Banking
Ecobank Nigeria Academy Gets CIBN’s Certificate of Accreditation
By Dipo Olowookere
An accreditation certificate has been presented to Ecobank Nigeria for its training institute after scoring above the minimum threshold on all the parameters of measurement.
The certification was presented to the bank by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) led by its President, Mr Uche Olowu.
Recall that recently, the CIBN accredited the ultra-modern and state of the art Ecobank Nigeria Academy, which would be used to groom the next bankers to be employed by the lender.
At the presentation, the CIBN called on other financial institutions in the country seeking accreditation of their training school to emulate Ecobank Nigeria.
According to Mr Olowu, Ecobank Nigeria Academy received the institute’s nod based on the report of its Capacity Building and Certification Committee that the training school has met all the parameters of measurement, stressing that it was a manifestation of the importance the management of the bank place on capacity building of its workforce.
“As an Institute, we congratulate Ecobank for the accreditation of its Academy. This comes after rigorous accreditation processes by members of our Capacity Building and Certification Committee which showed that Ecobank has complied with and satisfied the provisions and requirements of the Competency framework for the Nigerian Banking Industry as mandated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through CIBN.
“The Academy was found to have scored above the minimum threshold on all the parameters of measurement.
“We firmly believe this accreditation would not only enable Ecobank comply with the provisions of the Competency Framework but also strengthen the intellectual resources and capabilities available in the bank,” the CIBN chief said.
He disclosed further that the institute has so far accredited 18 bank academies, 20 Educational Training Service Providers (ETSPs) and currently executing linkage agreements with 65 tertiary institutions, stressing that apart from addressing competency challenges and enthroning a minimum standard for practitioners in the industry, it is also furthering its mandate as the sole accreditation agency for the implementation of the Competency Framework in the industry.
In his remarks, Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, said the accreditation of the academy re-enforces the bank’s commitment to empowering its entire workforce for the millennial age, stressing that it would further enable the Bank to take up its rightful position in the industry as the bank of choice.
“I must salute our Human Resources team and my colleagues in the management team for this landmark step. This underscores the importance we attach to staff training, skills development and capacity building as we seek to transform our Bank to deliver value to customers and shareholders.
“There is no substitute to knowledge. We will continue to upgrade the standard of the Academy to meet with fresh and modern-day industry challenges,” he said.
The Managing Director specifically commended CIBN for the various initiatives targeted at raising standards, promoting ethics and positioning the financial services industry to meet with the new challenges such as digital banking and financial technology (Fintech), adding that the institute was also contributing meaningfully towards the economic development of the country through its various activities in African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He reiterated that Ecobank would continue to partner with the Institute in promoting integrity, professionalism, innovation and ethics in the banking and finance industry.
Commenting, the Manager of Learning and Development at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Ayotunde Opeoluwa, stated that the accreditation of the academy was an attestation of the bank’s commitment to its roadmap to industry leadership goals through people development, stressing that Ecobank will continuously seek improvement in ensuring that its curriculum is dynamic and meet global standards.
Mr Opeoluwa, who is also the Head of the Academy, further said, “This is a good news for us as a bank. It reinforces our people centric strategy to equipping our staff with the right skills and competence in line with global practices.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank our Management for the great support and members of our internal faculty for their dedication toward achieving this milestone. We will continue to seek improvement to maintain industry and global standards.”
Ecobank Nigeria is a member of Pan African bank, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), based in Togo, operating in 36 countries in Africa and with representative offices in Paris, Beijing, Dubai, Johannesburg and London.
Ecobank Nigeria has made many pioneering achievements and ‘firsts’ across various products and digital platforms in the country.
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.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian tier-1 lender, First Bank, has announced the introduction of its Naira Visa Debit Card in partnership with the global payments giant to extend accessible, reliable electronic payment capabilities to a broader segment of the Nigerian population.
The card is targeted at everyday consumers who require a dependable payment instrument for routine domestic and international transactions. Accepted across POS terminals, ATMs, and online platforms through Visa’s payments network, the Naira Visa Debit Card is designed to reduce friction for customers transitioning from cash to electronic payments across retail, utilities, and digital commerce.
According to the bank, the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing drive toward a cashless economy, a policy direction that has gained significant momentum following successive Central Bank of Nigeria directives encouraging the adoption of electronic payment channels, adding that the card is intended to serve customers across the country’s diverse economic segments.
The Naira Visa Debit Card is available to all eligible FirstBank account holders through any of the bank’s branches nationwide.
Speaking on the launch, Mr Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, eBusiness & Retail Products, FirstBank, said: “Everyday transactions should be simple, secure, and rewarding. The Naira Visa Debit Card is designed to make life easier for our customers, whether they are paying for groceries, settling utility bills, or shopping online.
“By extending reliable electronic payment access across Nigeria, we are helping more people transition confidently from cash to digital payments, supporting the nation’s cashless policy and empowering communities with greater financial inclusion.”
Commenting on the strategic importance of the partnership, Mr Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Cluster Head, West Africa, Visa, noted: “A strong payments ecosystem works for everyone. The Naira Visa Debit Card extends reliable electronic payment access to everyday Nigerian consumers, and this in addition to the cards in our portfolio, continues to demonstrate what a truly comprehensive card portfolio looks like for the Nigerian market. Visa is proud to power this offering with FirstBank.”
The launch of the Naira Visa Debit Card broadens Visa’s card portfolio at FirstBank, which already includes products spanning credit cards and High-end premium lifestyle spending cards. The addition completes its offering across customer segments, ensuring that cardholders at every income level have access to a product suited to their needs.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled the fourth edition of its Foreign Exchange Manual as part of efforts to deepen liquidity, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in the country’s foreign exchange market.
Speaking at the launch of the revised manual in Abuja on Friday, the Governor of the apex bank, Mr Yemi Cardoso, said the document will take effect from June 1, 2026.
He said it was developed after extensive consultations with banks, exporters, importers, corporates, regulators and development partners.
He said the new framework reflects the apex bank’s commitment to modernising the country’s foreign exchange administration in line with international best practices.
Mr Cardoso described the foreign exchange market as a critical pillar of any open economy, noting that effective governance of the sector is essential for sustaining macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.
“Foreign exchange is more than a financial instrument. It anchors price stability, facilitates the flow of goods and capital, and shapes investor sentiment,” he said.
The CBN governor stressed that the revised manual became necessary due to changing global economic realities, domestic reforms and the need for a more coherent and forward-looking regulatory framework.
According to him, the last edition of the FX manual was issued in 2018, making the latest review both timely and necessary.
Mr Cardoso disclosed that Nigeria’s foreign exchange market has witnessed significant improvement in liquidity since the current administration began reforms in the sector.
He added that daily turnover in the FX market increased from an average of about $100 million in the early days of the administration to between $400 million and $600 million daily.
The CBN Governor added that the market had also recorded transactions of up to $1 billion per day on several occasions in recent months.
“We have gone from a situation where it was more or less a one-way market, where the central bank came in, intervened and went away, to a much more dynamic market,” he stated.
The apex bank boss noted that the reforms were gradually restoring confidence among investors and market participants, encouraging freer entry and exit in the market without unnecessary restrictions.
He also maintained that the nation’s foreign reserves should not be used as the primary tool for funding the foreign exchange market.
“Reserves are reserves. They are not what you look to fund a market,” he said.
The CBN Governor assured stakeholders that the revised manual would be distributed free of charge to authorised dealers while the bank strengthens monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance, fairness and accountability across the foreign exchange market.
On his part, the Deputy Governor for Economic Policy, Mr Muhammad Abdullahi, said the review formed part of broader reforms initiated by Mr Cardoso to restore confidence, improve transparency and deepen liquidity in the foreign exchange market.
Mr Abdullahi explained that the revised manual introduces several changes aimed at improving ease of doing business and reducing transaction bottlenecks.
Among the notable changes, he noted, are provisions allowing unfettered access to export proceeds, the introduction of non-resident investment accounts and operational guidelines for Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) transactions to support regional trade.
Mr Abdullahi added that the manual also contains new provisions on service exports, revised documentation requirements and updated operational procedures designed to align Nigeria’s FX market with global standards.
He said the apex bank deliberately adopted an ease of doing business approach during the review process to eliminate inefficiencies and ambiguities identified by stakeholders.
“The revised manual is not a stand-alone exercise but part of a broader institutional reform effort designed to strengthen the integrity, credibility and effectiveness of Nigeria’s foreign exchange system,” he said.
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn