Banking
Environmentalist Lauds Unity Bank’s Sustainability Initiatives
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A renowned environmentalist, Mr Desmond Majekodunmi, has applauded Unity Bank Plc for its consistent environmental sustainability initiatives and programmes aimed at protecting the planet Earth.
According to the nature park promoter, Unity Bank’s commitment to environmental protection through consistent investment in sustainability programmes and initiatives has set the institution apart.
Mr Majekodunmi is the founder of Lufasi Nature Park, Lagos, Nigeria’s only urban forest reserve.
He praised the lender at its Beach Cleaning and Tree Planting exercise held to commemorate World Earth Day 2023.
Recall that this year’s edition of the Beach Cleaning exercise makes it the third year in a row that Unity Bank is holding the volunteer initiative, being an activity lined up to commemorate World Earth Day.
Unity Bank has partnered with three non-government organisations, Recycling Scheme for Women and Youth Empowerment, RESWAYE, MEDIC and KBG, to promote environmental sustainability through the Beach Cleaning Initiative.
Mr Majekodunmi joined no fewer than 200 volunteers, inclusive of members of the staff of Unity Bank, the RESWAYE team and the Lagos Kids Beach Garden within the Oba Elegushi beach environs who participated in the cleaning exercise.
The volunteers picked and removed over 100,000 plastic bottles from the beach to rid the beach and ocean of plastic waste and reduce pollution.
Also, as featured in the previous editions, the bank carried out a tree-planting exercise in 23 locations across the country, with members of staff participating in planting at least one tree in each of the locations.
Speaking at the event, the Divisional Head, Resources, Unity Bank Plc, Mr Hillary Ajuebon, said that the World Earth Day initiatives had become a core focus of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility to promote climate action and reduction of environmental pollution.
Citing recent reports on ocean pollution, he decried gloomy statistics stating that “of the over 380 million tons of plastic produced globally every year, about 10 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from different coastal plains.
“There are 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic waste estimated to be in our oceans. While 70 per cent of the debris sinks into the ocean’s ecosystem, 15 per cent floats, and 15 per cent lands on our beaches.”
While noting that plastic pollution has become one of the world’s most pressing environmental issues, he said Unity Bank would continue to join collaborative efforts to eliminate plastic pollution in our oceans.
Mr Ajuebon further recalled that in addition to the Beach Cleaning and Tree Planting exercise, the bank had, throughout April, embarked on aggressive sensitization on environmental sustainability, reinforcing the bank’s culture of prioritizing sustainable practices, adding that the bank has over time promoted corporate and business philosophy that encourages low paper usage, recycling and adoption of renewable energy through increased investment in solar-powered branches and ATMs.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A former staff of First Bank of Nigeria Limited, Mr Muiz Tijani Adeyinka, has forfeiture seven properties linked to him in Lagos to the federal government.
This followed a final forfeiture order ordered by Justice Dehinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Thursday, April 10, 2025.
He was brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which argued that the properties were obtained with questionable funds.
Justice Dipeolu had earlier ordered the interim forfeiture of the properties and also ordered the publication of the said order in a national newspaper for any interested parties to show cause why the properties should not be finally forfeited to the federal government.
Moving the application for the final forfeiture yesterday, the EFCC, through its lawyer, Ms Zeenat Atiku, told the court that “no one showed cause within the 14 days window granted after the publication.”
The legal counsel also stated that the application was supported with an affidavit deposed to by an operative of the EFCC, Mr Isah Yusuf Nadabo.
In the affidavit, Nadabo informed the court that Mr Adeyinka worked at the settlement office of the bank and that he had the capacity to carry out some inalienable access available only to the office by virtue of his office.
He stated further in the affidavit that, “He, therefore, carried out illegal, unauthorised and fraudulent activities against First Bank Nigeria Plc.
“Investigation has thus far revealed and traced the sum of N35 billion benefitted by Muiz Tijani Adeyinka and his cronies.”
She, therefore, told the court that the properties traced to the former First Bank employee were reasonably suspected to have been acquired with proceeds of unlawful activities.
After listening to the EFCC’s counsel, Justice Dipeolu held that he found merit in the argument of the applicant and ordered the final forfeiture of the properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The properties are Plot 9, Block 28 Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd., Aiyetoro, Epe Lagos State; a three-bedroom flat described as Block A, Floor 6, Flat 2 (Block A/6/2) Le Moriah Residences Estate, Off Kusenla Road, Ikate Ancient City, Lekki Penninsula, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State; a parcel of land known as Block L1, Plot 13, Amen Estate, Phase Ill Extension, Abomiti Zone, Lekki/Epe Express Way Epe LGA, Lagos State; a parcel of land known as Block 3, Plot 13, Arizon Estate , within Idera Scheme Allocation via Eleko Junction Ibeju-Lekki LGA; one plot of Land within Arizone Estate, Idera Scheme,lbeju-Lekki LGA and one plot of land within Itunu Residential Aiyetoro, Ibeju-Lekki LGA.
Others are a parcel of land known as Plot 7, Block 4 Itunu City, Veritas Homes & Properties Ltd, Aiyetoro Epe LGA, Lagos; a parcel of land known as Plot 1, Ido Gwari 2 Extension, within Ochacho Real Homes, Ido-Gwari 2 Extension, LifeCamp, Abuja and a parcel of land known as Block Q, Plot 25, Tiara by Amen City Limited, Along Lekki/Epe Express Way, Yeguda Resettlement Scheme, Epe Lagos State.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
A veteran bank and founder of the defunct Diamond Bank Plc, Mr Pascal Gabriel Dozie, has died at the age of 85.
The former chairman of MTN Nigeria, a leading telecommunications firm, died in the early hours of Tuesday, April 8, 2025, just a day to his 86th birthday.
The Nigerian entrepreneur and businessman chairman of Pan-Atlantic University established Diamond Bank in 1990. The company later became one of Nigeria’s most respected financial institutions.
The current Governor of Abia State, Mr Alex Otti, once headed the lender before handing over to the founder’s son, Mr Uzoma Dozie, when he veered into politics.
Diamond Bank merged with Access Bank in 2019.
Mr Pascal Dozie, who was once the President of the Nigerian Exchange Limited, then known as the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), was born on April 9, 1939, in Egbu, Owerri, Imo State, and began his career as an economist at the National Economic Development Office in the United Kingdom.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Some food packs have been distributed to residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja recently by Fidelity Bank Plc as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives under the Fidelity Food Bank.
This is one of the key pillars of the bank’s CSR strategy, focusing on health and social welfare. As a nationwide project, the initiative seeks to provide food relief to underserved communities across Nigeria, with a particular focus on supporting women and children.
Officials of the financial institutions distributed the food items to seven communities in the Mabushi district of the FCT.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Mukhtar Mohamed, expressed his gratitude to the bank, acknowledging the significant impact of food distribution.
Similarly, the District Head of Mabushi Community, Mr Hassan Danagna, commended Fidelity Bank for its generosity and its impact on the community.
“Fidelity Bank’s support to our community is unprecedented, and we are deeply grateful for this initiative, which provides relief to vulnerable households and less privileged families.
“Given the current economic challenges, this support is timely, particularly as we approach the holy month of Ramadan,” Mr Danagna stated.
Speaking at the distribution event, the Executive Director for North at Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr Sufiyanu Garba, emphasized the lender’s commitment to community development and its alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 2, which seeks to eradicate hunger.
“This initiative stems from our deep-seated responsibility to support underserved communities and contribute to the fight against hunger in Nigeria.
“At Fidelity Bank, we firmly believe that by addressing the root causes of poverty and hunger, we can make a meaningful impact on the lives of those in need.
“While we may not be able to solve all societal challenges, our contributions are making a difference, as evidenced by the positive feedback we continue to receive,” Mr Garba said.
“We recognize the importance of fostering growth and prosperity within the communities where we operate. By investing in their well-being, we contribute to the creation of a more sustainable and equitable society,” he added.
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