Wema Bank raised the bar, setting aside a whopping N135,000,000 for disbursement this season alone. So far, over 1,000 Nigerians have won cash prizes in daily, weekly and monthly draws, with 540 customers winning in 55 daily draws, 550 customers winning in 11 weekly draws and 262 customers winning in 2 monthly draws; totalling over N27,000,000 disbursed so far. The 3rd monthly draw of the season, which also happens to be the first monthly draw of 2025, is set to hold this January in Warri, and another 131 winners will emerge from the draw. Among these 131, 80 will each win N25,000, 40 will win N100,000 each, 8 domiciliary account holders will win N250,000 each and 3 lucky customers will win N1,000,000 each, with one of the millionaires guaranteed to be from Warri, since the draw holds in Warri. Referring to the trailblazing monthly draw as a timely intervention for Nigerians in light of the new year, Moruf Oseni, MD/CEO Wema Bank, recounted the big picture for the Promo and the impact this draw will have on the lives of the customers who will be starting their year out with cash prizes to support their personal, professional or business endeavours. According to him, “The goal for us with the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo is giving back, providing support and rewarding our loyal customers, it’s been one of the key means through which we say ‘thank you’ as a Bank, and four years strong so far, it’s only gotten better with each season. We made millionaires in December ahead of Christmas and it was heartwarming to hear from our amazing customers how instrumental these rewards were in sorting out some bills. Now, we are even more ready to kickstart 2025 on a millionaire note”. “As a tradition, the 5 for 5 Promo continues to tour different locations across the six geopolitical zones, however, our winners are always selected from across the country. So even though one of the millionaires will be from Warri where this draw will hold, there’s still room for 2 more millionaires and over 120 more winners of cash ranging from N25,000 to N250,000. The joy for us is in the smiles that are made, the stories that are positively impacted and the hope that these cash rewards bring to the winners; from students to small business owners, working professionals, and so on. We are all too familiar with the running ‘100 days of January’ reality that plagues a lot of us after the heavy spending that comes with December, so this draw is the perfect opportunity to support our customers beyond the daily and weekly draws that we hold every other weekday. I congratulate the winners in advance, and I encourage every new and existing Wema Bank customer to seize this opportunity and start transacting today. The 5 for 5 Promo is as transparent as can be, so anyone can win, provided they meet the minimum requirements”, Oseni concluded. Olorunshola Damilola Esther, an Akure-based trader who was one of the millionaires from the 2nd monthly draw of the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo Season 4 which held in Akure on December 15, 2024, expressed immense gratitude to Wema Bank for the surprise win, encouraging Nigerians to keep transacting with their Wema Bank accounts for a chance to also receive surprise financial rewards in the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo. To qualify, participate and stand a chance to win in the Wema Bank 5 for 5 Promo Season 4, customers of the Bank are required to fund their account with at least N5,000 monthly, maintain an average minimum balance of N5,000 and make up to 5 transactions using ALAT, *945# or their Wema/ALAT debit card. New customers can participate by downloading the ALAT App from the Play Store or App Store, opening an account, and following the steps above to qualify.

17 Jan. 2025, Lagos, Nigeria – In a strategic move to sustain its impressive performance, leading financial institution Fidelity Bank Plc has announced significant changes to its Board of Directors, effective January 14, 2025.

According to a regulatory filing on the corporate disclosure portal of NGX Regulation Limited, the Bank has received the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) approval to appoint Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Mohammed as an Independent Non-Executive Director, Ms. Obiaku Augusta Okam as a Non-Executive Director, and Mr. Sufiyanu Ibrahim Garba as an Executive Director, all effective January 14, 2025.

Alhaji Mohammed brings over 36 years of experience in financial services, public administration, and human resources development, having held key leadership and executive roles at prestigious institutions including First Bank of Nigeria Plc and Polaris Bank Limited. His extensive expertise encompasses banking, public service, and business advisory.

Ms. Okam boasts more than 30 years of impressive experience across banking, financial services, real estate, and retail sectors. Currently the Managing Director/CEO of Skycurve Nigeria Limited, she has held leadership positions at Zenith Bank Plc and Nigeria International Bank Limited (Citibank).

Mr. Garba has over 30 years of multifunctional and cross-border experience at leading financial institutions in Nigeria and the United Kingdom including executive and leadership roles at prestigious financial and non-financial institutions such as Access Bank Plc, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc and Keystone Bank Limited. His career background spans banking, financial services, public service, general management and business origination across a broad range of segments.

Commenting on the appointment, Mustafa Chike-Obi, Chairman of Fidelity Bank Plc stated that “The Board welcomes these distinguished individuals and looks forward to leveraging their extensive experience to drive the Bank’s strategic objectives and further its growth trajectory.”

In a separate regulatory filing on January 16, 2025, the Bank announced the meritorious retirement of Alhaji Isa Mohammed Inuwa, a former Independent Non-Executive Director, and Mr. Chidi Agbapu, a former Non-Executive Director, following the completion of their tenures in line with the Bank’s policies whilst expressing sincere appreciation for their service and wishing them the very best in their future endeavours.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank is a full-fledged customer commercial bank serving over 8.3 million customers through its 251 business offices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, as well as through digital banking channels. The bank has garnered multiple local and international awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards, Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023, and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.