Banking
Ogun Seeks Ecobank Help on Zero Interest Loans for Traders, Others
By Ahmed Rahma
The Ogun State Governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun, has appealed to the management of Ecobank Nigeria Limited to develop a credit facility that will make it possible for residents of the Gateway State to get funds to grow their businesses.
Mr Abiodun made this plea when he welcomed the bank led by its Managing Director, Mr Patrick Akinwuntan, to his office in Abeokuta, the state capital, recently.
The Governor said this interest-free or single-digit interest loans would be tailored to meet the needs of vulnerable people in the state, who engage in petty trading and others.
“We are looking to support our vulnerable groups in the society, our women who are basically the strength of the society, they are very hard-working, and all they need is little capital.
“We aim to provide loans for them at single digit or zero interest rate and we know that they will pay back. They are religious about paying back. Let’s see how we can work with Ecobank to design a model that will allow us to support them,” Mr Abiodun informed Mr Akinwuntan.
He also called on Ecobank and other lenders to join hands with the state government to fix the Lagos/Agbara and Ota/Abeokuta federal roads, disclosing that his administration was on the verge of getting the approval of the federal government to rehabilitate the roads through the PPP model.
“Let’s see what you can do for us in terms affordable housing through mortgage schemes, advertising on our job portal, Infrastructure.
“I am sure you are aware of the Agbara corridor which is the biggest industrial hub in this country; the road leading from Lagos to Agbara is a nightmare; that road is a federal road, but we have decided to take on it as a State.
“We have also decided to take it over and construct it under a PPP arrangement.
“We hope Ecobank will perhaps be interested in this PPP model in partnership with other banks. The same goes for the Ota-Abeokuta road,” the Governor said.
In his remarks, the Ecobank chief commended the Governor for providing a friendly environment to business owners in the state, promising to partner with the state government to boost its economy.
Mr Akinwuntan assured that the bank will help attract investments to the state to finance some long-term projects and support the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise (MSMEs), agriculture, health and other strategic sectors of the state’s economy.
“For us as a bank, we appreciate what your government is doing. When we look at the specific components of your vision and strategy as encapsulated in ISEYA, which represents Infrastructure, Social welfare and health, Education, Youth empowerment and Agriculture, we decided to come over to explore areas of partnership and collaboration.
“Your government has not left the vision as an acronym but the execution is a testimony to the greatness of this state. We believe the outcome of this collaboration will benefit not just indigenes of Ogun state alone, but our dear country Nigeria and the Africa continent,” Mr Akinwuntan said.
“I want to also commend your government in terms of the peaceful environment of doing business. Ogun state is one of the leading lights in ease of doing business and a place to invest in.
“I will like to reiterate that we stand ready to support you in attracting investments to fund the long-term infrastructure projects that you have rightly embarked on.
“We understand that such projects will require long-term financing, the history and rating of Ogun State places it in a unique position to leverage on the capital market for long term instruments like bonds. We stand ready to collaborate and support you on this journey,” he said further.
During the visit, Ecobank donated rural health tricycle ambulances to the state to assist in primary healthcare delivery.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Stanbic IBTC stole the spotlight at the recently concluded Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026 in London, the United Kingdom.
At the ceremony, which attracted critical stakeholders in the financial services sector across the globe, the member of Standard Bank Group was named winner in four categories.
The company went home with the Best Bank for Sustainable Finance award, the Best Bank for Consumer Lending award, the Best Bank for Mortgages/Home Loans award and the Best Bank for Securities Services award.
“We are pleased to have been named winner in these categories at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2026. These are important areas of our business and remain central to how we support individuals, businesses and institutional clients across Nigeria.
“Our focus remains on delivering reliable, relevant and responsible financial solutions, while serving our clients with the discipline, professionalism and care they expect from Stanbic IBTC,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc, Mr Chuma Nwokocha, said.
Also commenting, the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Wole Adeniyi, said, “Across our business, we continue to focus on solutions that respond to the needs of our clients, whether they are individuals, families, businesses or institutions. We will continue to strengthen our service delivery, deepen client relationships and support responsible growth across the markets we serve.”
In the 2025 fiscal year, Stanbic IBTC showed continued scale across its financial services business, reporting total assets of N8.62 trillion, customer deposits of N4.37 trillion and net customer loans and advances of N2.38 trillion, as total income stood at N895.7 billion, while return on equity was reported at 42.4 per cent.
Stanbic IBTC’s sustainability disclosures also showed continued activity across its ESG and positive impact priorities. The organisation reported N277.3 billion in sustainable loans disbursed, representing a 60 per cent increase from 2024; and N76.4 billion in loans disbursed to 2,862 SME clients for the year ended 2025.
Its sustainability approach is anchored on three high-impact goals: driving sustainable industrialisation; facilitating sustainable trade; and fostering equitable access to finance. It also identifies four positive impact areas: job creation and enterprise growth; infrastructure development and energy transition; climate change mitigation and adaptation; and financial inclusion.
Across consumer lending and home loans, Stanbic IBTC continues to provide financing solutions to individuals and households, supported by the Group’s broader banking platform and customer-focused approach.
In securities services, Stanbic IBTC continues to provide custody, settlement, corporate actions, securities lending, reporting, reconciliation, foreign exchange processing and related investor services to institutional clients participating in Nigeria’s capital markets.
Stanbic IBTC continues to support individuals, businesses and institutional clients across sustainable finance, consumer lending, mortgages/home loans and securities services; while remaining focused on delivering financial solutions that are relevant to clients and responsive to the operating environment.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Paystack has launched Small Business Launchpad, a four-week business growth programme designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) using its platform strengthen their operations and scale sustainably.
The payments technology company said the first cohort will begin on August 27, 2026, admitting up to 50 selected businesses. Participants will receive practical business training, expert mentoring and direct support from Paystack, with sessions focusing on customer acquisition, cash flow management, business operations and growth.
The initiative is the latest in a series of programmes by Paystack aimed at supporting merchants beyond payment processing. It follows the launch of the Paystack Small Business Bundle in June, which gives eligible merchants access to discounted products and services from partner organisations.
According to the company, the Launchpad programme will build on that support by providing practical learning, access to experienced business operators, networking opportunities and hands-on guidance for entrepreneurs.
To qualify, applicants must be active Paystack merchants operating a small or medium-sized business in Nigeria. Successful applicants will be required to commit to the full four-week programme and pay a N150,000 participation fee.
Participants will have access to business clinics led by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, one-on-one office hours to discuss specific business challenges, priority Paystack support throughout the programme, and product benefits including early access to selected Paystack offerings.
Businesses that complete the programme will also receive three months of free payment processing, capped at N25 million in processed transactions, while becoming part of an alumni community that will continue after the programme ends.
Speaking on the initiative, Ms Jumoke Gbeleyi, Strategy and Operations Leader at Paystack, said the programme was designed to address the practical challenges entrepreneurs face daily.
“Small business owners are making decisions every day about customers, cash flow, operations and growth, often with limited time and support. Launchpad gives us a practical way to work more closely with the merchants building on Paystack, connect them with experienced operators, and help them leave with stronger systems, relevant networks and actions they can apply immediately. We want the programme to be useful from day one, not theoretical,” she said.
Paystack said the inaugural cohort will cover topics including customer acquisition, financial management, business systems and lessons from experienced operators.
The sessions will be facilitated by founders, senior business executives, finance specialists and industry leaders, including Mr Babajide Duroshola, Managing Director, Nigeria at M-KOPA; Mr Luther Lawoyin, co-founder of Pricepally; Ms Nana Abu, Senior Manager at KPMG; Mr Kenny Isichei of Bumpa; and Ms Jumoke Dada, founder of Taéillo.
The company said the programme will initially focus on Nigeria, with plans to introduce additional cohorts in the future.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has been recognised as the Best Bank for Retail and Sustainability Leadership (ESG) by Euromoney.
The Nigerian lender got this accolade at the prestigious 2026 Euromoney Awards for Excellence on Thursday, July 17, 2026, at The Peninsula London in the United Kingdom.
The recognition of UBA for its retail banking excellence and sustainability leadership highlights its outstanding financial performance, innovation, customer impact and sustainable business practices, underscoring the company’s leadership in driving sustainable finance while expanding access to innovative banking solutions for millions of customers across Africa.
Euromoney declared that UBA distinguished itself through significant strides in environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance, including the launch of a Green Financing Facility to support households and businesses transitioning to renewable energy, a N5 billion financing programme in partnership with the Bank of Industry to empower women-owned businesses, and its long-term commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The organisers of the awards also highlighted UBA’s efforts to embed sustainability within its operations through the deployment of solar-powered energy solutions across 50 branches and comprehensive ESG capacity-building initiatives that have trained more than 16,000 employees across the Group.
In the retail banking category, Euromoney recognised UBA’s continued expansion as one of Africa’s largest retail banking franchises. The bank grew its customer base to over 37 million by the end of 2025, while retail revenue more than quadrupled to N429.5 billion.
The awards also acknowledged UBA’s continued digital innovation, particularly the enhancement of its award-winning AI-powered chatbot, LEO, which became Africa’s first artificial intelligence banking platform to facilitate cross-border money transfers in local currencies through the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS).
“To be recognised as Nigeria’s Best Bank for both ESG and Retail Banking in the same year sends a powerful message that sustainable banking and commercial success are mutually reinforcing.
“At UBA, we are committed to financing Africa’s future, supporting businesses and communities, promoting financial inclusion, and delivering innovative banking solutions that improve lives. These awards belong to our customers for their confidence in us and to every member of the UBA family whose dedication continues to make our vision a reality,” the chief executive of UBA, Mr Oliver Alawuba, stated.
On her part, the Head of Marketing, Brand and Corporate Communications at UBA, Ms Alero Ladipo, said, “These awards are a powerful affirmation of our Customer First philosophy. Every innovation we introduce, every solution we develop and every investment we make is driven by our desire to create exceptional value for our customers.
“Whether it is supporting entrepreneurs with access to finance, enabling seamless digital payments, advancing clean energy financing or expanding financial inclusion across Africa, UBA remains focused on delivering meaningful impact. We are honoured that one of the world’s most respected financial publications has recognised these efforts.”
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