Banking
Diamond Bank Gives Millions to 13 Customers, Targets More
By Dipo Olowookere
Not less than 13 customers have emerged millionaires in the Diamond Bank daily extraordinary draws across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
This is in fulfilment of the promise made by management of the financial institution to make one customer a millionaire every working day in the month of August.
According to Diamond Bank, 18 more Nigerians will become millionaires before the end of September.
The lender explained that the daily xtraordinary draws were not just only meant to reward its loyal customers and potential customers but also to show appreciation to Nigerians for the trust and confidence in its array of financial products and services.
Among the newly created millionaires, a lucky customer from its branch in Warri, Delta State, Mr Daniel Chijioke Jombo, emerged as the winner of Salary for Life, the star prize. He will receive N100,000 every month for the next 20 years.
Two more customers are expected to emerge as the winners of salary for life in August and September while 15 more millionaires will be created in the remaining days in August.
It was disclosed that a total of 1,521 winners have emerged in the draws held since mid-July this year.
In all, 10 customers have won N500,000 each, while 300 customers have won N10,000 each with another set of 200 customers winning N5,000 each.
Also, 1000 customers of the bank have been rewarded with N500 recharge cards across all mobile telecommunications networks.
Chief spokesperson of Diamond Bank, Ms Chioma Afe, stated that with a deposit balance of only N5,000, a customer is qualified to participate in the draw and multiples of that amount increases the customers chances of winning.
According to her, the Season 9 extraordinary edition has been very rewarding to the customers, noting that the draws scheduled for the this season reaffirms the Bank’s commitment to financially empower more Nigerians by spreading the draws across the six geopolitical zones.
Ms Afe further stated that Diamond Bank has also introduced a new dimension to the reward scheme where customers are rewarded for loyalty.
Customers who have maintained their DiamondXtra accounts for 5 years and above and have increased their balances with multiples of N5000 during this period will qualify for a special Longevity draw where 10 customers will receive N1m each while 100 customers will get N100,000 each.
According to Ms Afe, a customer stands a better chance of winning if he or she saves more as every N5, 000.00 in the account of a customer represents one entry ticket into the draws.
“Every DiamondXtra account customer has equal opportunity of winning in the daily transparent electronic draws.
“We would like to reassure all our loyal customers that Diamond Bank will constantly seek robust platforms like this not just to enrich them but to let them know that we care for their future economic wellbeing,” she said.
The DiamodnXtra initiative was launched in July 2008 and has produced 5,600 winners with a cumulative cash reward of over N4 billion.
Among the customers that won N1 million each are Nnenna P Enechionyia; Demian Eze Ike; Ademunmi Fatai Tanimowo; Abdullahi Ayinde Mohammed; Ajijolakewu Saheed; Nwankwo Mmaduabuchi and Elawore Ruth Onorame.
Winners of N500,000 include Daniel Chijioke Jombo; Chigozirim Charles Oparaugo; James Uzoma; Joseph Asebakoghene; Mamiska Gabriel Kanayochukwu; Nzononye Ekeoma Udom; Amuka Ijeoma; Bright Ogheneruru; Chinedu M. Onyeakosi; Esonwune Cajetan; Ferdinand Chukwuma Ugwunwa; Humphrey Onyesoh; Openiyi Tolulope Adewole; Solomon Paul Thomas; Taofeek Ejalonibu and Vincent Izuchukwu Ofordum
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A collaboration to enable fast money transfers into Nigeria has been entered into between Flutterwave and Xoom, PayPal’s international digital money transfer service.
The partnership allows Xoom transfers to be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Naira, enabling quick transfers directly into recipients’ bank accounts at Access Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, and additional participating banks across Nigeria.
The deal also enables Xoom’s global network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure, allowing users globally to send funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency.
Nigeria is the leading remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa, receiving over $20 billion in personal remittances in 2024. Despite this volume, receiving international payments has historically remained complex due to FX constraints and settlement delays. This collaboration helps address those challenges in a market of more than 232 million people, where the ICT sector is projected to contribute 21 per cent of GDP by 2027.
By combining Xoom’s expansive reach with Flutterwave’s local compliance and banking partnerships, the two companies are providing a more accessible financial corridor for the continent.
Xoom, a PayPal service, is a fast and secure international digital money transfer service that enables consumers to send money, pay bills, and reload phones for friends and family in approximately 160 markets globally.
As part of PayPal’s global payments ecosystem, Xoom leverages advanced fraud protection, compliance capabilities, and a trusted global network to help millions of customers move money quickly and securely across borders.
“We’re excited to have been chosen by Xoom for their Nigeria expansion. Millions of Nigerians rely on money from abroad to support everyday needs, whether it’s families receiving help from loved ones, freelancers getting paid for their work, or individuals earning income from the global economy. This helps make it easy and more reliable for people in Nigeria to receive funds and stay connected to opportunities beyond borders,” the chief executive of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga GB Agboola, stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
