Banking
Shareholders Give Condition to Approve Diamond Bank, Access Bank Merger
By Dipo Olowookere
The proposed merger between Diamond Bank and Access Bank is still generating mixed reactions from different stakeholders.
Some hours after the information was confirmed by both banks, shareholders of Diamond Bank gave their views on the issue.
It is important to note that before the merger can scale through, both shareholders of the financial institutions must give their approvals at an Extra-Ordinary General Meeting (EGM).
According to shareholders of Diamond Bank Plc, they can only allow the exercise see the light of the day if the board and the management fulfil one condition.
Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, founder of Independent Shareholders of Nigeria (ISAN), Mr Sunny Nwosu, expressed his happiness with the development.
He said, “I am happy about such an arrangement because it is good for the shareholders,” pointing out that, “It is not an issue of bridge bank where they fizzle out the minority shareholders.”
According to him, the merger will add value for the shareholders, urging both banks to ensure that their shareholders approve the deal by calling for an extraordinary general meeting.
“It is from a quoted company to a quoted company not in the hands of NDIC or the Central Bank of Nigeria, who behave as if they are sole owners of the bank.
“And it is not within the powers of the CBN to take away our investment and call it bridge bank. This is a better deal for us and I know everybody should be involved,” he stated.
On the condition they will give to make the arrangement become successful, Publicity Secretary of the shareholders group, Mr Moses Igbrude, said it is only if the board and management of Diamond Bank foresee it as the only option to sustain the bank.
“If the board and management of Diamond Bank deem it fit that the only way to sustain the bank is to merge with another bank so be it,” Mr Igbrude said.
He said that the bank should ensure that all the stakeholders were carried along to avoid litigation.
“It is unfortunate that the young man that is running the affairs of Diamond Bank could not manage and grow it for the benefits of all and even to sustain his father’s legacy.
“The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and any other regulators concerned should ensure that minority shareholders are carried along and not short-changed in the whole arrangements,” Mr Igbrude stated.
He said that the whole merger process should be transparent, noting that “their aim of building the biggest bank in Nigeria or Africa should not get into their heads without there being a consideration for what it’s will take to manage such an entity.”
Former National Publicity Secretary of Nigerian Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria, Mr Gbadebo Olatokunbo, called for the sanctioning of the board and management of Diamond Bank.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigeria’s Bank Verification Number (BVN) enrolment has slowed significantly in 2026 following the introduction of a stricter regulatory framework by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), with the latest data from the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) showing that registrations are on course to fall well below last year’s record.
The BVN database stood at 69.55 million as of July 5, 2026, up from 69.32 million in June, indicating that only 228,947 new registrations were recorded over the period. Since the end of 2025, when the database stood at 67.8 million, total enrolments have increased by 1.75 million.
At the current pace, however, BVN registrations are unlikely to match the 4.3 million new enrolments recorded in 2025, suggesting a sharp deceleration in growth this year.
The slowdown comes after the CBN introduced a revised BVN regulatory framework in March, with the new rules taking effect on May 1, 2026. The framework tightened controls around enrolment, identity verification and fraud monitoring as part of efforts to strengthen the integrity of the banking system.
Among the key changes was the introduction of a minimum enrolment age of 18 years, effectively preventing minors from registering for a BVN.
The new framework also limits customers to a one-time change of the phone number linked to their BVN and requires financial institutions to place BVNs linked to suspected fraudulent transactions on a temporary watch-list for up to 24 hours while investigations are carried out.
The stricter rules contrast with last year’s surge in registrations, which was largely driven by the introduction of the Non-Resident Bank Verification Number (NRBVN) initiative that enabled Nigerians in the diaspora to complete BVN enrolment remotely, removing physical barriers and expanding access to the financial system.
Launched on February 14, 2014, the BVN scheme was introduced by the CBN in collaboration with the Bankers’ Committee, NIBSS and German technology firm Dermalog to assign every bank customer a unique biometric identity that can be verified across Nigeria’s banking industry.
