Banking
Stanbic IBTC Bank Accounts for 28.30% of Nigeria’s Foreign Inflows in 2024
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Stanbic IBTC Bank has solidified its position as the leading bank for capital importation in Nigeria, capturing an impressive 28.30 per cent of total foreign capital inflows in the first nine months of 2024, according to data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
The central bank said the subsidiary of the Standard Bank Group attracted approximately $2 billion in capital imported in the period under review, demonstrating its performance during the pivotal year of 2020, which was marked by unprecedented global economic challenges.
The parallel with 2020 is particularly significant, coinciding with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPI).
Stanbic IBTC Bank weathered this storm and strategically positioned itself to capitalise on the post-pandemic economic recovery.
The lender rapidly digitised its banking operations, maintained robust risk management protocols, and supported clients through unprecedented economic uncertainty while leveraging technology to maintain seamless international financial connections.
With approximately $2 billion in capital importation, Stanbic IBTC Bank has demonstrated its ability to attract international investments during a critical economic reconstruction period.
This performance surpasses its 2023 figures of $919 million, highlighting the Bank’s growing global credibility.
At the heart of this success lies the organisation’s Fitch Triple A ratings for the Holding Company and the Bank subsidiary, which offer investors a beacon of stability in an uncertain global financial landscape.
“We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved with this milestone, as our performance in capital importation goes beyond mere financial metrics; it reflects our strong commitment to making Nigeria an attractive destination for global investors.
“By utilising our international networks and deep local expertise, we facilitate capital flows and actively reshape Nigeria’s economic narrative in the post-pandemic global landscape,” the chief executive of Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Wole Adeniyi, stated.
The financial institution’s strong affiliation with Standard Bank Group brings global expertise crucial for navigating post-pandemic economic complexities.
Its highly competent Corporate & Investment Banking team has been instrumental in strategically attracting international capital during economic reconstruction.
This leadership in capital importation reflects broader economic trends, facilitating international investment during global economic rebalancing, supporting Nigeria’s economic recovery, and bridging local economic needs with global investment opportunities.
The $2 billion capital importation in 2024 is not just a number but a narrative of resilience. Where 2020 represented a survival challenge, 2024 symbolises strategic triumph – transforming pandemic-induced disruptions into opportunities for growth and international financial reconnection.
Stanbic IBTC Bank is now positioned to potentially surpass other foreign-affiliated Banks in Nigeria as the primary conduit for foreign capital. This trajectory speaks volumes about its strategic adaptability in a post-pandemic world.
More than a financial achievement, this milestone represents a critical contribution to Nigeria’s economic renaissance. Stanbic IBTC Bank continues to play a pivotal role in driving economic progress and international investment appeal to Nigeria.
The organisation has effectively demonstrated how domestic financial institutions can survive global economic challenges and emerge as leaders in the global financial ecosystem.
Banking
Secure IT, StockMed, 18 Others Make Wema Bank Hackaholics 6.0 Top 20 List
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The six edition of the Hackaholics of Wema Bank Plc has produced 20 top finalists shared equally between two streams, Ideathon and Hackathon.
The Hackathon finalists are Rapid DEV, Secure IT, Neurafeed, Trust Lock Babcock, Pulse Track, IlluminiTrust, Trust Lock FUTA, Fix Fraud AI, KASH Flow and VOC AI.
The Ideathon finalists include PLOY, Fertitude, VarsityScape, Mama ALERT, StockMed, Chao, All Arbitrate, FarmSlate, Sane AI and Cycle X.
They emerged after a two-day pre-pitch held on December 16 and 17, 2025, for the grand finale slated for Friday, December 19, 2025.
They grand finale of Hackaholics 6.0 will convene the top players in Africa’s tech and innovation ecosystem, creating an avenue for these finalists to not only put their creativity to the ultimate test but also give their solutions visibility to potential investors for additional funding opportunities beyond the prizes to be won.
The prizes to be won for the Ideathon include N25 million for the winner, N20 million for the first runner-up, N15 million for the second runner-up and N5 million each for two women-led teams.
In the Hackathon category, the first to fourth-place winners will receive N20 million, N15 million, N10 million and N5 million, respectively.
The pre-pitch saw the top 43 contenders battle in a game of innovation and problem solving, presenting compelling pitches for a chance to make it to top 10 in their respective streams.
After a rigorous stretch of pitches and presentations, the top 20 emerged, securing their spot in the grand finale of Hackaholics 6.0.
“Hackaholics started off as a hackathon and morphed into an ideation. For Hackaholics 6.0, the sixth edition, we decided to give both the builders of new solutions and the refiners of existing ones, an opportunity to make meaningful impact.
“For us at Wema Bank, we understand that innovation isn’t just building from scratch. Sometimes, it’s looking at what exists and developing new ways to optimise that and create more efficiency. This is the idea behind our two-stream Ideathon-Hackathon structure.
“Every year, Hackaholics shows us just how eager and motivated Nigerian youth are when it comes to exploring creativity and innovation, and we are honoured to be the institution that provides them with the platform and resources to put this drive to good use.
“We toured seven cities, indulged 1,460 participants and discovered hundreds of remarkable ideas; some of which needed some refining and some of which deserved to move to the next stage.
“For those who needed to go back to the drawing board, we provided useful guidance and for the top contenders, we were able to shortlist to the top 43, who proceeded to the pre-pitch. To every participant, Wema Bank is proud of you. This is just the beginning,” the chief executive of Wema Bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, said.
Banking
Customs to Penalise Banks for Delayed Revenue Remittance
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it will enforce penalties against designated banks that delay the remittance of customs revenue, in a move aimed at strengthening transparency and safeguarding government earnings.
This was disclosed in a statement on the NCS official account on X, formerly known as Twitter and signed by its spokesman, Mr Abdullahi Maiwada, who said the delays undermine the efficiency, transparency, and integrity of government revenue administration.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has noted instances of delayed remittance of customs revenue by some designated banks following reconciliation of collections processed through the B’odogwu platform,” the statement read.
“Such delays constitute a breach of remittance obligations and negatively impact the efficiency, transparency, and integrity of government revenue administration.
“In line with the provisions of the Service Level Agreement executed between the Nigeria Customs Service and designated banks, the Service hereby notifies stakeholders of the commencement of enforcement actions against banks found to be in default of agreed remittance timelines.”
Mr Maiwada disclosed that any bank that fails to remit collected Customs revenue within the prescribed timeline will be liable to penalty interest calculated at three per cent above the prevailing Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate for the period of the delay.
He added that affected banks would be formally notified of the delayed amounts, the applicable penalty, and the deadline for settlement.
“Accordingly, any designated bank that fails to remit collected Customs revenue within the prescribed period shall be liable to penalty interest calculated at three per cent above the prevailing Nigerian Interbank Offered Rate for the duration of the delay.
“Affected banks will receive formal notifications indicating the delayed amount, applicable penalty, and the timeline for settlement,” the statement read.
Banking
First Bank Deputy MD Sells Off 11.8m First Holdco Shares Worth N366.9m
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The deputy managing director of First Bank of Nigeria (FBN) Limited, Mr Ini Ebong, has offloaded some shares of FBN Holdings Plc, the parent firm of the banking institution.
A regulatory notice from the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited confirmed the development on Thursday.
It was disclosed that the transaction occurred on Friday, December 12, 2025, on the floor of the stock exchange.
The sale involved about 11.8 million shares, precisely 11,783,333 units traded at N31.14 per share, amounting to about N366.9 million.
Mr Ebong, who studied Architecture from University of Ife and obtained Bachelor and Master of Science degrees, became the DMD of First Bank in June 2024. Prior to this appointment, he was Executive Director, Treasury and International Banking since January 2022.
He was previously the Group Executive, Treasury and International Banking, a position he held since 2016 after serving as the bank’s Treasurer from 2011 to 2016.
Before joining First Bank, he was the Head of African Fixed Income and Local Markets Trading, Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited, the Nigerian registered subsidiary of Renaissance Capital. He also worked with Citigroup for 14 years as Country Treasurer and Sales and Trading Business Head.
He has a passion for market development and has worked actively to drive change and internationalisation of the Nigerian financial markets: foreign exchange, fixed income and securities.
He has worked closely with regulatory bodies such as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Debt Management Office (DMO) in assisting with the development of fresh monetary and foreign exchange policies, to broaden and deepen markets and open them up to international practices.
At various times he has facilitated and delivered courses and seminars on a wide variety of subjects covering Money Markets, Securities and Foreign exchange trading and market risk management subjects to regulators, corporate customers, banks and market participants.
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