Banking
Adebise Assumes Office as MD/CEO of Wema Bank
By Dipo Olowookere
After acting as the Managing Director of Wema Bank Plc since July 2018, Mr Ademola Adebise will finally resume office as the MD/CEO of the financial institution from Monday, October 1, 2018.
This followed the retirement of Mr Segun Oloketuyi in September 2018 after proceeding on a terminal leave in July 2018.
Prior to this appointment, Mr Adebise was the Deputy Managing Director of Wema Bank, a role he held since January 2017.
A statement issued by the lender disclosed that the new MD/CEO has been part of the bank’s executive management team since 2009 and has played a pivotal role in the execution of the strategic turnaround plan of Wema Bank.
Also, Wema Bank has announced the appointment of Mr Moruf Oseni as its Deputy Managing Director from October 1, 2018.
The financial institution said both the appointments of Mr Adebise and Mr Oseni have been ratified by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“In Ademola and Moruf, the Bank has two financial veterans with a wealth of experience in senior executive positions across a wide range of countries,” said Mr Babatunde Kasali, the Chairman of Wema Bank.
“With their proven track record in the financial services sector, the Board is confident that their appointments will lead to the continued transformation of the Bank as it positions itself as a market leader in Nigeria’s retail banking segment through technology and innovation,” he added.
Mr Adebise has over 28 years’ experience in the banking and has worked in various capacities in Information Technology, Financial Control & Strategic Planning, Treasury, Corporate Banking, Risk Management and Performance Management.
It was disclosed that before joining Wema Bank Plc, Mr Adebise was the Head, Finance and Performance Management Practice at Accenture (Lagos Office), where he led multiple successful projects for banks in Business Process Re-engineering, Information Technology and Risk Management.
Mr Adebise is an alumnus of the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Harvard Business School and a holder of a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Lagos.
He also holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Lagos Business School.
On his part, Mr Moruf Oseni, the new Deputy Managing Director of Wema Bank, since joining the bank Board in 2012, has contributed immensely to the growth of the bank’s retail business.
Until his appointment, he was the Executive Director in charge of Retail business and ALAT, the Nigeria’s first digital bank.
Mr Moruf Oseni brings a wealth of banking and non-banking experience to his new role.
Before joining Wema Bank, Mr Oseni was the CEO of MG Ineso Limited, a principal investment and financial advisory firm with interests in various sectors of the economy.
Prior to his time at MG Ineso, he was a Vice President at Renaissance Capital, where he was responsible for debt capital markets (DCM), equity capital markets (ECM) and structured finance origination and execution for sub-Saharan African corporates and financial institutions.
He was also an Associate at Salomon Brothers/Citigroup Global Markets in London and New York where he was involved in credit market origination and execution for European financial institutions.
He commenced his career as an IT officer with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) and holds an MBA from the prestigious Institut European d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in France, a master’s in finance (MiF) from London Business School, London and a BSc. in Computer Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
He is also an alumnus of King’s College, Lagos and a member of the Institute of Directors (IoD), an Honorary Senior Member of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and a member of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).
He serves on the board of Continental Broadcasting Services Limited and is a member of the Lagos State Economic Advisory Committee.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To foster gender equality while bolstering women’s financial empowerment and inclusion, Stanbic IBTC Bank has now allowed men to become signatories to its woman-owned business account known as the Blue Blossom account.
By implementing this unique feature, Stanbic IBTC Bank is taking bold steps to bridge the gender gap and promote equal representation in the business landscape.
The Blue Blossom business account caters to the needs of women entrepreneurs and business owners throughout Nigeria. It offers them a remarkable opportunity to open and manage a business account with the added convenience of a designated male signatory.
The woman-owned account brings an array of exceptional benefits to its holders. One of its standout features is a zero-maintenance fee, providing cost-effective solutions that empower women to nurture their businesses efficiently.
The account also includes complimentary online banking services, allowing holders to manage their finances and conduct transactions anytime, anywhere, conveniently.
Recognizing the crucial role of support networks in fostering women-owned businesses, Stanbic IBTC Bank has formed strategic partnerships with various esteemed business development agencies and organizations.
Through these alliances, the bank aims to provide women entrepreneurs with valuable resources, mentorship programs, and networking opportunities, propelling their enterprises toward tremendous success.
“We are thrilled to unveil an account that enables women entrepreneurs to take charge of their finances and drive the growth of their businesses,” the Head of Enterprise Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ms Olajumoke Bello, said.
“Stanbic IBTC is committed to promoting financial inclusion and gender equality. The woman-owned account epitomizes our dedication to these values and shows our relentless support for women entrepreneurs,” Ms Bello stated.
By introducing the woman-owned account, Stanbic IBTC Bank reaffirms its ongoing efforts to support women-owned businesses, foster gender equality, and stimulate economic growth across Nigeria.
As a frontrunner in the financial sector, the bank is steadfast in its mission to deliver tailored financial solutions that address the unique challenges and aspirations of women entrepreneurs and business owners, ultimately empowering them to realize their full potential and achieve their business goals.
In a rapidly evolving world where inclusivity and equal opportunities are paramount, Stanbic IBTC Bank remains at the forefront, pioneering initiatives that break barriers and create a level playing field for women in business.
The woman-owned account is just one of the bank’s innovative initiatives, embodying their unwavering commitment to shaping a future where women entrepreneurs can thrive and contribute significantly to the Nigerian economy.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Another opportunity has opened for new and existing customers of Zenith Bank Plc to win prizes for maintaining a minimum deposit of N5,000 from June 1, 2023, to May 31, 2024, in the Zenith Beta Life Season 3 Promo.
The campaign is an avenue for the tier-1 lender to reward its customers with gifts during the promotional period, with 20 customers to be chosen through a bimonthly raffle draw for gifts worth N150,000 and five lucky customers for a cash prize of N500,000 in the quarterly draws.
Zenith Bank said apart from having the N5,000 deposit; customers can also win by obtaining a virtual or physical Zenith Bank card, downloading the Zenith Bank mobile app, or signing up for *966# EazyBanking.
“The Zenith Bank Beta Life Promo, now in its third season since it began in 2020, is our way of giving back to our customers and expressing our gratitude for their steadfast loyalty and support for the Zenith brand.
“It’s also a testament to our reputation as one of the most customer-centric financial institutions in the country, as this promo has allowed us to reward our customers throughout the federation with gifts over the past two seasons,” the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said.
During the Zenith Bank Beta Life Season 2 Promo, the bank shared N82 million with customers, with 480 customers given N150,000 in the bimonthly draws and N500,000 shared among 20 customers in the quarterly draws.
Zenith Bank continues to set itself apart within the Nigerian financial services sector through outstanding service offerings, unique customer experiences, and robust financial indicators.
The lender remains a dominant player in the digital realm, consistently pioneering the deployment of innovative products, solutions, and a variety of alternative channels that ensure transactions are convenient, quick, and secure.
Among a plethora of awards, Zenith Bank was named Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards, Retail Bank of the Year, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards and Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A platform focused on empowering women and promoting gender equality tagged Chrystallis Conversations has been put in place by Chrystallis in partnership with a women-focused proposition of Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, αlpher.
This is part of the financial institution’s commitment to sustainable development and enabling success for women.
At an event themed Fear-Less! Pursuing Your Best Life with Courage and Conviction last Thursday in Lagos, both organisations invited experts, social activists and others to speak to women.
The programme commenced with a heartfelt musical performance by Funmi Bucknor, followed by a captivating poetry reading session by prolific writer and poet Wana Udobang (Wana Wana) and ended with engaging one-on-one conversations with filmmaker and women’s rights advocate, Ego Boyo; and an entertainer, Olubankole Wellington, otherwise known as Banky W, with creator of Chrystallis, Ms Kemi Ogunleye, moderating.
“Union Bank’s αlpher is dedicated to supporting women in their personal and professional journey. Through this partnership, we aim to amplify women’s voices, celebrate their achievements, and foster an environment of empowerment and equality.
“We firmly believe that by providing resources and opportunities, we can enable women to thrive and empower them to break barriers and shatter stereotypes,” the Chief Brand and Marketing Officer of Union Bank, Ms Olufunmi Aluko, said.
Chrystallis Conversations is a platform for women to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives.
It has gained recognition for facilitating insightful discussions and thought-provoking conversations around women’s empowerment.
The partnership with αlpher underscores Union Bank’s commitment to championing women’s empowerment by supporting them in their journey towards success and fostering a more inclusive society.