By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Inmates at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos were recently full of joy when Fidelity Bank Plc donated some relief items to them.

The financial institution, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative known as Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), handed over various household tools and gift items to the leadership of the correctional facility as part of its efforts to support the rehabilitation and development of indigent persons in society.

The Chief Human Resources Officer of Fidelity Bank, Mr Charles Nwachukwu, reaffirmed the bank’s deep commitment to transforming lives and restoring hope, emphasising that true progress lies not only in financial growth but in extending compassion and opportunity to those that society often overlooks.

“At Fidelity Bank, we believe that every individual deserves a second chance. Our approach to Corporate Social Responsibility is rooted in empathy, standing with communities, uplifting the vulnerable, and opening doors for brighter futures.

“By supporting inmates today, we are setting them on the true path of rehabilitation, empowering them to return tomorrow as productive and confident members of society,” the banker said.

The Deputy Controller of Corrections at Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Mr Julius Ogueri, who could not hide his excitement over the gesture, appealed to Nigerians to avoid cybercrimes and stigmatisation of ex-inmates.

Highlighting the challenges faced by correctional facilities in Nigeria, Mr Ogueri noted that Ikoyi correctional center initially designed for 800 inmates, now houses over 3,000 inmates, with 396 convicted persons and 3,604 awaiting trial.

Whilst thanking the bank, the Deputy Controller also emphasised the importance of rehabilitation, citing examples of inmates who have pursued education and skills acquisition, including 72 inmates studying with the National Open University of Nigeria and 120 inmates who have benefited from WAEC and GCE support.

Business Post reports that through the FHHP, staff across Fidelity Bank branches nationwide identify crucial interventions needed in their immediate community and raise funds to execute them. The bank’s management then matches this contribution with an equal amount and disburses it for the selected project.

The visit to the Ikoyi Correctional Centre reinforces the lender’s unwavering commitment to meaningful community impact and demonstrates its strong dedication to advancing social responsibility and rehabilitation efforts across the society.

By Dipo Olowookere

A new digital banking platform created to help business owners in the country to eliminate delays, queues, and operational inefficiencies has been introduced by Ecobank Nigeria.

This mobile application is to strengthen the growth and sustainability of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across Nigeria, allowing them to manage payments, monitor transactions, oversee cash flow, and run day‑to‑day financial operations directly from their mobile devices.

The Ecobank Business app, now available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, cements the bank’s position as a dependable growth partner to SMEs across all sectors, delivering tools that help businesses manage better, grow faster, and operate more competitively in a digital economy. – Ecobank Business — Your Growth Partner.

The introduction of this initiative further reinforces Ecobank’s broader commitment to empowering SMEs through digital innovation, sector‑specific value propositions, and financial solutions like structured loans, trade support, guarantees, and equipment financing.

It also aligns with the lender’s push to re-energise dormant SME accounts, deepen market penetration, promote digital adoption, and scale value‑chain financing through partnerships with corporate anchors.

According to the Executive Director for Consumer and Commercial Bank at Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Kola Adeleke, the Ecobank Business App was developed to address the unique challenges faced by Nigeria’s diverse SME landscape.

Speaking at the unveiling in Lagos, he explained that the platform caters to traders, retailers, tech start-ups, online businesses, hospitality operators, farmers, agro‑processors, manufacturers, construction firms, professionals, social commerce entrepreneurs, schools, associations, and organisations that require transparent and efficient financial management.

Mr Adeleke noted that the app delivers faster payment collection for merchants and retailers, seamless digital transactions for online businesses, efficient vendor and staff management for hospitality players, timely payment solutions for agriculture value chains, and secure handling of bulk and high‑value transactions for manufacturers and construction firms.

He added that professionals such as lawyers and consultants can issue invoices and receive payments easily, while schools and associations can streamline fees, dues, and reporting from a single platform.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved weekly foreign exchange (FX) purchases for Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators, with a cap of $150,000, as part of efforts to improve foreign exchange liquidity in the retail segment of the market and meet the legitimate needs of end users.

This comes as the apex bank once again approved the participation of licensed BDCs in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market (NFEM), noting that utilisation complies with existing BDC operational guidelines.

Under the new directive contained in a circular signed by the Director of the Trade and Exchange Department, Mr Musa Nakorji, all BDCs duly licensed by the CBN are permitted to access foreign exchange through any Authorised Dealer Bank of their choice, at the prevailing market rates.

The move, according to the circular, aims to deepen market efficiency and ensure broader access to foreign exchange across the economy.

The central bank, however, imposed strict compliance and risk-management conditions on the transactions. Authorised dealers are required to conduct full Know-Your-Customer (KYC) and due diligence checks on BDC clients before any FX sale.

To strengthen transparency and accountability, the CBN directed that all licensed BDCs must submit timely and accurate electronic returns in line with extant regulations. Any unutilised foreign exchange must be sold back to the market within 24 hours, as BDCs are prohibited from holding FX positions purchased from the NFEM.

The circular further restricts settlement practices, mandating that all FX transactions be conducted through settlement accounts with licensed financial institutions. Third-party transactions are prohibited, while cash settlement is limited to a maximum of 25 per cent of each transaction amount.

Overall, the directive reflects the CBN’s broader strategy to balance market access with strong regulatory oversight, ensuring liquidity in the foreign exchange market while safeguarding financial system integrity.

Recall that earlier this week, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Yemi Cardoso, explained that the central bank now allows the foreign exchange market to largely determine prices, while the bank steps in to buy foreign exchange when necessary.

The CBN boss said recent reforms have also made foreign exchange more accessible to ordinary Nigerians, especially those travelling abroad, while warning that Nigerians who are holding foreign currency without real need that such actions could lead to losses.