Banking
Sterling Bank Cleans up Markets, Roads in Lagos, Kano, Imo, Others
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
To commemorate World Recycling Day, a financial institution in Nigeria, Sterling Bank Plc, recently cleaned up some markets, roads and beaches in 23 states of the federation.
This was done through the lender’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative known as Sterling Bank Environmental Makeover (STEM).
It is part of its commitment to creating a cleaner and safer environment for the citizenry and aquatic life and the exercise was carried out simultaneously in Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Kwara, Ondo, Ekiti, Kano, Jigawa, Kaduna, Abuja, Delta, Anambra, Edo, Abia, Imo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa-Ibom, Gombe, Bauchi, Plateau, Katsina and Lagos.
It was gathered that more than 1,000 participated in the clean-up exercises; including staff of Sterling Bank and volunteers.
In Lagos, it was executed in partnership with the Oniru Kingdom, Rite Foods, First Exploration and Petroleum Development Company, Bonnie Bio, Sterling One Foundation, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), African Clean-Up Initiative and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
Speaking at the beach cleaning exercise at Oniru Beach, Lagos, Mr Abubakar Suleiman, Managing Director and CEO of Sterling Bank, said the bank embarked on cleaning exercises in 21 states out of the 24 states it is partnering with across the country.
The CEO who was represented by Mr Tunde Adeola, Executive Director of Commercial and Institutional Banking at Sterling Bank remarked that, “We have been on this journey for more than 10 years. Every time, this happens, we have a cleaner and healthier environment.”
He said, “Sterling Bank is well-positioned to do this,” adding that in the last two years, the bank has received recognition and awards for the initiative. According to him, Sterling Bank is also at the forefront of tourism in Lagos State.
Also speaking, Mrs Mojisola Bakare, General Manager, Corporate and Investment Banking with Sterling Bank said, “Sterling Bank is about impactful banking”, noting they believe that there is no way they will live on this earth without impacting on the environment, adding that for that reason, they have what is called the HEART of Sterling because they have strategically decided that they are going to impact specific areas of growth in the economy.
She said the HEART of Sterling stands for Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy and Transportation, adding that the head office in Marina, Lagos is being fitted with solar panels and soon it will be sustainably powered by the sun.
“It is very important that we take responsibility for our actions on the environment and preserve its beauty to boost the local economy and attract foreign tourists, and by extension, foreign exchange into the country,” Mrs Bakare said.
Commissioner for Ministry of Tourism in Lagos State, Mrs Uzamat Yussuf said, “We are aware that Lagos is a place of aquatic splendour.”
She said, “If we have water that is not well protected and sustained, it is better we don’t have any of it at all and that is why it is important for us to sensitise the citizens of Lagos on the proper way to dispose of wastes properly.
“When we do not dispose of wastes properly, it becomes an issue for ourselves and the state at large because when the rain starts and all our drainages are blocked, then we continue to experience flooding. In developed countries, they sell their beaches to tourists and make huge money as well as increase level of employment for their people.”
The commissioner stressed the need for the citizenry to clean the beaches in a bid to encourage tourists to come and see what the state can offer, adding that the purpose of tourism is to create wealth; which ultimately will increase the GDP of the country. She implored all to continue to manage and dispose wastes properly in a bid to sustain the environment.
Abia State Commissioner of Transport, Mr Godswill Uwanoruo, commended the management and staff of Sterling Bank for the cleaning exercise which started in the state since 2015.
He said, “I started this programme with them in 2015 when I introduced the bank’s team led by the incumbent CEO, Mr Suleiman, who was the then Executive Director of Finance to the governor of the state, Mr Okezie Ikpeazu.
“I am happy that they continued the programme by making sure that Abia State is clean,” Mr Uwanoruo said.
He advised other banks in the country to emulate the good gesture of Sterling Bank because it is not an easy thing for members of staff of a company to leave their offices and go out to clean markets and roads.
The commissioner also advocated that the exercise be done monthly or quarterly instead of annually.
The Commissioner of Environment in Bayelsa State, Mr Iselema Gbaranbiri, who graced the STEM event in the state noted that, “The state government is here with Sterling Bank to show the world that they are synergising and keeping Bayelsa clean.”
Also, Mr Muktar Baloni, Chairman of the Kaduna North Local Government Area Council, said he was impressed by the level of consistency in Sterling Bank’s environmental cleaning exercise and would want to emulate the bank by directing officials in the local government to replicate what the bank is doing in the local government.
World Recycling Day is celebrated across the globe every year on March 18th even as recycling is recognised as an important component of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. It is estimated that the world generates over two billion metric tonnes of municipal solid waste and reusable items annually.
The theme of the year’s event is on the Recycling Fraternity, which refers to people who put themselves on the frontline to collect waste and engage in recycling during the multiple lockdowns as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Monday, March 9, 2026, has been fixed by Zenith Bank Plc for its annual International Women’s Day seminar in Lagos.
The event is part of activities lined up to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day, themed Give to Gain.
The theme prepared for Zenith Bank’s programme is Take it, You Own it, and was designed to deepen meaningful engagement around women’s empowerment, leadership, and sustainable impact.
The workshop will include segments focused on leadership insight, professional empowerment, wellbeing, and collaboration, offering attendees opportunities to engage deeply with thought leadership and practical strategies for advancing equity.
With a carefully curated programme spanning keynote addresses, panel conversations, Q and A sessions, and creative interludes, Zenith Bank’s 2026 International Women’s Day Seminar promises to be a catalyst for meaningful action.
“International Women’s Day is a reminder that progress requires intentionality.
Give to Gain speaks to the responsibility institutions have to create real opportunities, while our theme, Take It, You Own It, challenges women to step forward boldly and lead.
“At Zenith Bank, we are deliberate about building environments where women are supported to grow, thrive, and shape outcomes, not only within our institution but across the communities and industries we serve,” the chief executive of Zenith Bank, Ms Adaora Umeoji, stated.
Over the years, the lender’s International Women’s Day initiatives have brought together women leaders, professionals, entrepreneurs, and emerging talents for dynamic dialogue, inspiration, and shared learning around gender equity, professional growth, and inclusive opportunity.
More than a commemorative gathering, the 2026 seminar is designed as a convergence of influence, insight, and inspiration, bringing together accomplished women and progressive leaders across business, governance, creative industries, technology, and social impact.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
As part of activities commemorating International Women’s Day 2026, Ecobank Nigeria has improved its multi-award-winning gender financing initiative, Ellevate by Ecobank.
Originally launched to improve access to finance for women-owned, women-led, and women-focused small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within its commercial banking segment, the enhanced Ellevate programme now adopts a broader, more inclusive structure.
The new framework extends across all business segments, positioning Ellevate as a comprehensive ecosystem designed to address the structural financing and growth barriers faced by women entrepreneurs.
The upgraded programme reinforces the bank’s long-term commitment to advancing women-led enterprises in Nigeria and across Ecobank’s pan-African footprint.
Under the expanded structure, beneficiaries will enjoy improved access to credit on competitive terms, including more flexible collateral considerations aimed at easing traditional financing constraints. Beyond lending, the programme integrates digital payment, collections, and cash management solutions to enhance operational efficiency and support scalability.
A core pillar of the enhancement is structured market access. Through the bank’s MyTradeHub online matchmaking platform and e-commerce enablement capabilities, women entrepreneurs will be better positioned to connect with customers and trade partners across Africa, facilitating cross-border expansion and participation in regional value chains.
The initiative also incorporates robust non-financial support mechanisms, including targeted training programmes, leadership development sessions, and knowledge-sharing platforms to strengthen managerial capacity and long-term sustainability.
This is complemented by access to customised wealth management advisory services, integrated insurance solutions, and a loyalty framework offering commercial incentives through select retail and lifestyle partnerships.
“Since its launch in Nigeria in July 2021, Ellevate has delivered meaningful impact for SMEs and women-led businesses.
“This next phase deepens our value proposition and reinforces our resolve to remain the preferred financial partner for women entrepreneurs,” the Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Mr Bolaji Lawal, said.
“African businesswomen deserve world-class banking solutions that drive turnover, profitability, and sustainable growth. Our approach goes beyond financial inclusion to building an enabling ecosystem that enhances competitiveness and long-term resilience,” he added.
He further highlighted that Ecobank Nigeria consistently hosts flagship platforms such as Adire Lagos, Oja Oge, +234Art Fair, the Lagos Pop-Up Museum, SME Bazaar, and the Design & Build Exhibition, which provide prominent opportunities for showcasing and elevating women-owned businesses.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Two employees of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited, Mr Bakare Oladimeji Surajudeen and Mr James Olukayode Imokwede, have been arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The suspects were brought before Justice Ismaila Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
They were accused of stealing and retaining stolen property valued at about $306,667.81 and €50,250.
The EFCC, which received a petition from the lender, said its investigations showed that the suspects processed fraudulent transfers through the SWIFT platform to third parties.
The bank said an internal audit uncovered unauthorised debits totalling $306,667.81 and €50,250, equivalent to N527.4 million from its Letters of Credit (LC) payable accounts.
At the court yesterday, after the defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all 10-count charges preferred against them, the prosecution counsel, H. U. Kofarnaisa, asked for a trial date and also prayed that the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility pending trial.
Counsel to the first and second defendants, Oluwaseun Akintunde and Olajide S. Onasanya, informed the court that bail applications had been filed on behalf of the defendants and also urged the court to grant them bail on liberal terms.
They also prayed that the defendants be remanded in the EFCC custody pending the perfection of their bail conditions.
The prosecution counsel, however, opposed the prayers of the defence seeking the remand of the defendants in the EFCC custody, saying that “the EFCC detention facilities are overstretched.”
After listening to both parties, Justice Ijelu granted the defendants bail in the sum of N2 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
The court ordered that one of the sureties must be a relative who is gainfully employed. The sureties must provide evidence of tax payment in the last three years and must show proof of livelihood, with their residences verified.
The defendants were ordered to deposit their international passports with the court, and must not travel outside the country without the leave of the court.
The judge subsequently remanded the defendants in a correctional facility pending the perfection of their bail conditions, and adjourned the matter till March 25, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
Business Post reports that one of the counts said, “That you, Bakare Oladimeji Surajudeen and James Olukayode Imokwede, sometime in 2021 in Lagos within the jurisdiction of this court, dishonestly took the sum of N527,406,916.66, property of FSDH Merchant Bank Limited.”
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