Connect with us

Banking

Heritage Bank, 5 Others to Open Accounts for 774,000 Job Beneficiaries

Published

on

Heritage Bank SPW

By Dipo Olowookere

The federal government has authorised Heritage Bank and five other financial institutions to commence account opening for beneficiaries of the Special Public Works Programme throughout the 774 local governments.

Recently, the government announced the creation of 774,000 jobs across the country, with 1,000 picked from each of the 774 local councils.

Heritage Bank, which has always supported entrepreneurs in the country, was chosen by the federal government to be part of this programme.

Other lenders selected were Zenith Bank, UBA, Access Bank, Fidelity Bank and FCMB.

“The banks assured us that even in LGAs where they don’t have branches, temporary registration centres would be opened in such LGAs so that the participants would not have to travel far to open their accounts,” the Minister of State for Labour and Productivity, Mr Festus Kenyamo, who is in charge of the exercise, said.

The Minister further remarked that the breakdown of banks taking care of each of the LGAs will soon be published.

Explaining the core areas of the SPW programme, Mr Keyamo said, “Special Public works department is one of the four core focus of the NDE.

“It seeks to identify and optimize employment opportunities that abound in the public works sector by organising the skilled, un-skilled and semi-skilled persons that are unemployed to carry out utility, environmental, infrastructural development and sanitation works.”

Recall that 1,000 participants were drawn each from the 774 local government areas in Nigeria for the Special Public Works Programme.

The MD/CEO of Heritage Bank, Mr Ifie Sekibo, while speaking on this development, stated that engaging the bank on such arrangement was a demonstration of the lender’s commitment to using financial inclusion to boost entrepreneurship development, which is critical to its mission to create, preserve and transfer wealth across generations.

He reiterated the bank’s commitment on investing in human capital development, especially entrepreneurs for critical economy recovery, restating that the aim of Heritage Bank being at the forefront of youth empowerment is to emancipate the latent entrepreneurial spirit in the teeming youths to unleash their support to the growth of the economy..

According to him, Heritage Bank’s various entrepreneur schemes in the support for business had always focused on dependable job-creating sectors, such as agricultural value chain (fish farming, poultry, snail farming), cottage industry, mining and solid minerals, creative industry (tourism, arts and crafts), and Information and Communications Technology (ICT).

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan. Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Banking

Development Bank of Nigeria Wins Financial Inclusion Leadership Award

Published

on

Development Bank of Nigeria

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.

Continue Reading

Banking

The Banker Magazine Declares Zenith Bank as Bank of the Year in Nigeria

Published

on

zenith bank branch

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.

Continue Reading

Banking

CBN Reveals Phone Numbers to Report Banks Not Disbursing Cash

Published

on

cash deposits

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.”

CBN directive cash banks

Continue Reading

Trending