Ecobank Backs Papa Benji to Showcase Digital Payment Products

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

Nigerian lender, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, has thrown its weight behind a comedy series by popular comedian and filmmaker, Basketmouth, called Papa Benji.

Papa Banji is a free-to-watch comedy web series showing on YouTube. Last Wednesday, season 3 premiered and has been receiving positive reviews.

The make-belief tells the story of a man, his family, customers, everyone and everything surrounding them and how it impacts society. Its depiction of the life of an everyday Nigerian relies on the use of comedy to take one off the heat of daily hassles.

For Ecobank, this drama is an avenue it can use to showcase its digital products to the youths and others. The lender also said supporting the programme further confirms its status as the partner of choice for the African entertainment industry.

Ecobank boasts digital platforms like the Ecobank Mobile app, USSD *326#, Ecobank Online, Ecobank OmniPlus, Ecobank Omnilite, EcobankPay, Ecobank RapidTransfer, ATMs, and PoS terminals.

Also available to customers is an extensive distribution network of over 60,000 agency banking locations spread across the country.

Specifically, on the pervasive nature of the Ecobank mobile app, the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Babajide Sipe, said the app, which is available for download on the Apple Store and Google Playstore, makes it extremely easy to bank on the go 24/7, enabling customers to cater to their everyday banking needs anywhere and at any time directly from their mobile device.

“Our Mobile app allows customers to manage their accounts, send money, make payments, buy airtime, pay for services, and do other transactions across the 33 African countries where Ecobank is present. The mobile app is secure, reliable, convenient, and available to everyone.

“At Ecobank, we have just one Mobile App on the Google Play store, unlike other Banks with different apps in the respective countries they operate.

“Our customers are able to send money instantly to the 33 African countries where Ecobank is present; transfer money to other bank accounts both domestic and international; transfer to a mobile money wallet in the same country; transfer money by email and SMS in the same country, and send money to Visa cardholders through Visa Direct.

“Other unique features, include the opportunity to open an Xpress Account; create and fund a Virtual card; set travel notifications for enhanced card security; block and unblock one’s bank card; attach other bank cards for transactions; as well as being able to add one’s banking profiles from different countries,” he said.

The first season of Papa Benji premiered with 13 episodes in December 2020. It stars actors like Bethel ‘Senator’ Njoku, Onyebuchi Ojieh, Nedu Wazobia, Jemima Osunde, Basketmouth, and a host of other comic stars.