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Ten Things That Stood Out At The Wema Bank 80th Celebration Themed ‘Timeless Elegance’ – Web tonight

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10 months ago

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On May 2nd, 2025, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, most innovative, and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, showed Nigeria and the entire financial sector what it truly means to celebrate legacy with purpose. The event, themed Timeless Elegance, was held at the Eko Hotel and Suites. The bank’s 80th-anniversary celebration was more than a gala; it was a finely curated brand experience that blended history, glamour, music, storytelling, and strategic vision into one unforgettable night. With every segment choreographed to perfection, the evening was a strong statement of who Wema Bank is, where it’s coming from, and where it’s boldly headed.
Here are ten standout moments that made this a night for the history books:

  1. A Beauty in Experiential Setup and Show Production

Guests knew they were about to witness something extraordinary when they stepped onto the purple carpet. The visual storytelling was impeccable – stunning historical arrangements that took guests from ‘Agbonmagbe Bank’ (the bank’s original name) and through the years to a futuristic Wema Bank. Guests who didn’t previously understand the bank’s history were immediately immersed in it with halls of fame, caricature buildings, and a stage setup that looked like it belonged in an awards show. The spatial design created a sense of elegance and pride, turning Eko Hotel’s convention center into a canvas that reflected the very soul of Wema Bank. It was immersive, intentional, and visually breathtaking, a setup that elevates a celebration.

  1. Sounds of ALAT Winners Bring Youthful Energy

Kareem, King Breezy, and Kesty, the emerging stars from Wema’s 2023 Sounds of ALAT competition, opened the night with impressive performances. They sang original tracks and their winning songs from the sounds of ALAT competition. The finalists later came together for a heartfelt birthday tribute to the bank, alongside Cobhams Asuquo who played on the grand piano. It was a powerful reminder of how Wema Bank invests in the next generation of banking, creativity, and culture.

  1. Yinka Davies’ National Anthem Rendition

With unmatched grace and vocal mastery, Yinka Davies performed the Nigerian National Anthem in a way that grounded the event in patriotism and pride. Her delivery was both ceremonial and soulful. It was a reminder that even in celebration, Wema Bank honors its national roots and identity, especially as the nation’s first indigenous bank.

  1. Hosting Done Right

The event’s hosts – veteran actor Chief Femi Branch and popular media personality Olive Emodi, struck the perfect balance of charm and control. Their chemistry, humor, and professionalism ensured that the evening flowed seamlessly, without a dull moment or misstep in the program.

  1. 8 Million-Naira Surprise That Delighted Customers

What’s a celebration without giving back? A significant high point in the event came when eight customers each won ₦1 million. The hosts also announced that 80 more customers would receive ₦80,000. It wasn’t just good PR; it was a powerful way to say thank you and share the spotlight with the people who made Wema’s journey possible.

  1. A Chairman’s Speech Anchored in Legacy

In her welcome address, Chairman Dr. Oluwayemi Oluwanishola offered more than pleasantries – she gave perspective. “Wema Bank’s journey to me is an enigma,” she said. “What gave the founder, Late Chief Okupe, the confidence to establish Agbonmagbe Bank right under colonial rule?” Her reflections on the founder’s audacity and the bank’s deep-rooted mission captured the spirit of the night in full. She also set the tone for why the event was essential to celebrate the bank’s past 8 decades.

  1. Iconic Performances That Lit Up the Stage

The musical lineup read like a greatest-hits anthology of Nigerian pop culture. Wande Coal delivered a nostalgic medley. 9ice brought his street credibility. Ayuba’s live band lit up the room with high-energy Fuji. And Davido closed the night with his signature swagger, bringing the house down. Away from the heavyweight pop-culture stars, we had moments of reflection with spoken words from Kehinde Adolo and IBQuake. These were sonic celebrations of Wema’s multigenerational appeal.

  1. CEO Moruf Oseni’s Visionary Speech

In his address, Moruf Oseni didn’t just thank guests; he projected the future. His words painted a clear picture of a bold, tech-driven Wema Bank that is anchored in customer-first innovation. The short mini-documentary that followed offered glimpses into the bank’s transformation, reinforcing the night’s message: Wema is just getting started. He thanked every segment of Wema’s stakeholders, from the customers, shareholders, partners, regulatory bodies, governmental partners, and knights (staff).

  1. A Symbolic Coffee Table Book Launch and Documentary Sneak Peek That Highlight Wema’s History From Birth to Now

One of the evening’s most powerful moments came when Wema Bank launched its commemorative coffee table book. Flanked by past and present MDs, Chairmen, executive and non-executive directors, and Board members, the unveiling was a tribute to history, leadership, and enduring purpose. It was a reminder that institutions don’t thrive by chance; they do so by design, memory, and storytelling.

  1. A Masterclass in Stakeholder Engagement

From pop-culture royalty to national figures, Wema Bank drew a crowd that reflected its wide-reaching relevance. Political dignitaries such as Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State, and the First Lady of Nigeria (represented by Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim) all delivered goodwill messages. Industry titans like Chief Michael Adeojo, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru, and Chief Sir Kessington Adebutu joined them. The crowd was also just star-studded with guests like Deyemi Okanlawon, Iyanya, Juliana Oloyede, Morayo Afolabi-Brown, Teddy A, Folagade Banks (Mama Deola), Jay On-Air, Kaffy, and Stan Nze. Wema didn’t just celebrate with guests; it reinforced its position as a trusted partner across government, business, and culture.
In every way that mattered, Wema Bank’s 80th celebration was a living expression of its values: thoughtful, future-forward, people-centric, and proudly Nigerian. Timeless Elegance described the look and feel of the event and the legacy. And as the curtains fell to the beat of Davido’s final notes and DJ Sose’s afterparty rhythms, one thing was unquestionable: Wema was not only looking back in gratitude but marching forward in power.

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Banking and Finance

Quest Merchant Bank Achieves CBN Regulatory Recapitalisation Milestone, Reinforces Capacity to Drive Nigeria’s Economic Growth

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1 day ago

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March 6, 2026

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Lagos, Nigeria – March 5, 2026 – Quest Merchant Bank Limited has successfully met the ₦50
billion minimum capital requirement mandated for merchant banks by the Central Bank of
Nigeria (CBN) strengthening the Bank’s capital base and reinforcing its capacity to support
Nigeria’s economic transformation.
This milestone reflects investors’ continued confidence in the Bank’s long-term strategy,
strong governance, and sustainable growth outlook. It also marks an important step in the
Bank’s post-divestment evolution under its new ownership, positioning Quest Merchant
Bank with the balance-sheet strength needed to execute its next phase of growth.
With a significantly enhanced capital base, Quest Merchant Bank is now better positioned to
underwrite larger transactions and expand its advisory, capital markets, and structured
financing capabilities across priority sectors of the Nigerian economy.
The CBN’s recapitalisation directive, which sets ₦50 billion as the minimum capital threshold
for merchant banks, is designed to reinforce the resilience, stability, and lending capacity of
Nigeria’s financial system. By meeting this benchmark, Quest Merchant Bank reinforces its
standing as a trusted financial partner in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, and
corporate growth initiatives nationwide.
Afolabi Olorode, Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Quest Merchant
Bank, described the achievement as a defining moment in the Bank’s evolution:
“This milestone marks a significant step forward for Quest Merchant Bank. Meeting the ₦50
billion capital requirement underscores investors’ confidence in our strategy and reflects the
strength of our governance and franchise.
With this strengthened capital position, we are equipped to play an even greater role in
financing key sectors of the Nigerian economy, enabling private enterprise, and supporting
sustainable economic expansion.
Our focus remains clear. We will continue to continue to help our clients succeed, while
serving as a trusted long-term partner in delivering sustainable growth.”
Quest Merchant Bank remains committed to responsible growth, innovation, and delivering
strategic financial solutions that empower businesses and institutions across Nigeria.

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Banking and Finance

WEMA BANK ANNOUNCES TOP 10 NOMINEES FOR SARA GIVES TO EMPOWER HER AWARD

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1 week ago

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February 27, 2026

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Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has announced the Top 10 nominees for its women-focused award initiative, SARA Gives to Empower Her Awards; the second edition of its She Empowers Her Award.

The Top 10 nominees are: Social Entrepreneur, Bosede Nwachi; NGO Founder, Chigozie Blessing; Customer Success Leader, Ekwutosi Cynthia; Coach and Public Speaker, Franca Ozini; Ted X Speaker, Hassanat Abubakar; Mentor, Ikepo Osawaye; Marketing Professional, Jennifer Edem Ekong; World Safety Ambassador, Ambassador Mabel Abel-Onaiwu, Founder, Patrick Stephen Purple Heart Foundation for Widows; Oluwaseun Joan Stephen and Virtual Assistant Coach, Victoria Ezechukwu-Obiya.

Launched in 2024 through the Bank’s women-focused proposition, SARA by Wema, the Wema Bank She Empowers Her Award is designed to celebrate, honour and spotlight women who have made significant impact or built a legacy of empowering other women personally and professionally. Deriving from the global IWD 2026 theme “Give to Gain”, Wema Bank’s 2026 IWD will focus on the topic “When She Gains, We Grow”, emphasising the need to give time, opportunities, resources and support to women. In line with this, this year’s edition of the She Empowers Her Award is tagged “SARA Gives To Empower Her Award & Grant”, spotlighting and rewarding women with a legacy of giving to other women.

To make the selection of winners for the SARA Gives To Empower Her Award & Grant, Wema Bank has incorporated a combination of public nominations, an internal jury and a voting process, all vetted by an independent audit body. The first stage was the call for nominees, which Wema Bank opened to the public on February 12, 2026, and closed on February 22, 2026. A pool of 2,332 nominations was received for a total of 351 women, who were then shortlisted to Top 10 based on their impact and clear track record of giving to other women.

The SARA Gives to Empower Her Award ceremony will take place on March 4, 2026, at the Wema Bank International Women’s Day event which holds in Lagos. The ceremony will culminate in the emergence of 5 winners.

Voting is now open for the 5 winners, and anyone can vote at https://bit.ly/VoteSARASheEmpowersHerAward

To find out the Top 5 winners of the SARA Gives to Empower Her Award, watch Wema Bank’s International Women’s Day Event live on YouTube @Wema Bank from 10 a.m. on March 4, 2026.

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Banking and Finance

Fidelity Bank to Empower Women with Sustainable Entrepreneurship Skills with HAP 2.0

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2 weeks ago

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February 23, 2026

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Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has announced the launch of the second edition of its flagship women-empowerment initiative, the HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 (HAP 2.0).

Designed to equip women with practical, income‑generating skills and structured pathways to entrepreneurship; HAP 2.0 will build on the success of its inaugural edition held in 2023.

Speaking with journalists at a media chat to herald the launch of HAP 2.0, the Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc, Osita Ede, explained that the initiative has been enhanced to deliver greater impact.

“HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 reflects our commitment to continuous improvement. Having evaluated feedback from the first edition, we have returned with stronger partnerships and deeper mentorship programmes to ensure that women acquire not just skills, but sustainable economic opportunities,” he said.

“At the heart of the programme is guided, real‑world learning. Participants will undergo intensive apprenticeship training under reputable institutions and industry experts across select fields such as hair styling, shoe making, auto mechatronics, and interior decoration,” Ede added.

He noted that HerFidelity Apprenticeship Programme 2.0 goes beyond skills acquisition by offering participants a wide range of business advisory services. These include business and financial literacy training, mentorship support throughout the apprenticeship journey, access to Fidelity Bank’s women‑focused and SME financial solutions, as well as guidance on business formalisation and growth strategies.

Further emphasising the bank’s vision, Ede said, “By integrating structured mentorship with entrepreneurial development, Fidelity Bank is positioning women not just as trainees, but as future employers, innovators, and economic contributors within their communities. This aligns with our mandate to help individuals grow, businesses thrive, and economies prosper.”

Interested participants are encouraged to indicate their interest by visiting https://bit.ly/Apprenticeshipbyherfidelity.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

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