Banking
Heritage Bank Holds Investors Forum In Lagos
By Dipo Olowookere
The maiden edition of Investors Forum of Heritage Bank Plc has taken place in Lagos and the financial institution used the occasion to roll out its global aspiration to stakeholders present at the event.
For those very conversant with the banking sector, they will agree that Heritage Bank Plc has indeed lived up to its slogan of being the ‘Timeless Wealth Partner’ to its investors and customers.
During the forum, which was held at the Orchid Hall of the Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos, the bank took stakeholders through a journey of all the transformation activities that have made since inception till date.
Inside venue of the occasion, words like “We have a story, how we started and where we are going”; “All that defines us!”; “Whatever our purpose, we all desire to succeed;” “We all desire to leave a legacy of success;” “Welcome to history in the making,” and “We are a service organization in the business of banking!” resonated with joy.
Heritage Bank Plc, formed under the operating licence of the defunct Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN), is renowned for pioneering a number of banking initiatives in Nigeria.
Heritage Bank, which began full operation on March 4, 2013 as a regional bank with only about 11 branches, became a national financial services provider at the acquisition of Enterprise Bank Limited with over 160 branches.
According to the management team, today, the bank is said to have a physical network of over 160branches, referred to as experience centres; 418 automated teller machines (ATMs) and over 1,630 points of sales (POS) devices all over the country. It is the first bank in Nigeria to be ISO certified in less than two years of operation and holds the record of introducing ATM machines nationwide.
Heritage Bank is also said to be one of the first financial institutions in the country to commence the SME Clinic initiative; and convincingly, it said, in the coming years, it will establish itself as the bank of choice for its customers’ needs and prospects. According to the bank, “We intend to provide a platform for your investment to grow.”
Mr Adetola Atekoja, a director of the bank, who represented the chairman, Mr Akinsola Akinfemiwa, in his speech during the forum stated that the business combination with Enterprise Bank Limited in September 2015 was a commendable success. This is reflective of the commitment of our people, support of our customers and the degree of investors’ confidence in the bank, he remarked.
The director said that over the last three years, the bank has committed its efforts and resources to the building of an enduring and resilient banking franchise in spite of the challenges in the macroeconomic space. “In the midst of the stormy realities presented by events within the political and economic environment, we have continued to pursue our strategic aspiration of not only making the bank stable but stronger.”
He said, “Our ambition to emerge as a systemic important bank remains the underlying essence of our next growth phase strategy. The foundational element of our strategy – People, Partnership and Process will be recalibrated to match the rapidly changing needs of our customers especially as we deploy a full steam retail banking franchise.”
He added that the bank is on a growth track and are not unmindful of the headwinds facing the domestic economy, but remain very optimistic that the Heritage brand will continue to surf over the current economic tide through collective efforts to remain an enduring institution.
While reiterating the lender’s commitment to continually deliver high quality and sustainable earnings, Atekoja said the Board and Management are confident that the financial institution will continue to grow by appealing to key client segments, especially, in the retail space, as an important and growing market. “Heritage Bank’s outlook is bright and we expect to surpass our past year’s performance,” he said.
Divisional Head, Strategy and Execution, Mr Segun Akanji, who expanded on the benefits derived from the merger with Enterprise Bank, noted as follows: access to the market; acquisition of critical mass of customers; access to distribution and a very visible presence across the country, helping us to expand our list of customers.
“Once the combination was concluded, we had to come up with a kind of strategy that would support the business with a wider coverage that is why the foundational evidence of Heritage Bank really thrives on three pillars: People, Partnership and Processes.
“We believe that interaction with people; having the technology that will help support services to customers and ensuring that that partnership adds value to what we do, that is one of the key pillars and driving force of the bank called Heritage Bank.”
Mr Akanji explained to the forum that Heritage Bank is not limiting itself to the Nigerian shores alone, as their next level of maturity is bursting into the global financial scene, especially considering that the Nigerian economy is one that thrives on trade finance.
“We will create opportunities that will spur up our economy to other markets where we find opportunities that will help customers to secure wealth and build businesses that are also global.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The African Energy Bank (AEB) will now officially launch in September in Abuja after failing to meet its targeted first-half 2026 commencement date, marking a fresh timeline for the continent’s energy financing institution.
The Secretary General of the African Petroleum Producers’ Organisation (APPO), Mr Farid Ghezali, as per Argus Media, acknowledged “several postponements” but said the new deadline is “to make the bank operational in September 2026 in view of the incompressible deadlines from an administrative point of view”.
A planned April start was pushed back to June before APPO members were again mobilised around a third-quarter deadline. At a recent meeting, the Nigerian government reiterated the country’s commitment to the African Energy Bank’s formal commencement of operations.
The bank was established by the APPO and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to address the critical financing needs of Africa’s oil, gas and broader energy sectors and mitigate the global funding pressure against hydrocarbon investments in Africa.
The APPO scribe said funding has remained a major challenge even when the Nigerian government said the headquarters of the bank was ready since 2025.
Mr Ghezali called on APPO members to redeem their pledges towards the $500 million start-up capital before the end of June.
Argus quoted sources as saying that 91 per cent of the capital had been raised and that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) would make up the balance.
Mr Ghezali said AEB aims to reverse the situation that sees Africa importing more than 60 per cent of its oil products consumption and producing only 12 per cent of global upstream liquids while being home to many of the world’s largest national oil and gas reserves.
He stated that the bank will target the financing of 20–30 LNG, petroleum products pipeline, terminals and refining projects by 2030. Projects that monetise natural gas as a transition fuel will take up 40 per cent of AEB’s loan book, and priority will be given to projects that contribute towards the creation of “500,000 to 1 million direct and indirect jobs in the energy value chain”.
Speaking at a Nigerian energy summit in February, Mr Ghezali said the bank plans to raise $15 billion in its first three years of operations to fund strategic energy projects.
He also unveiled the three-phase road map for the AEB, including “Phase one, which, as I said in the first half of 2026, launches the African Energy Bank platform with 10-pillar projects involving countries such as Nigeria, Angola, and Libya. APPO certification and integration of IOCs such as Shell or ENI.”
“Phase two, in 2027, we plan to start a regional gas-oil trade, integrating the principles of the Bassari Declaration for 15 per cent local content.”
Phase three, reaching 2030, the African Energy Bank will be a true African financial hub, with $200 billion mobilised.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Zenith Bank Plc has joined other global corporations to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day with a two-phase environmental clean-up initiative in Lagos State.
The financial institution participated in the commemoration under the global theme Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future through a two-day event.
In the first phase, which was a morning clean-up conducted by staff of the Bank on Wednesday, 3 June 2026, along Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, employees of the lender cleared waste, sensitised residents on proper disposal practices, and reinforced the bank’s culture of community service and environmental stewardship.
The second day, participants engaged in a waterways clean-up at the Falomo Waterways, Ikoyi, Lagos. This was in collaboration with the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA). The joint effort focused on removing marine debris, promoting cleaner waterways, and supporting the state’s broader climate-resilience agenda.
“At Zenith Bank, sustainability is integral to how we operate. Clearing our streets and our waterways is a practical reminder that protecting the environment is a shared responsibility – and one we are proud to take up alongside LAWMA and LASWA.
“Through these exercises, we are taking deliberate action to preserve our communities, support climate action, and inspire others to act. Our operations will continue to align with global environmental standards as we build a more sustainable future for Nigeria and Africa,” the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, stated.
Zenith Bank says it remains committed to embedding Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles across its operations, investing in green initiatives, energy efficiency, and community-focused programmes, in line with its commitment to environmental sustainability and responsible business practices.
These efforts advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals – particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Sustainability remains an operational imperative across the Bank’s Nigerian base and its broader African, UK and European footprints.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need to consider the usage of transaction data to design credit products for millions of small businesses in Nigeria has been emphasised by the chief executive of Moniepoint Incorporated, Mr Tosin Eniolorunda.
Speaking at a panel session at the launch of the Nigeria Payments System Vision 2028 (PSV 2028) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently, the Moniepoint chief said transactions from the payments ecosystem could be tracked to unlock economic survival for millions of underserved businesses that have been historically shut out of formal credit markets.
PSV 2028 is a framework aimed at setting priorities and direction for the country’s payments infrastructure over the coming years, with financial inclusion, resilience, and innovation among its core pillars.
According to the CBN governor, Mr Yemi Cardoso, the new framework builds on Nigeria’s progress in digital payments and seeks to accelerate the country’s transition towards a more inclusive, technology-driven ecosystem as it continues to lead Africa’s digital payments ecosystem.
At the panel, Eniolorunda noted that “I believe the next phase of growth will come from layering services like credit onto existing payment flows, using the visibility and trust already built through financial transactions.”
Speaking on the power of payment infrastructure as a foundation for broader financial services, he argued that the data generated by payment systems, when used responsibly, holds the key to making credit faster and more accessible for underserved businesses.
“One of the most powerful things about payment infrastructure is the data it creates. When used responsibly, it can help unlock quicker and more accessible credit for businesses that have historically been underserved. For many small businesses, access has always been the real barrier,” he said.
“Achieving the ambitions of PSV 2028 will require regulators, banks, fintechs, and ecosystem players working together with a shared long-term vision,” Mr Eniolorunda added, echoing Governor Cardoso’s warning against the country’s historic “start-stop” policy cycles.
“Over the past two decades, Nigeria’s payments ecosystem has evolved into one of the most dynamic and innovative in the world. From instant payments and digital adoption to fintech-led innovation, our progress has often set the pace on the continent. While this progress has not always been fully reflected in global narratives, its impact on economic activities, financial inclusion, and system resilience is evident across our economy,” he said.
Business Post learned that the panel was moderated by the chief executive of Sterling Bank, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, and also featured the chief executive of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc, Mr Premier Oiwoh; his counterparts at Remita Payment Services Limited (RPSL), Mr Deremi Atanda; and Shared Agent Network Expansion Facilities (SANEF) Limited, Mrs Uche Uzoebo, among others.
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