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Pace setting Fidelity Bank MD, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe clocks 60
There is tremendous excitement in the air as the first female Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe clocked 60 years on Sunday July 28, given her outstanding performance in the nation’s financial services sector that had earned her respect amongst banks’ top CEOs.
Besides leading the bank to close the 2023 financial year with strong double-digit growth across key income and balance-sheet lines with profit before tax growing by 131.5% to N124.3bn from N53.7bn in 2022FY, leading to an increase in Return on Average Equity (RoAE) of 26.5% from 15.6% in 2022FY, her proactive efforts also manifested when the bank opened its N127.10bn rights issue and public offer in June, becoming the first bank to go public following the recapitalisation directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria issued in March.
This wasn’t surprising to many industry watchers, as the virtuous woman and Champion Newspapers’ 2022 Banker of the Year, has consistently advocated that “women must work hard, invest in their personal development, constantly up-skill and gain deep knowledge of their industry, for them to break the ice in their careers” adding however that it is “extremely important that we create enabling environments for women to thrive and maximise their full potential.
At the public offer and rights issue facts behind the combined offer presentation at the Nigerian Exchange Limited, she explained that the financial institution’s N127.10bn capital raising was to be considered as a pacesetter in the life of the banking industry capitalisation drive, revealing that Fidelity Bank has already started the process of raising additional capital ahead of CBN’s directive, “requiring the banks to raise a minimum capital base of N200bn for national banks and N500bn for banks with international operations like ours, amongst other capital requirements”.
Though the full report on the outcome of the bank’s public offer of 10 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N9.75 per share and rights issue of 3.2 billion ordinary shares of 50 kobo each at N9.25 per share has not been fully made public, industry experts earlier predicted a highly successful exercise given the financial institution’s recent strong financial performance and with a client base of over 8 million customers.
Born in Anambra state on July 28, 1964, Nneka joined Fidelity Bank as an Executive Director in 2015 and was appointed Managing Director/CEO of the Bank in January 2021.
According to her citation, she is an alumnus of the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and Kings College, London where she holds a Bachelor of Law and Masters of Law respectively and has also attended executive training programs at Harvard Business School, The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania, INSEAD School of Business, Chicago Booth School of Business, London Business School and IMD amongst others.
And with over 33 years of experience in investment banking, wealth management, Treasury Management, retail banking and corporate banking among others, Nneka is widely regarded as one of Africa’s leading CEOs with a reputation for “identifying talents, opportunities and executing complex business deals”.
For instance under her leadership, Fidelity Bank has been adjudged by many industry leading experts as the fastest growing bank in Nigeria while her deep understanding of complex businesses and markets has enabled the bank undertake large ticket transactions in financial advisory, structured and project finance in the real sectors as well as take advantage of opportunities in select high growth international markets where the Bank has a competitive advantage.
Significantly, she guided the bank to obtain the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, to expand its operations to the United Kingdom that culminated in Fidelity Bank’s acquisition of the 100 per cent equity in Union Bank UK, a subsidiary of the Union Bank of Nigeria.
Very passionate about innovation and embracing technology, Nneka towering achievements include her pioneering role in several innovative and pacesetting products such as the PayGate Plus, an online platform that enables businesses make and receive payments.
Married to Dr. Ken Onyeali-Ikpe, the workaholic has also radically repositioned the bank as the “go-to financial institution for Small and Medium Enterprises”.
Furthermore, apparently understanding the critical role of small businesses in the sustenance of economic growth and development, she led the bank to create the Fidelity International Trade & Creative Connect (FITCC) which is aimed at providing a touchpoint for exporters, regulators, subject matter experts and the market.
According to the records, the FITCC 2022 edition was attended by representatives of both the UK & the Nigerian Governments, Nigerian exporters, investors, regulators from the United Kingdom and Nigeria, the business community and other practitioners. The pipeline deals from the event was in excess of $200million. Also, over 2,000 people registered to attend the event and daily foot-fall was about 1,000.
Similarly, recall that second edition of the FITCC, held in Houston, Texas in the United States of America took place from the 24th to 25th of October, 2023 at the plush George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas. It was well attended too.
But in her bid to give back to the communities the Bank serves and as part of her efforts to combat the twin issues of poverty and hunger, Mrs Onyeali-Ikpe launched a National Corporate Social Responsibility initiative tagged The Fidelity Food Bank which provides free food bags to people across Nigeria on a monthly basis.
A winner of several international and national awards including Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON, Nneka has been recognized by several local and international bodies for her giant strides and such high profile recognitions include: “The Banker of the Year 2022 at the 14th Leadership Annual Conference and Awards; The Best Banking CEO Nigeria 2023 in the 2023 Global Banking & Finance Awards as well as Champion Newspapers’ 2022 Banker of the Year.
No doubt her impactful leadership and outstanding performance as CEO, had resulted in the bank bagging several laurels within and outside Nigeria some of which are: “Best Commercial Banking Brand in Nigeria by the Global Brands Magazine Awards; Best Private Bank in Nigeria by The Financial Times in association with The Banker Magazine; Global Finance’s World’s Best Private Banks 2023 awards for Best Private Bank in Nigeria and The Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023 in the 2023 Global Banking & Finance Awards amongst others.
Happy birthday to a pacesetter and accomplished banker.
Culled from Champion Newspaper Website
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How Primate Ayodele Foretold Peter Obi’s Exit From ADC Since July 2025
In early July 2025, when the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was unveiled as the opposition coalition party for the 2027 election, Nigerians were overjoyed.They weren’t just excited for the party, but also for those who made up the party. They were bigwigs from the 2023 presidential election and two major candidates of the opposition; Abubakar Atiku of PDP and Peter Obi of the Labour Party were part of the coalition.Many Nigerians who want the APC out of the way were excited that, for the first time, opposition parties in Nigeria realised it would take unity to remove a strong politician like President Tinubu from power and because in the last election, the combined votes of opposition parties surpassed that of Tinubu, the combination of the two opposition actors was seen as a great force.However, while Nigerians were happy about the coalition, Primate Elijah Ayodele, a renowned prophet who is known for the prophetic position he occupies in global politics and governance, revealed what was to come for the coalition during a press conference.The press conference was held on the 5th of July, to launch his annual prophecy book titled Warnings To The Nations, and during the question-and-answer sessions, he was asked about the fate of the ADC, and his response left everyone surprised.He mentioned that the ADC coalition is good, but the former governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, would pull out of the party. He stated that the coalition is divine but Peter Obi will pull out. This was barely one week after the coalition was unveiled.These were his words:“The coalition is divine. Only a spell will dismantle the coalition.“Peter Obi will still pull out from this coalition, if care is not taken. If they advise him wrongly to pull out, he cannot win.”“If Obi said he wants to pull out, use Rotimi Amaechi (ex-minister). No other person (sic) will contest, it is Atiku. But the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) believes they have won the 2027 election with these governors that they are poaching. President Bola Tinubu, you have not won yet; I am giving you a warning now, how you can win, how people will defeat you.“Anything I said, that’s what God said. And I am presenting it that way. So, if you don’t like it, it is in 2027 that you will regret it.”https://thelagostimes.com/2027-election-primate-ayodele-releases-prophecy-on-adc-coalition-says-peter-obi-will-pull-out/Just as Primate Ayodele warned, Peter Obi left the coalition yesterday Sunday to pursue his presidential ambition elsewhere.This fulfilment further shuts the critics of Primate Ayodele; many have said what he does is permutation and analysis but there is no way anyone could have thought Peter Obi would leave the coalition in July 2025, the very beginning of the coalition when the going was at its best. This shows Primate Ayodele remains a formidable and credible prophet for all nations.Likewise, on the issue of Rabiu Kwankwaso, Primate Ayodele has always maintained that he is not fully with the ADC and that he will just be there like a mole.This has been fulfilled too because Kwankwaso left with Obi to NDC, just few weeks after joining.
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Four Times Primate Ayodele Warned About Resurfacing Of Covid-19 In Nigeria (VIDEOS)
Nigerians have been gripped by fear since the report of the COVID-19 variant in Cross River.The Cross River State Ministry of Health has begun profiling and tracing individuals in the state who have been in contact with a Chinese national admitted after testing positive for the COVID-19 virus.Not many people expected this to happen in Nigeria, because since 2020 when the global pandemic happened, there hasn’t been a single case of the virus in the country until yesterday, about five years later.However, despite the fact that Nigeria was declared Covid-19 free, popular Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele, warned about three times that he foresees the virus coming back to Nigeria.In his first prophecy regarding it, he warned that Nigerians should not pray to see Lassa fever and Covid-19 coming back in some areas.“Let’s pray so that we don’t see Lassa Fever again. Let’s pray so that Covid will not come back in some areas”https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS9dYjCMS/This wasn’t given attention by many because it felt Nigeria has been immune to the virus. Everyone went about their business as usual, and in the midst of all that, Primate Ayodele warned intensely again.“Let’s watch this for the World Health Organization, I see airborne disease, Covid in another dimension that can cause cough, cold, air disease, it’s a warning and that’s what the Lord said.”https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS9dj5UL5/This time, he specifically called out the World Health Organization about re-occurrence of Covid; and gave directions regarding how it would happen. He also emphasized that it was what the Lord said, but how many people actually listen?Again, during a church service, Primate Ayodele warned that Covid is coming and will happen in a different way compared to the previous one. He made it known that the way of contacting it will be different from the previous one.“Also, Covid is coming, but the way it’s going to come will be different from the way we experienced it that time. The process of contacting it will be different from the previous one.”https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS9djao7v/Likewise, in his annual prophecy book titled Warnings to the Nations, Primate Ayodele warned that another round of COVID is coming. This book was released in July 2025.“Another round of COVID will come up, and another disease epidemic. I foresee that a lot of money will be spent, and they will face some challenges in getting things right. The workers of this Body will be attacked, and there will be changes in leadership” (Page 36)All of these have fulfilled the prophecies of Primate Ayodele. Beyond the prophecy fulfilment, this is a call to relevant authorities to always listen when God is warning them about anything through his prophet.
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Kwara Monarch Kidnap: Primate Ayodele Warned But They Didn’t Listen
Oba Salman Aweda, his wife and another resident have been kidnapped emidnight invasion of Olayinka community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State.He was recently elevated by the state government.The heavily armed gang stormed the palace of at about 1:40 a.m. on Saturday, firing sporadically to scare residents before taking him and two others to an unknown destination.This is the noise we have been making regarding how they treat the prophecy of Nigerian prophet, Primate Elijah Ayodele of INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church.Before now, people used to say Primate Ayodele talks about politics alone but at the moment, his prophecies about insecurity in the country has been top notch; nobody comes close if we are to rank it but it is alarming that people who are supposed to secure people have turned deaf ears.This has repeated itself several times and it seems the time has come for us to ask questions; do our security operatives enjoy hearing the death and kidnap of innocent Nigerians let alone prominent individuals?Before the recent attacks on military base, an ondo monarch, bomb attacks in Borno, attack on church on Easter Sunday, Primate Ayodele specifically warned the security operatives and the government about the impending attacks but they never listened. Now, few weeks ago, Primate Ayodele revealed that next target of terrorist in Nigeria and stated that they are planning to attack some traditional rulers. He even went as far as revealing the states where the attacks would be carried out.These were his words:“Terrorists will start kidnapping traditional rulers in some states that include Kebbi, Niger, Zamfara, Kano, Kogi (Lokoja axis), Ondo, Kwara, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi and Yobe, with concerns that the threat could also extend to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”The happening in Kwara state has fulfilled this prophetic warning. Obviously our security operatives didn’t do anything about it. Now, how long do we continue like this?
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