Banking
How Access Bank Is Revitalising Agric Sector with Agriculture Desk
Agriculture is not just an industry; it’s the lifeblood of nations. It fuels economies, nourishes communities and sustains livelihoods. Access Bank, a leading financial institution in Africa, understands the vital role agriculture plays in the nation’s prosperity.
In a bold move that underscores its unwavering commitment to fostering agricultural growth and ensuring food security in Nigeria, Access Bank is proud to announce the grand relaunch of its Agriculture Desk. The enhanced desk is aimed at empowering farmers, agribusinesses and the agriculture sector as a whole.
For years, Access Bank has been at the forefront of supporting agriculture and agribusiness in Nigeria. The bank’s dedication to promoting sustainable agricultural development and driving growth, through strategic financing and advisory service to customers, is second to none.
The relaunched Agriculture Desk is more than just a banking service; it’s a comprehensive ecosystem designed to meet the diverse needs of farmers, agribusinesses and stakeholders in the agricultural value chain. Access Bank provides tailored financial solutions, including loans, insurance, and investment opportunities, to help agricultural players thrive.
In a world driven by technology, Access Bank has integrated digital solutions into its Agriculture Desk. Farmers can access information, resources, and financial services through digital platforms, simplifying and streamlining their operations.
Access Bank is committed to ensuring that every farmer, regardless of their scale or location, has access to financial services. The Agriculture Desk strives to deepen financial inclusion by reaching underserved rural areas and promoting financial literacy among farmers.
Access Bank recognizes the importance of sustainable farming practices. The Agriculture Desk supports environmentally responsible farming, offering financial incentives and guidance to promote eco-friendly agriculture.
The Agriculture Desk further provides training and capacity-building programs for farmers and this echoes Access Bank’s commitment to invest in knowledge and skills to empower agricultural players to succeed in a rapidly changing landscape.
The relaunch of the Access Bank Agriculture Desk is not just a symbolic gesture; it’s a reflection of the bank’s commitment to supporting and driving the growth of agriculture in Nigeria. Agriculture is a vital sector with enormous potential for economic transformation, and Access Bank is positioning itself as a reliable partner in this journey.
In a world marked by evolving challenges, Access Bank stands ready to support farmers and agribusinesses to unlock their true potential. Access Bank’s grand relaunch of the Agriculture Desk is a testament to its unwavering commitment to agricultural growth and sustainable practices. As we embrace this new era in agriculture, Access Bank will play a pivotal role in ensuring that farmers and agribusinesses have the support and resources they need to succeed.
The Agriculture Desk is a reflection of Access Bank’s dedication to driving economic growth, supporting agribusinesses and improving food security in Nigeria. With its holistic digital solutions and sustainability initiatives, the bank is poised to be a key player in the future of agriculture. As we look ahead, Access Bank stands as a measure of hope for a thriving, sustainable and prosperous agricultural sector in Nigeria.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A collaboration to enable fast money transfers into Nigeria has been entered into between Flutterwave and Xoom, PayPal’s international digital money transfer service.
The partnership allows Xoom transfers to be converted by Flutterwave and settled locally in Naira, enabling quick transfers directly into recipients’ bank accounts at Access Bank, UBA, Zenith Bank, First Bank, GTBank, and additional participating banks across Nigeria.
The deal also enables Xoom’s global network with Flutterwave’s local payout infrastructure, allowing users globally to send funds directly into Nigerian bank accounts with improved speed and efficiency.
Nigeria is the leading remittance recipient in Sub-Saharan Africa, receiving over $20 billion in personal remittances in 2024. Despite this volume, receiving international payments has historically remained complex due to FX constraints and settlement delays. This collaboration helps address those challenges in a market of more than 232 million people, where the ICT sector is projected to contribute 21 per cent of GDP by 2027.
By combining Xoom’s expansive reach with Flutterwave’s local compliance and banking partnerships, the two companies are providing a more accessible financial corridor for the continent.
Xoom, a PayPal service, is a fast and secure international digital money transfer service that enables consumers to send money, pay bills, and reload phones for friends and family in approximately 160 markets globally.
As part of PayPal’s global payments ecosystem, Xoom leverages advanced fraud protection, compliance capabilities, and a trusted global network to help millions of customers move money quickly and securely across borders.
“We’re excited to have been chosen by Xoom for their Nigeria expansion. Millions of Nigerians rely on money from abroad to support everyday needs, whether it’s families receiving help from loved ones, freelancers getting paid for their work, or individuals earning income from the global economy. This helps make it easy and more reliable for people in Nigeria to receive funds and stay connected to opportunities beyond borders,” the chief executive of Flutterwave, Mr Olugbenga GB Agboola, stated.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
An initiative known as Nigeria Lightning Rounds, designed to expand funding opportunities for Nigerian startups and small businesses by connecting founders with local and international investors, has been launched by ProvidusUnity Bank, in partnership with US-based global venture firm and accelerator, gener8tor.
Scheduled to be held on July 15, 2026, Nigeria Lightning Rounds will feature carefully selected startups engaging with targeted investors who have expressed interest in supporting Nigerian innovation.
Participating founders will have the opportunity to pitch their businesses through focused 15-minute virtual sessions facilitated by gener8tor and ProvidusUnity Bank’s networks.
The program will focus on high-growth sectors including fintech, healthtech, manufacturing, sustainability, and AI, but welcomes SMEs from all industries, with intending participants urged to apply via https://www.gener8tor.com/lightning-rounds/nigeria.
“We recognise that access to capital remains one of the biggest challenges facing entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Through our partnership with gener8tor, we are creating a platform that connects promising Nigerian founders with investors who can provide the support required to scale their businesses,” the Head of Business Development at ProvidusUnity Bank, Mr Ernest Elue, stated.
“The partnership reinforces ProvidusUnity Bank’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting innovation, enabling access to opportunities, and creating pathways for businesses with high-growth potential,” he added.
Also commenting, the Director of Lightning Rounds at gener8tor, Ms Elizabeth Larios, said, “gener8tor is thrilled to partner with ProvidusUnity Bank to extend the Lightning Rounds model into Nigeria.
“This collaboration reflects our commitment to building equitable ecosystems and driving capital to the most promising and underrepresented entrepreneurs.”
Lightning Rounds are a signature initiative of gener8tor’s investment platform, which has facilitated thousands of investor-startup meetings globally. The format is optimised to eliminate friction, reduce bias in early-stage fundraising, and help founders secure capital from investors aligned with their mission and stage. gener8tor’s previous Lightning Rounds for Nigerian Founders in 2025 featured 18 participating Investors and led to 50 investment meetings facilitated.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The verification of the depositors of the 46 microfinance banks, whose operating licenses were revoked by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over a week ago, has commenced.
The exercise, aimed at refunding those whose funds were trapped in the small lenders, is being conducted by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC).
In a statement on Thursday, the agency said its staff members have been positioned at the offices of the affected banks across the country to attend to depositors.
It was disclosed that depositors of the defunct banks, who had their Bank Verification Numbers (BVNs) linked to their accounts in the failed banks, will be paid through their alternative accounts in existing banks.
However, depositors whose BVNs were not linked to their accounts in the failed banks have been encouraged to visit the affected banks’ offices with proof of account ownership, a passport photograph, verifiable means of identification (Driver’s Licence, Permanent Voter’s Card, International Passport or National ID Card) and BVN.
NDIC also stated that depositors can alternatively file their claims online through its website: www.ndic.gov.ng, to complete the Pre-Verification Claims Form by clicking on the Search Bar, and typing Pre-Verification Claims Form; opening the Form and filling in their details. They can also do so by clicking the link: https://ndic.gov.ng/ndic-pre-verification-claims-form/ or by visiting any of the NDIC offices closest to them to file their claims.
For further enquiries, the corporation can be reached on any of the following lines: 09037273810, 09038197064, 08104220807, 09064657140.
