Banking
Ecobank Targets 40 million Small Businesses Via Ellevate
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
At least 40 million women-owned or women-managed businesses in the country will benefit from the Ellevate initiative of Ecobank Nigeria launched on Wednesday.
Ellevate is a gender-based proposition for women-owned businesses to reduce gender inequality in entrepreneurship and aid equal representation for women in the formal business sector.
Speaking at the unveiling of the scheme, the Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, explained that the Ellevate product is part of Ecobank’s Group objective as the leading pan-African financial institution to drive financial integration and contribute to the economic development of the continent by deepening engagement with women-owned businesses.
Ellevate was designed by Ecobank to empower women-owned and women-managed businesses in Nigeria and indeed across all our Africa footprints, leveraging various unique financial and non-financial benefits.
It promises an end-to-end partnership in which they could gain access to financial services specially tailored for them, these include loans at special terms and other mouthwatering discounts.
“They will also get fixed deposit investments at special premium rates, zero account maintenance fee, continuous financial education and capacity building under our AUDA-NEPAD academy and other special arrangements. They will have access to networking and recognition under our business clubs as well as access to markets, leveraging our various e-commerce solutions,” the bank chief said.
He further reiterated that the businesses under Ellevate will also have “access to Ecobank’s unique digital payments and collections solutions like Omnilite for payments, EcobankpayNQR for contactless local and cross-border collections, modern POS channels, and various lifestyle benefits including campaigns and promotions to drive their business growth and personal well-being.”
He said “the Ellevate proposition is a total package addressing the broad needs of women-owned businesses in Nigeria including businesses that produce for women.
In his comment, the special guest of honour, Managing Director, Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN), Mr Tony Okpanachi, represented by Mr Bonaventure Okhaimo, Chief Operating Officer, lauded the Ecobank for introducing the product, stating that it would go a long way to assisting the target group.
He disclosed that DBN was doing a lot to uplift small businesses in the country, stressing that it was ready to partner with reputable financial institutions such as Ecobank in that regard.
Founder of Ruff n Tumble, Nike Ogunlesi, who was a panellist at the event, advised women business owners to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by Ecobank through Ellevate to develop their businesses.
She called on women entrepreneurs to be resilient and know the role customers, people, finance, community, and technology play in business growth.
On her part, Innovations and Partnerships Advisor at Nigeria for Women Project, Tolulope Babajide, said “with Ellevate, Ecobank truly understands the needs of women-owned businesses. She spoke on scalability, sustainability, and expansion of MSMEs.”
Other speakers at the event, including the founder, Health Africa, Fola Laoye; the founder, Braveline Growth Partners, Taba Peterside, all lauded Ecobank for initiating such a product, stating that it would benefit women businesses and lift many families out of poverty.
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.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Banker Magazine of the Financial Times Group in the United Kingdom has announced Zenith Bank Plc as Bank of the Year, Nigeria.
At the Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2024 held on in London on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, it was stated that Nigerian lender clinched the award for its strong management, sound business model and strategy, and approach to sustainability and ESG banking practices.
The chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, described the recognition as a “testament to the unwavering trust and loyalty of our esteemed customers, the unparalleled leadership and guidance of the board and management as well as the hard work and dedication of our staff.”
She said, “It also reflects our bank’s steadfast commitment to delivering excellent services to our customers and contributing to the growth and development of the Nigerian economy.”
“We will continue to invest in innovative technologies, expand our range of products and services, and maintain our commitment to exceptional customer service in order to sustain our position as Nigeria’s Number One Bank,” Ms Umeoji assured.
The Banker’s Bank of the Year accolade is among the most coveted and widely regarded award in the banking industry.
Often contested by the world’s leading financial institutions, the winners span across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
Recall that last month, Zenith Bank commissioned its branch in Paris, France following the granting of the final approval by the country’s banking regulator, the Autorité de ContrôlePrudentiel et de Résolution (ACPR).
This is part of the bank’s global expansion strategy, and its commitment to serving clients wherever their businesses are around the world.
Zenith Bank has continued to earn numerous awards, with this latest accolade coming on the heels of several recognitions, including being the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 15th consecutive year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has published some phone numbers citizens can call to report any bank that fails to give them cash over-the-counter or at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).
In a circular, the banking sector regulator said cash has been made available to lenders to disburse to their customers, saying they have no reason to do so.
DMBs are directed to ensure efficient cash disbursement to customers OTC and through ATMs as the CBN will intensify its oversight roles to enforce this directive and ensure compliance,” a part of a circular signed by acting Director of Currency Operations, Solaja Mohammed Olayemi; and the acting Director for Branch Operations, Isa-Olatinwo Aisha, stated.
It encouraged members of the public who are unable to obtain cash at their banks to “report these instances using the designated reporting channels and format provided,” saying it will “assist the CBN in addressing issues hindering the availability of cash and further improve currency circulation.”
They are to reach the central bank through designated phone numbers of the CBN branch in the state where the incident occurred or via email.
According to the circular, the complaints should be sent with “the relevant details which shall include account name/name of the DMB/amount/time and date of incidents, amongst others.”
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