Banking
Wema Bank To Raise N50b Tier-2 Capital
By Dipo Olowookere
Wema Bank Plc is raising N50 billion tier two capital through bonds to enable it deepen its market penetration and profitability, its Managing Director, Segun Oloketuyi, has said.
Speaking at a briefing at the weekend, in Lagos, the bank chief said N20 billion would be raised in the first few weeks while the remaining N30 billion would come in the near future.
“We will increase the drive of the ongoing cost containment initiatives and leverage on technology to increase efficiency across our channels and platforms. The bank will also be raising additional debt capital in the next few weeks to further give it the necessary leverage to drive growth,” he said.
Continuing, he said: “We are doing debt capital. It is a tier two capital and it is a bond. The bond will open very soon, it is a N50 billion issuance programme, but we are doing it in two tranches. The first tranche is N20 billion, and the second tranche is N30 billion. So, we are taking N20 billion first, and sometimes in the near future, and as the need arises, we will take on the balance of N30 billion.”
Mr Oloketuyi said the bank has witnessed a turnaround since the new management took over in June 2009, adding that before the coming of the new management, the lender had a negative capital position of N45 billion, with the lender virtually on its knees. He said the new management has grown the bank’s shareholders’ funds to N46 billion.
Explaining further, he said the lender previously had less than one per cent market share, and ran on obsolete technology, while non-performing loans (NPLs) stood at 89 per cent. But with the new management, the NPLs have dropped to 2.9 per cent while profitability has risen to new heights.
“So, we had to start to look at what to do with the bank and therefore, developed a containment strategy focusing on how to stabilise the bank. The periods of 2010 to 2014 was largely used to give life back to the bank. So, the first major assignment we had to do was to secure the regulatory capital. We had to recapitalise the bank, which we did,” he said.
Wema Bank boss said the lender received the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN’s) final approval to convert from regional to national bank. The bank, he added, is also driving its growth with new products and technology.
For instance, it unveiled the card control platform, which gives customers absolute control of their cards both in Nigeria and abroad. The bank has received lots of testimonials based on the introduction of the product.
“The bank equally launched the Buxme platform, a social account that allows people to transfer money using their email or phone numbers, and has over 4,000 registered users as at August 15.
The lender also introduced the *955#, which enabled it to increase customer acquisition and makes banking convenient for users. The product has enabled the lender to reduce its cost of service with over 3,539 accounts opened on *945#”.
Speaking further, he said in spite of the challenges in the economy and in the industry, the lender remains optimistic about its future. “Our retail focus is beginning to yield good numbers and we are already ramping up efforts to ensure that we deliver on the promises to our stakeholders. In addition, the journey to lead the digital landscape is critical as it will propel us to the front of the industry,” he said.
He said the bank has also received final approval from the CBN’s to convert its banking license from regional authorisation to national authorisation. “The bank now operates as a full-fledged commercial bank in all geo-political zones and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The bank is fully prepared to scale up its operations to cover locations in the north and eastern parts of the country. We expect to re-open five branches in the next three months in Kaduna, Lokoja, Minna, Aba and Enugu,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Children and teens interested in participating in becoming the chief executive of Wema Bank for one day have till Wednesday, May 20, 2026, to submit their entries.
The One-Day MD/CEO initiative was introduced by Wema Bank in 2025 to commemorate Children’s Day in a uniquely unprecedented manner.
The winner of the maiden edition was a 12-year-old Chiderije Mbah, inspiring children across the country to put in the work towards a successful future.
Inspired by the bank’s 80th anniversary theme, 80 Years of Impact, A Future of Possibilities, the Wema Bank One-Day MD/CEO initiative served as a bridge between past and future, giving children across Nigeria the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the MD/CEO of Wema Bank for one day—Children’s Day.
For the 2026 Children’s Day celebration, Wema Bank will give another child or teenager [ages 0-16] a chance to step into the shoes of the chief executive of the bank, Mr Moruf Oseni, for a day.
The child will get to oversee board meetings, make tactical decisions, and experience firsthand the demands and responsibilities that come with the office of MD/CEO, especially for an institution like Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous national bank, most innovative and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT.
To participate, children/teens are expected to record a 60-second video detailing what their ideal role in banking would be and what they hope to achieve. This video is to be posted on any social media platform using #EvolutionOfPossibilities and tagging @wemabank on the post. The post with the highest number of likes emerges as the winner, and the winner gets to become MD/CEO of Wema Bank on Monday, May 25, 2026, in celebration of Children’s Day, with parents and teens encouraged to hurry and make their submissions before the deadline.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian tier-1 lender, First Bank, has announced the introduction of its Naira Visa Debit Card in partnership with the global payments giant to extend accessible, reliable electronic payment capabilities to a broader segment of the Nigerian population.
The card is targeted at everyday consumers who require a dependable payment instrument for routine domestic and international transactions. Accepted across POS terminals, ATMs, and online platforms through Visa’s payments network, the Naira Visa Debit Card is designed to reduce friction for customers transitioning from cash to electronic payments across retail, utilities, and digital commerce.
According to the bank, the partnership aligns with Nigeria’s ongoing drive toward a cashless economy, a policy direction that has gained significant momentum following successive Central Bank of Nigeria directives encouraging the adoption of electronic payment channels, adding that the card is intended to serve customers across the country’s diverse economic segments.
The Naira Visa Debit Card is available to all eligible FirstBank account holders through any of the bank’s branches nationwide.
Speaking on the launch, Mr Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, eBusiness & Retail Products, FirstBank, said: “Everyday transactions should be simple, secure, and rewarding. The Naira Visa Debit Card is designed to make life easier for our customers, whether they are paying for groceries, settling utility bills, or shopping online.
“By extending reliable electronic payment access across Nigeria, we are helping more people transition confidently from cash to digital payments, supporting the nation’s cashless policy and empowering communities with greater financial inclusion.”
Commenting on the strategic importance of the partnership, Mr Andrew Uaboi, Vice President and Cluster Head, West Africa, Visa, noted: “A strong payments ecosystem works for everyone. The Naira Visa Debit Card extends reliable electronic payment access to everyday Nigerian consumers, and this in addition to the cards in our portfolio, continues to demonstrate what a truly comprehensive card portfolio looks like for the Nigerian market. Visa is proud to power this offering with FirstBank.”
The launch of the Naira Visa Debit Card broadens Visa’s card portfolio at FirstBank, which already includes products spanning credit cards and High-end premium lifestyle spending cards. The addition completes its offering across customer segments, ensuring that cardholders at every income level have access to a product suited to their needs.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has unveiled the fourth edition of its Foreign Exchange Manual as part of efforts to deepen liquidity, improve transparency and strengthen confidence in the country’s foreign exchange market.
Speaking at the launch of the revised manual in Abuja on Friday, the Governor of the apex bank, Mr Yemi Cardoso, said the document will take effect from June 1, 2026.
He said it was developed after extensive consultations with banks, exporters, importers, corporates, regulators and development partners.
He said the new framework reflects the apex bank’s commitment to modernising the country’s foreign exchange administration in line with international best practices.
Mr Cardoso described the foreign exchange market as a critical pillar of any open economy, noting that effective governance of the sector is essential for sustaining macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.
“Foreign exchange is more than a financial instrument. It anchors price stability, facilitates the flow of goods and capital, and shapes investor sentiment,” he said.
The CBN governor stressed that the revised manual became necessary due to changing global economic realities, domestic reforms and the need for a more coherent and forward-looking regulatory framework.
According to him, the last edition of the FX manual was issued in 2018, making the latest review both timely and necessary.
Mr Cardoso disclosed that Nigeria’s foreign exchange market has witnessed significant improvement in liquidity since the current administration began reforms in the sector.
He added that daily turnover in the FX market increased from an average of about $100 million in the early days of the administration to between $400 million and $600 million daily.
The CBN Governor added that the market had also recorded transactions of up to $1 billion per day on several occasions in recent months.
“We have gone from a situation where it was more or less a one-way market, where the central bank came in, intervened and went away, to a much more dynamic market,” he stated.
The apex bank boss noted that the reforms were gradually restoring confidence among investors and market participants, encouraging freer entry and exit in the market without unnecessary restrictions.
He also maintained that the nation’s foreign reserves should not be used as the primary tool for funding the foreign exchange market.
“Reserves are reserves. They are not what you look to fund a market,” he said.
The CBN Governor assured stakeholders that the revised manual would be distributed free of charge to authorised dealers while the bank strengthens monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance, fairness and accountability across the foreign exchange market.
On his part, the Deputy Governor for Economic Policy, Mr Muhammad Abdullahi, said the review formed part of broader reforms initiated by Mr Cardoso to restore confidence, improve transparency and deepen liquidity in the foreign exchange market.
Mr Abdullahi explained that the revised manual introduces several changes aimed at improving ease of doing business and reducing transaction bottlenecks.
Among the notable changes, he noted, are provisions allowing unfettered access to export proceeds, the introduction of non-resident investment accounts and operational guidelines for Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) transactions to support regional trade.
Mr Abdullahi added that the manual also contains new provisions on service exports, revised documentation requirements and updated operational procedures designed to align Nigeria’s FX market with global standards.
He said the apex bank deliberately adopted an ease of doing business approach during the review process to eliminate inefficiencies and ambiguities identified by stakeholders.
“The revised manual is not a stand-alone exercise but part of a broader institutional reform effort designed to strengthen the integrity, credibility and effectiveness of Nigeria’s foreign exchange system,” he said.
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