Banking
African Banking Sector Growing Stronger—Lagarde
By Dipo Olowookere
In the years since the global financial crisis, Africa has witnessed a rapid expansion of cross-border banking, led by banking groups based in Africa that are spurring financial and economic integration and transforming the continent’s financial landscape.
These institutions are occupying a space created by the retreat of several global bank groups from Africa in the wake of the crisis.
The expansion is evident across the region. African banks headquartered from Morocco to South Africa have each established business operations in at least 10 countries. Ecobank, headquartered in Togo—is present in more than 30 countries on the continent.
The banks have facilitated many positive changes—providing customers with new and better products and services, operating improved IT and management systems, and observing more advanced regulatory and accounting standards.
But these groups also pose new challenges for African regulators and supervisors, with potential implications for economic and financial stability.
Many of these challenges have been felt worldwide, particularly in Europe, necessitating a strengthening of banking regulation and a tightening of oversight.
It falls to African financial sector regulators and supervisors to rapidly address these new challenges. They are moving to upgrade supervisory procedures and practices by embarking upon unprecedented cooperation with peers across Africa—and with international supervisors, who are facing the same issues.
This complicated set of challenges was the topic of a conference on Cross-Border Banking and Regulatory Reforms: Implications for Africa from International Experience, held in Mauritius on February 1-2.
The conference brought together more than 80 officials from Africa and Europe—including 12 African central bank governors—and bank chief executives, along with an IMF team led by Managing Director Christine Lagarde.
In opening remarks, the Managing Director spoke of the key need to ensure that supervision of bank holding companies takes place on a consolidated basis. This places an important burden on supervisors.
It is also essential that supervisors in countries hosting systemically important bank subsidiaries are involved in the process by attending meetings of supervisory colleges and exchanging information.
“You face a delicate balancing act,” Lagarde said. “You need to enhance regulation and supervision but, in implementing global standards, you also must take into account local circumstances. Fortunately, you are not alone. The IMF and other bodies recognize the challenges you face and are committed to drawing on our global experience to assist you.”
The closed-door conference addressed the supervisory challenges of pan-African banking in detail, particularly the task of coordinating among economies that are at widely varying stages of financial sector development—and where bank subsidiaries are much more important—even highly systemic—to the local economies where they operate.
It is clear that these issues are not unique to Africa. In fact, many of the challenges—ranging from data-sharing to cross-border bank resolution—are common to advanced and emerging market economies.
So an important feature of the Mauritius conference was the participation of European supervisors who are grappling with the same challenges. The group was led by Stefan Ingves, Governor of the Swedish Central Bank and Chairman of the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. In his speech on cross-border bank resolution, Ingves spoke to the issues that supervisors in the Nordic and Baltic countries have faced, particularly during and after the global financial crisis.
The IMF has played an important role in providing technical expertise to assist the efforts to develop effective cross-border regulation and supervision, including through the Fund’s capacity development work.
The conference was held at the Africa Training Institute, which along with the Mauritius-based AFRITAC South regional technical assistance center and other regional centers, is deeply involved in this effort.
In his remarks, Ingves spoke to another role for the IMF in the cross-border banking work. “Besides being able to bring its expertise, let alone its financial muscles, to the table, the Fund often also plays an important role as a neutral third party,” he said.
Managing Director Lagarde, in her speech, spoke of the broader purpose of a stronger financial sector in Africa.
“At the end of the day, a strong regulatory and supervisory setting can help ensure that healthy banks are able to provide the lifeblood of Africa’s economic resurgence. This will be a long-term effort, and we will be with you every step of the way,” Lagarde said.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, has urged banks to remain vigilant and take proactive measures against emerging risks following the conclusion of the banking sector recapitalisation exercise.
He made the call while announcing the outcome of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, where the Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) was retained at 26.5 per cent amid sustained inflationary pressures and global economic uncertainties.
According to him, the MPC welcomed the successful recapitalisation exercise, which resulted in the emergence of 33 stronger banks with improved financial soundness indicators and greater capacity to support economic growth.
However, he warned that the strengthening of balance sheets must be matched with strong risk management frameworks to safeguard financial system stability.
“The MPC also noted with satisfaction the successful conclusion of the banking recapitalisation exercise, which culminated in the emergence of 33 banks with stronger financial soundness indicators enhancing their capacity to support the economy,” Mr Cardoso said.
The central banker added that the committee “urged the banks to remain proactive and adopt necessary measures to address potential post-recapitalisation risks towards preserving financial system stability.”
Mr Cardoso said the decisions were based on a “comprehensive assessment of risks to the outlook,” noting that despite marginal increases in inflation, the broader macroeconomic environment remained stable.
“Although inflation has risen marginally for two consecutive months, largely induced by external shocks, the committee recognises its transitory nature and remains confident that the current macroeconomic environment is sufficiently robust to support a return to disinflation,” he stated.
The committee also highlighted spillover effects from the Middle East crisis, which have pushed up global energy and logistics costs. However, it said the impact on Nigeria had been muted due to earlier policy reforms.
“These include exchange rate stability, improvements in external reserve buffers, strengthened monetary policy transmission, a well-capitalised banking system and ongoing fiscal consolidation, which have significantly bolstered the economy’s ability to absorb external shocks,” Mr Cardoso explained.
He further said the committee noted that a cautious and vigilant policy stance remains necessary to anchor inflation expectations and maintain macroeconomic stability.
“The committee was therefore convinced that the essential conditions for price stability remain firmly in place,” Mr Cardoso said, adding that policymakers will continue to monitor both domestic and global developments closely.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Over 1,500 residents in Surulere, Lagos State, have received food packs from Fidelity Bank Plc under its Fidelity Food Bank initiative.
The items were distributed to beneficiaries in partnership with the Office of the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs and the Sodiq Abiodun Ogundare (SAO) Foundation.
The financial institution developed the scheme to reinforce its commitment to community welfare and sustainable development.
The Regional Bank Head for Victoria Island/Lekki at Fidelity Bank, Mr Nnamdi Edekobi, described the initiative as a reflection of the lender’s unwavering dedication to improving the well-being of its host communities.
“Today goes beyond the distribution of food items; it is about uplifting lives, creating opportunities, and strengthening our commitment to the well-being of families in this community.” Mr Edekobi, represented by the Branch Leader for Adeola Odeku Branch, Ms Ifeyinwa Asomugha, stated.
He disclosed that since its inception, the initiative has distributed more than 150,000 food packs across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, positively impacting hundreds of communities nationwide.
“Today’s outreach has provided over 1,500 beneficiaries with essential feeding supplies that will help address hunger, support healthy living, and improve the overall well-being of families. This initiative also aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 2, which focuses on achieving Zero Hunger,” he added.
Mr Edekobi further commended the Personal Assistant to the President on Constituency Affairs, Ms Khadijat Kareem Omotayo, for supporting the initiative and fostering impactful partnerships that benefit underserved communities.
On her part, Ms Omotayo praised Fidelity Bank and the SAO Foundation for bringing meaningful support to residents of Surulere.
“I am very happy that the foundation is growing. Fidelity Bank are our people, and I appreciate this collaboration that has brought this massive opportunity to our people in Surulere Constituency 1,” she stated.
She expressed optimism about sustaining future partnerships with the bank to continue improving the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Children and teens interested in participating in becoming the chief executive of Wema Bank for one day have till Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to submit their entries.
The One-Day MD/CEO initiative was introduced by Wema Bank in 2025 to commemorate Children’s Day in a uniquely unprecedented manner.
The winner of the maiden edition was a 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah, inspiring children across the country to put in the work towards a successful future.
Inspired by the bank’s 80th anniversary theme, 80 Years of Impact, A Future of Possibilities, the Wema Bank One-Day MD/CEO initiative served as a bridge between past and future, giving children across Nigeria the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the MD/CEO of Wema Bank for one day—Children’s Day.
For the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, Wema Bank will give another child or teenager [ages 0-16] a chance to step into the shoes of the chief executive of the bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, for a day.
The child will get to oversee board meetings, make tactical decisions, and experience firsthand the demands and responsibilities that come with the office of MD/CEO, especially for an institution like Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous national bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT.
To participate, children/teens are expected to record a 60-second video detailing what their ideal role in banking would be and what they hope to achieve. This video is to be posted on any social media platform using #EvolutionOfPossibilities and tagging @wemabank on the post. The post with the highest number of likes emerges as the winner, and the winner gets to become MD/CEO of Wema Bank on Monday, May 25, 2026, in celebration of Children’s Day, with parents and teens encouraged to hurry and make their submissions before the deadline.
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