Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need for a closer collaboration along areas of mutual interest in the nation’s financial industry has been emphasised by the President of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute, Mr Paul Smith.
The CFA chief, during a visit to Ecobank Nigeria last Friday, explained that this call was predicated on the pedigree and antecedents of the bank in the financial industry.
According to him, the partnership between both parties would further explore research, training and professional development, stressing that, “We also want to deepen and strengthen our collaboration with Ecobank to expand our reach across the various regional blocs in the Sub-Saharan Africa region.”
While commending Ecobank for its support to its member, CFA Society Nigeria over the years, Mr Smith emphasized that the CFA Institute stands for creating a financial environment where clients’ interests come first, markets function at their best, and economies grow.
In his remarks, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, lauded the visit and assured that the bank was ready to collaborate more with the institute to further develop the financial sector in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
He commended the organization’s sterling activities in growing the ethical and professional practice of financial services in Nigeria, Africa and across the world.
He intimated the CFA team of the various strategic initiatives of the bank which are aimed at establishing world-class learning and development platforms for its staff, one of which led to the recent accreditation of Ecobank Nigeria Academy by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).
Head of Strategy at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Unwana Efiong Esang, noted that the desire to deepen and expand collaboration between the institute and the bank was a welcome development especially at a time the financial services industry is experiencing a profound paradigm shift in its business and operating models.
He further stated that such partnerships between global and Pan African financial industry stakeholders will go a long way in enhancing financial services practice and also help in sustaining the relevance and quality of service of the banking system far into the future.
He restated Ecobank’s strong positive disposition towards actualising the several collaborative options and models available to both organisations.
Also speaking, President of CFA Society, Nigeria, Mr Banji Fehintola, commended Ecobank for its support of its activities over the years and expressed the Society’s willingness to fully take advantage of the several partnership initiatives of the Bank in Nigeria and across Sub-Saharan Africa.
