Banking
Diamond Bank Elevates Two ETs to EDs, Promotes 950 Staffers
By Dipo Olowookere
In spite of the harsh economic terrain threatening jobs of many employees and hurting the projections of corporate organisations in Nigeria, Diamond Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to continuously safeguard the career growth of its workers.
Recently, two staff members who joined the bank over two decades ago as Executive Trainees were elevated to Executive Directors following regulatory approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This was alongside the Bank’s promotion of 950 members of its workforce.
Diamond Bank’s chief spokesperson, Ms Chioma Afe, said that the Bank places premium value on its workforce and is very passionate about the development of the career goals of staff members that are living the core values of the Bank, noting that job security and career development of staff members have continued to enable the bank deliver quality customer service and strengthen investor confidence in the business.
“Providing unequalled customer experience and delivering superior shareholder value is our core vision; however, meeting this mandate is difficult without the right staff.
“At Diamond, we believe that people are key to providing quality customer experience. That is why despite the hard economic conditions in the country, we are promoting our workers and placing much emphasis on career development of staff members,” she said.
According to the bank, Mrs Chizoma Okoli, Executive Director, Business Development and Mr Chiugo Ndubisi, Executive Director/Chief Financial Officer joined the Bank as Executive Trainees in 1992 and 1996 respectively; rose through the ranks to their current positions on the Board of the Bank.
Commenting on the appointment of Mrs Okoli and Mr Ndubisi to the Executive Management of the Bank, Ms Afe said, “These appointments further demonstrates our devotion to provide a viable platform for our staff to work and excel while grooming them to take on more challenges as they progress within the organisation. We are convinced that Mrs Okoli and Mr Ndubisi will play pivotal roles in the next phase of the Bank’s evolution especially at the Board level.
With these new appointments and promotions, the Bank has strengthened its workforce and fortified its management team, led by Mr Uzoma Dozie, to take on the challenges and opportunities in the business years ahead.
Mr Ndubisi graduated with a First Class Honours Degree in Engineering from University of Nigeria, Nsukka and holds a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from the University of Lagos, Akoka.
He was previously the Divisional Head, Financial Management and formerly the Bank’s Financial Controller. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN).
He has attended various international and local courses including the Advanced Management Program (AMP) of the Wharton Business School (University of Pennsylvania), Driving Strategic Impact Program of the Columbia Business School and the HSBC International Bankers’ course in London. He is also an alumnus of the Lagos Business School (Pan-African University) Senior Management Program (SMP).
He has actively participated in many projects in the Bank including the various capital raising exercises, as well as the successful integration of the records of the former Lion Bank of Nigeria Plc, which earned the Bank the prestigious ThisDay award for the Best Bank on Mergers and Acquisitions category. He was also involved in the successful implementation of the new banking software (Flexcube) in year 2000, as well as the successful implementation of the new Flexcube version in 2007.
Mrs Okoli is one of the pioneer staff of the Bank and has worked in various roles across the business. She was previously the Head, Corporate Banking Directorate. Prior to this, she served in various capacities as Head, Institutional Banking; Head, Specialized Industries; Regional Manager, Apapa; Divisional Head, National Corporate (Lagos 1) and was the Group Head, Commercial Banking, Adeola Hopewell Group. She is also on the board of Diamond Bank UK and Diamond Pensions Funds Custodian (DPFC).
She is a 1989 Law Graduate from the University of Benin and was called to the Nigerian Bar in December 1990.
She also has an MBA from the Warwick Business School, Coventry, UK. She has attended various courses in Nigeria and abroad, inclusive of the distinguished Advanced Management Program of the Wharton Executive Education, University of Pennsylvania. She is an Alumnus of the Lagos Business School.
“Chizoma’s appointment as an Executive Director is particularly auspicious following our successful corporate restructuring exercise last year. Not only does this appointment demonstrate to our large number of female staff that they can aspire for the top at Diamond Bank; we are convinced that Chizoma’s wealth of experience working across diverse roles in the organisation over the last 25 years will be a vital asset at the Board level,” concludes the statement.
Diamond Bank Plc is one of Nigeria’s fastest growing retail banks, leveraging innovation and technology to enhance customer experiences and drive financial inclusion in what it terms Beyond Banking.
Since incorporation in December 1990, Diamond Bank has challenged the market environment by introducing new products, innovative technology and setting new benchmarks through international standards.
Today, Diamond Bank is best placed to respond to changing lifestyles and is leading the digital transformation in response to these societal shifts. Diamond Mobile app, for example, is Africa’s leading banking app and the first with the touch ID feature.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To strengthen Europe-Africa trade ties, Access Bank has opened a new branch in Malta. It will focus on international trade finance, employing approximately 30 people in its initial phase, with plans for controlled expansion over time.
It was learned that this Maltese branch was established by Access Bank UK Limited, the subsidiary of Access Bank Plc, which is also the subsidiary of Access Holdings Plc, which is listed on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited.
Access Bank Malta Limited commenced operations after obtaining a banking licence from the European Central Bank (ECB) and the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
Access Bank said the licence marks a transformative milestone in bolstering Europe-Africa trade flows.
Malta, a renowned international financial centre, and a gateway between the two continents, is strategically positioned to play a pivotal role in advancing commerce and fostering economic partnerships.
This strategic expansion into Malta enables The Access Bank UK Limited to leverage growing trade opportunities between Europe and Africa.
It underscores the organisation’s commitment to driving global trade, financial integration, and supporting businesses across these regions.
“By establishing operations in Malta, we will gain a foothold in a market that bridges European and North African economies, moving us one step closer to our goal of becoming Africa’s Gateway to the World.
“It further enhances our bank’s capacity to support clients with innovative solutions tailored to cross-border trade and investment opportunities,” the chief executive of Access Bank, Mr Roosevelt Ogbonna, stated.
“Europe has emerged as Africa’s leading trading partner, driven by initiatives such as the Economic Partnership Agreements between the EU and African regions and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“With Europe-Africa economic relations entering a new phase, The Access Bank Malta Limited is ideally positioned to deepen trade and meet the financing and banking needs of our clients in these expanding markets,” the chief executive of Access Bank UK, Mr Jamie Simmonds, commented.
Also speaking, the chief executive of Access Bank Malta, Renald Theuma, said, “Malta is uniquely positioned as a bridge between Europe and Africa, making it an ideal location for our subsidiary. This move allows The Access Bank Malta Limited to engage more closely with customers in Europe and deliver tailored financial solutions that drive growth and connectivity across both continents.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Goldman Sachs have announced a new partnership with African banks, including Nigeria’s Zenith Bank and Stanbic IBTC Nigeria to support the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women initiative, a joint programme launched in 2008 to provide access to capital and training for women entrepreneurs globally.
The two Nigerian banks are part of nine financial institutions from across Africa which have agreed to join the 10,000 Women initiative committing to leverage the business education and skills tools the programme provides to create more opportunities for women entrepreneurs across the continent by providing access to business education.
Others banks include Stanbic Bank Kenya, Ecobank Kenya, Ecobank Cote d’Ivoire, Equity Bank Group, Banco Millenium Atlantico – Angola, Baobab Group, and Orange Bank.
Speaking on this, Ms Charlotte Keenan, Managing Director at Goldman Sachs said – “10,000 Women has had a powerful impact to date, but we know that there are more women to reach and more potential to be realized.
“We are delighted to partner with IFC to supercharge the growth of women-owned businesses across Africa, and mainstream lending to female business leaders. We remain committed to supporting entrepreneurs with the access to education and capital that they need to scale.”
Since 2008, the 10,000 Women initiative has provided access to capital and business training to more than 200,000 women in 150 countries.
“This expanded initiative marks a significant step forward in creating equitable economic opportunities for women in Africa, enabling them to build stronger, more resilient businesses and to realize their entrepreneurial goals,” said Ms Nathalie Kouassi Akon, IFC’s Global Director for Gender and Economic Inclusion.
Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women initiative complements the Women Entrepreneurs Opportunity Facility (WEOF), launched in 2014 by Goldman Sachs and IFC as the first-of-its-kind global facility dedicated to expanding access to capital for women entrepreneurs in emerging markets.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
In recognition of its unwavering commitment to fostering access to financing for Nigerian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Development Bank of Nigeria Plc has been rewarded with the Financial Inclusion Leadership Award at the Champions of Inclusion Nigeria Financial Inclusion Awards.
This was at the 2024 International Financial Inclusion Conference (IFIC) organised by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in collaboration with the World Bank and other stakeholders.
The chief executive of the lender, Mr Tony Okpanachi, said the recognition affirms the company’s efforts in expanding access to financial services for MSMEs in Nigeria.
“We are honoured to receive the Financial Inclusion Leadership Award, which is a testament to our bank’s commitment to expanding access to financial services for all Nigerians. This award recognises our efforts to bridge the financial inclusion gap, particularly for a priority sector like the MSMEs.
“Additionally, this award is a validation of our strategic focus on driving financial inclusion for small businesses, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this initiative that drives that. We will continue to innovate and expand our financial inclusion programmes, ensuring that more Nigerian small and startup businesses have access to services,” he stated.
On his part, the Chief Operating Officer of DBN, Mr Bonaventure Okhaimo, said the accolade demonstrates the firm’s dedication to driving financial inclusion and economic growth in Nigeria.
“This award acknowledges our Bank’s innovative approach to widening opportunities for MSMEs in Nigeria to grow and scale their businesses,” he said.
“This award will motivate us to continue pushing the boundaries of financial inclusion, exploring more innovative solutions and partnerships to expand our reach and impact.
“We are committed to ensuring that more small businesses and startup enterprises in Nigeria have access to financial services, this award will further inspire us to accelerate our efforts in this regard,” he stated.
-
Feature/OPED5 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism8 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz2 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking6 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy2 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking2 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports2 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn
-
Technology4 years agoHow To Link Your MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9mobile Lines to NIN