Banking
Heritage Bank Seeks More Govt, Banks’ Support in Agric Sector
By Dipo Olowookere
The need for government at all levels and deposit money banks to increase supports in the agricultural sector has been emphasised by Heritage Bank Plc.
Executive Director of Heritage Bank, Mr Jude Monye, while delivering a paper titled, Bank Experience in Lending to the Real Sector (Agric) of the Economy, noted that the agriculture remains the most resilient and important sector of Nigerian economy, despite underwhelming investment in the sector.
Speaking at the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) 2018 Chief Risk Officers Forum Retreat, in Lagos, yesterday, Mr Monye pointed out that increased focus on the agriculture sector would contribute to the Job creation objectives of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP), as its labour intensive process across the value chain has the potential of creating multiple jobs, create wealth, and increase the sector’s contribution to GDP and foreign exchange earnings
Meanwhile, Mr Monye stressed that the under-performance of the sector is closely tied; amongst other factors; to poor credit access from banks.
On the part of government, he decried that Nigeria’s Agricultural research institutes that are established to drive the sector’s business were underfunded compared to India’s.
“The 2018 budget allocates N54 billion and N149 billion ($490 million) to the agriculture and rural development ministry for recurrent and capital spending respectively.
“Agricultural research institutes have received an average of N28 billion ($90 million) annually over the past five years. The comparable figure for India, with six times the population, is closer to $2 billion,” he stated.
He further noted that the economic recovery and growth plan of the government is heavy on Agriculture and MSMEs as key drivers of the economic diversification plan.
“Successful implementation of the Government’s Recovery Plan provides significant opportunities for entrepreneurs, investors and financiers – particularly in the Agro-allied Sector,” Mr Monye affirmed.
The Executive Director added that investments in infrastructure (energy and transportation) are supportive of the Agric-led growth.
He explained that to explore options for de-risking and unlocking bank lending to the Agric sector so as to develop and position the sector for increased contribution to the Nigeria’s GDP and revenues, there is need to Continue regulatory driven intervention funds to increase access to credit at single digit rates and long tenors, Improve knowledge of Banks and Bankers on Agric finance and Agricultural Risk Management through focused capacity building and many others.
Speaking at retreat with theme, Achieving Economic Diversification for Nigeria via the De-Risking of Lending to the Nigerian Non-oil Sectors, the MD/CEO of NIRSAL, Mr Aliyu Abduhameed, explained that the value chain financing is one of the major problem facing Nigerian agricultural sector.
But, he pointed out that NIRSAL does this by ‘de-risking’ the agricultural financing value chain, building long-term capabilities and institutionalizing agricultural lending through risk sharing with banks, technical capacity building as well as the provision of incentives to encourage bank lending.
According to him, Nigeria is endowed with all the natural resources to thrive in agriculture, but the sector lacks the capital with which to maximally meet the opportunities.
He stated that NIRSAL aims to increase deposit money banks’ lending and other private investment.
Mr Abduhameed disclosed that proposal has been put before the Central Bank of Nigeria for NIRSAL to be recognised as collateral instrument as well as flow instrument, as this would fast track the de-risking of the value chain financing.
Group ED/Agribusiness TGI Group, Mr Farouk Gumel, as one of the panellists, stressed the need to shed more light on banking agriculture rather than de-risking.
He also canvassed for more investments in infrastructure and addressing eco-climate system in the country.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
In its determination to help the government achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced two account packages for Nigerians in the Diaspora.
The central bank tagged these account options as the Non-Resident Nigerian Ordinary Account (NRNOA) and the Non-Resident Nigerian Investment Account (NRNIA).
In a circular signed by its acting Director for Trade and Exchange Department, Dr W.J. Kanya, the apex bank stated that the NRNOA allows account holders to remit their foreign earnings to the country and manage funds in both foreign and local currencies, while the NRNIA gives them the opportunity to invest in assets in Nigeria in either foreign or local currencies.
It explained that account holders may maintain both a foreign currency account of a local currency account or both to carry out their transactions or partake in diverse investment opportunities.
It stated that Nigerians abroad will have the opportunity to won any of the accounts from January 1, 2025, subject to meeting KYC requirements.
The CBN said it came up with these account products to improve access for non-residents to opportunities in the Nigerian economy and increased contribution of Diaspora community to the socio-economic developments of Nigeria.
According to the circular, account holders can use their accounts to participate in the country’s Diaspora bond and other debt instruments issued locally, specifically targeted at the Nigerian Diaspora or available to the investing public.
It said the accounts would also serve as a conduit for them to manage their funds directly in a safe and secure environment and reduce the reliance on third parties in meeting local commitments and obligations.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc recently completed the raising of N209 billion out of its targeted N400.5 billion public offer in the ongoing recapitalisation efforts directed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to create resilient banks amid rising external shocks in the global environment.
Speaking on this development, the chief executive of the firm, Mr Segun Agbaje, said the equity capital raising has set a strong foundation for accelerated development.
“We extend our sincere appreciation to our new and existing shareholders, as well as the regulatory authorities, for their unwavering support during this initial phase of our equity capital raise.
“The strong participation and successful capital verification exercise and allotment process reaffirm the confidence investors have in our fundamentals and execution capabilities.
“This sets a solid foundation for accelerating our strategic roadmap, which aims to pivot the Group for transformational growth and unlock greater value across the Group’s Banking and Non-Banking businesses,” the banker stated.
GTCO had launched a public offer of 9.0 billion ordinary shares of 50 Kobo each at N44.5 per share, with N209.41 billion realized, representing 52.3 per cent of the total offer size.
The offer garnered substantial interest from domestic retail investors, raised a total of N209.41 billion from 130,617 valid applications for 4.706 billion ordinary shares, fully allotted.
“This milestone concludes the first phase of GTCO’s phased equity capital raise programme, which is structured on a balanced allocation strategy based on an equal split between institutional and retail investors. This balanced approach aligns with GTCO Plc’s commitment to fostering a well-diversified and robust investor base,” GTCO stated.
The announcement followed completion of the capital verification exercise conducted by the CBN and the approval of the basis of allotment of the offer by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
No fewer than 30 pregnant women at the Mushin Primary Health Centre in Lagos have received maternity kits from Fidelity Bank Plc.
The gesture from the financial institution is part of its efforts to support improved maternal health in the metropolis.
It was gathered that the items were given to the beneficiaries through the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of the lender aimed at promoting staff involvement in community development under the Great Minds Inductees Class.
“The project was borne out of the need to support pregnant women by providing them with essential materials for a safe delivery,” the Divisional Head for Brand and Communications Division at Fidelity Bank, Mr Meksley Nwagboh, explained.
“Maternal mortality remains a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, with the country accounting for a substantial proportion of global maternal deaths.
“In fact, a 2023 United Nations report indicate that nearly 28.5% of global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria.
“This is an alarming statistic and as a bank given to improving the welfare of our host communities, we deemed it fit to support initiatives to address this challenge in the Mushin community with this donation,” he stated.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Mary Olusanya, expressed her heartfelt appreciation for the bank’s support.
“I appreciate Fidelity Bank for helping us. Many pregnant women cannot afford these kits, but this donation ensures that we can have safe deliveries and better healthcare,” she said.
The Medical and Health Officer for Mushin Local Government Area, Dr Kayode Odufuwa, said, “This intervention by Fidelity Bank will help reduce maternal mortality and encourage more women from less-privileged backgrounds to register for antenatal care.”
“On behalf of the Chairman of Mushin LGA, Mr Emmanuel Bamgboye, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude to Fidelity Bank for extending its donation of maternity kits to pregnant women at this centre.
“We appeal for continued collaboration with the Bank to further strengthen healthcare services within the area,” he stated.
On her part, the Apex Nurse and Deputy Director of Nursing Services in Mushin LGA, Mrs Bolanle Odunlami, said, “The donation is a much-needed relief for many mothers who are unable to afford essential delivery kits. Fidelity Bank has truly shown empathy by coming to the aid of our patients, and for that, we are extremely grateful.”
Business Post reports that through the FHHP, employees of the bank identify projects that benefit their immediate community and gather funds to implement them.
The bank’s management then matches this contribution with an equivalent amount and allocates it for the chosen projects.
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