Banking
Key Moments from 2025 Stanbic IBTC’s Bloom Weekend
Stanbic IBTC concluded Bloom Weekend 2025 with remarkable success, leaving behind a vibrant legacy of inspiration, empowerment, and action.
The two-day event, held this year under the theme Bloom into More, was more than just a celebration; it was a transformational experience. Thousands of women entrepreneurs, professionals, and leaders gathered to forge connections, enhance their business and leadership skills, and unlock new opportunities for growth and success.
In her welcoming address, the Head of Enterprise Banking at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ms Jumoke Bello, highlighted the strength and resilience of women in Nigeria.
She emphasised their vital role in community and national development, aligning with this year’s theme, which promotes empowerment and fearlessness in the pursuit of dreams.
Ms Bello stressed the importance of creating an environment where women can thrive, noting that their advancement is crucial for economic growth. She encouraged attendees to take advantage of the weekend’s sessions, masterclasses, and networking opportunities to equip themselves with valuable skills and knowledge, saying, “Together, let us bloom beyond limits for future generations to thrive.”
Attendees were inspired by the SME Entrepreneurship Summit, presented by the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University, which provided practical strategies for structuring and growing successful businesses.
The summit covered a wide range of topics, from personal branding to investment strategies. These sessions provided participants with invaluable knowledge and skills and equipped them with the tools necessary to navigate their respective fields with confidence.
Additionally, tailored financial consultations were provided by the advisory teams from Stanbic IBTC aimed at equipping attendees with personalised financial advice, helping them make informed decisions regarding savings, investments, and retirement planning. The highlight of Day one of Bloom Weekend was the launch of the Blue Blossom microsite – an online platform created to enable growth and collaboration for Women.
On Saturday, participants enjoyed a plethora of vibrant and empowering activities designed to celebrate and uplift women across various sectors. Highlights of the event were the yoga session held early on Saturday morning, the Ladies at the Table Empowerment Series (LATTES), inspiring masterclasses, a vibrant trade fair and so much more.
At the heart of LATTES panel was a diverse group of financial experts, entrepreneurs, and advocates who inspired the audience with their stories and insights on women’s economic empowerment and pensions.
Among the speakers, the Head of Compliance at Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers, Ms Edidiong Akan, delivered a powerful message about the necessity of financial literacy.
She stated, “Empowering women with the right financial tools not only transforms their lives but also strengthens our communities as a whole.” Her words resonated deeply with attendees, sparking discussions around the pivotal role of financial education in building a more equitable society.
The Bloom Weekend event culminated in attendees exploring an engaging marketplace exhibition that showcased a diverse range of women-led businesses, providing an opportunity not only to shop but also to network and support female entrepreneurs. The exhibition highlighted innovative products, ranging from handmade crafts to tech startups, showcasing the remarkable creativity and entrepreneurial spirit within the community.
Overall, Bloom Weekend provided a rich tapestry of learning, networking, and empowerment, leaving attendees motivated and inspired to pursue their goals and contribute to overall economic growth. The event underscored the importance of collaboration, support, and shared knowledge among women, fostering an environment where everyone can thrive.
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.
