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Access Bank Retail Banking Team Flags Off 2nd Fibroid Awareness Campaign

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2nd Fibroid Awareness Campaign

Access Bank’s Retail Banking Team is excited to announce its 2nd Fibroid Awareness Campaign across the country as part of its pioneering CSR intervention, Project 111.

The campaign which runs all through the month of July, 2024, will kick start with a webinar aimed at creating awareness of fibroid among the female populace. And it will be spearheaded by dedicated team members of the bank’s retail group committed to seeing the success of the initiative, against all odds.

The Project 111 is a Fibroid focused initiative to treat one woman at a time, change her family, and by extension, generations to follow.

Uterine leiomyomas or fibroids are benign growths that can be extremely large and cause substantial discomfort, including bright red vaginal bleeding, constipation, bloating, and severe pelvic and low back pain that interferes with women’s daily functioning and child-bearing capability.

The initiative comes on the heels of the general lack of awareness on the part of women as highlighted in key statistics that 70-80% of women will develop fibroid at some point in their lifetime, but only 38% were aware of the available treatment. These statistics emphasize the importance of Project 111, which focuses on creating awareness and support for women who struggle with the issues around fibroid and its effects.

According to the Deputy managing Director, Retail, Chizoma Okoli, “At Access Bank, we believe that our responsibility extends beyond banking. We are dedicated to the well-being of our customers and communities. This campaign is a testament to our commitment to supporting women’s health and ensuring they have the information and resources they need to lead healthy lives.

“Project 111 was officially launched in 2022, when we provided more than 100 free fibroid surgeries in five geopolitical zones to directly touch over 4,000 lives, while creating a ripple effect of positive change with over 16,000 impacted lives.

This year, we are raising the bar of this social responsibility, targeting 100,000 women, providing 500 women with free diagnostic tests, and aiding 100 women in need of surgeries.

We have a dedicated website, https://www.accessbankplc.com/sustainable-banking/csr which provides articles on fibroids, information on partner hospitals, as well as up-to-date information for individuals about the initiative”. Okoli concluded.

Access Bank Retail Banking Team

Reiterating Okoli’s comments, Group Head, Consumer Banking, Njideka Esomeju said, “ As part of our kick off activities to flag off the 2nd Fibroid campaign, we will be having a free Fibroid screenings and community health talk across 20 states. We will also have a webinar to listen and address women affected with Fibroids and other related health issues.

When we launched in 2022, we had a webinar addressing women affected by fibroids and in efforts to be at the forefront of public support for women’s health in Nigeria, we began the ‘Wear White Campaign’ in July last year during the Fibroid Awareness Month. In this pilot phase, the awareness and education campaign reached 17,266 women across 33 countries, with 156 women given access to proper diagnosis, assessment, and treatment recommendations.

You need to hear from our beneficiaries on how they have benefited from the project and the effects it has impacted on their lives. So we invite everyone to join us in this month for this important campaign. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of countless women by spreading knowledge, encouraging early diagnosis, and providing much-needed support”.

Hannatu Botsha, one of the beneficiaries of the health initiative shared her testimony with newsmen during the launch. In her words,” I have come back with my mouth full of gratitude, I can’t thank this Retail team enough oo. I came across the free fibroid surgery in 2022 and was reluctant to apply because I thought it was for customers only, it took me days to make up my mind and give it a trial. I got a call from Oyindamola Oyebola (one of the staff in the dedicated team)on the 9th of February 2024 to ask if I was still interested in the surgery since she sent a mail I did not respond to. I saw that call as a sign from God because I was bleeding and having pains plus feeling movements in my abdomen. I went to the hospital got all the requirements from them and after a month the doctor called me to come for an all-expense paid surgery by Access Bank Retail team (is God not wonderful?).

 Surgery was done on 29th march which is good Friday for Jesus to die on our behalf, and I came out victorious and clean after all the scary gist I heard about fibroid surgery.

 I have come back with my testimony and gratitude to this wonderful team. God bless you all and may your pockets never run dry IJMN.

“It has been an exciting journey for the Access staff of the Retail Banking team,” said the Project Coordinator Adeola Rojaiye, reflecting on their recent accomplishments. “It gives us immense fulfilment to witness the positive impact we’ve made in the lives of our customers, thanks to our collective efforts and unwavering commitment. For more information on how to participate and be part of this journey please follow us @project_111_official on Instagram and YouTube and visit the Project 111 website at  https://www.accessbankplc.com/sustainable-banking/csr and contact us via email at [email protected] Rojaiye concluded”.

About Project 111:

Project 111 is a CSR initiative led by Access Bank’s Retail Banking Group Team dedicated to raising awareness about fibroids and providing essential support to women across Nigeria.

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Applications Open for GTCO ‘Take on Squad’ Hackathon 3.0

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Squad logo

By Dipo Olowookere

Tech enthusiasts interested in participating in the Take on Squad Hackathon, organised by Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, can now enter the contest via the official portal at https://squadco.com/hackathon.

The programme enters its third edition in 2026, and the theme for this year is Smart Systems: The Intelligent Economy, according to a statement issued by the organisers.

The hackathon brings together developers, designers and entrepreneurs across Nigeria in a collaborative environment to build practical solutions across key sectors, including financial services, healthcare, commerce and digital inclusion.

Participants are challenged to design and build intelligent, data-driven solutions that transform how communities engage with money.

It is part of the organisation’s commitment to fostering innovation, empowering talent, and supporting the development of technology-driven solutions that address real-world challenges across Africa.

 “Today’s dynamic, digitally driven world demands continuous innovation, which is shaping how economies grow, how businesses scale, and how societies evolve.

“Through Take on Squad Hackathon, we are deliberately investing in the ideas and talent that will define the future.

“Our objective is not simply to encourage innovation, but to enable its translation into scalable solutions that deliver real and measurable impact.

“This reflects GTCO’s role as a financial services platform that connects capital, capability, and creativity to drive sustainable progress,” the Managing Director of HabariPay, Ms Eduofon Japhet, stated.

The social coding event remains a cornerstone of HabariPay’s mission to foster creativity and problem-solving among emerging tech talents. Competing teams will leverage Squad’s advanced APIs to create scalable digital tools that address everyday challenges faced by businesses and individuals.

Through initiatives such as this, GTCO continues to position itself at the intersection of finance, technology and enterprise, actively shaping the future of digital transformation in Africa.

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Easter: Ecobank Assures Customers Uninterrupted Banking Services

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Ecobank Remodel branches

By Dipo Olowookere

Banking services will not be interrupted throughout the Easter public holidays, from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6, 2026, for any reason, Ecobank Nigeria has assured its customers.

In a message over the weekend, the member of Africa’s leading pan-African banking group, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, said customers would continue to enjoy quality service delivery during the period.

It noted that its secure and robust digital platforms would remain fully operational to support financial activities during the festive period.

All digital channels, including the Ecobank Mobile App, Ecobank Business App, USSD *326#, Ecobank Online, OmniPlus, Omnilite, EcobankPay, Ecobank Cards, ATMs, PoS terminals, and over 35,000 Ecobank Xpress Point agent locations nationwide, will remain accessible throughout the holiday, the financial institution further said, urging customers to conveniently conduct transactions at any time using this wide range of digital solutions.

Ecobank customers were encouraged to maximise the bank’s alternative channels for transfers, bill payments, airtime purchases, card services, and account management.

They were also advised to stay vigilant by shopping only on trusted websites; avoiding the sharing of PINs, passwords, and one-time passwords (OTPs); refraining from banking on public Wi-Fi networks; being cautious of urgent or emotionally charged messages; and regularly monitoring their account activity.

“Customers will continue to enjoy a full bouquet of services during the holiday, including local and international funds transfers, bill payments, airtime top-ups, merchant payments, balance enquiries, account statements, and cardless cash withdrawals via ATMs,” the Head of Products & Analytics, Consumer & Commercial Banking at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Victor Yalokwu, stated.

“We understand that festive seasons come with increased financial activity, and our priority is to ensure our customers enjoy fast, reliable, and secure banking wherever they are.

“Our digital channels are designed to support uninterrupted transactions, and we have strengthened our systems to guarantee optimal performance throughout the Easter break,” he added.

Mr Yalokwu noted that, “Ecobank remains committed to providing innovative financial solutions and exceptional customer service. We wish all our customers and partners a peaceful and joyful Easter celebration.”

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Polaris Bank to Limit Access to VULTe for Four Days

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Polaris Bank Fashion Souk

By Dipo Olowookere

Customers may have difficulty accessing the digital platform of Polaris Bank, known as VULTe, during the Easter holidays from Friday, April 3, to Monday, April 6, 2026.

This is because the financial institution is carrying out system maintenance on the platform in its effort to ensure users enjoy a better banking experience.

In a notice over the weekend, the lender said “access to VULTe may be limited,” but it provided an alternative, which is the PolarisXperience.

Polaris Bank, which expressed regret over “any inconvenience” this action may cause its customers, said the “scheduled system maintenance” would happen from 10 pm to 8 am daily, promising that normal service would return after the maintenance.

“In continuation of our commitment to delivering a seamless and improved banking experience, we will be conducting a scheduled system maintenance during the Easter holidays.

“During this period, access to VULTe may be limited. We have provided an alternative channel, PolarisXperience:

“Please go to our website to onboard or use it as an existing user. You can also use this link: (https://elogin.polarisbanklimited.com).

“We regret any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding. Normal service will resume after the maintenance,” parts of the notice seen by Business Post read.

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