Business

Linda Ikeji, Tara Fela-Durotoye Laud Ecobank’s Women Empowerment Initiatives

Published

3 years ago

June 22, 2021

Linda Ikeji, Tara Fela-Durotoye Laud Ecobank’s Women Empowerment Initiatives

(L-R) Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Head , Consumer Banking, Ecobank Nigeria; Linda Ikeji, Blogger and Initiator, Selfmade Woman Conference; Carol Oyedeji, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Ecobank Nigeria; and Founder, House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye at the Linda Ikeji’s Self-made Woman Conference in Lagos sponsored by Ecobank Nigeria.

(L-R) Titi Olarinde, Head of Branch network; Ibukun Oyedeji, Chief Financial Officer (CFO); Carol Oyedeji, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, all of Ecobank Nigeria ; Linda Ikeji, Blogger and Initiator, Selfmade Woman Conference; Korede Demola-Adeniyi, Head , Consumer Banking; and Nike Kolawole, Head, Agency Banking, also of Ecobank Nigeria at the Linda IKeji’s Selfmade Woman Conference in Lagos sponsored by Ecobank Nigeria

AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Media entrepreneur and popular blogger Linda Ikeji , said she was motivated to partner with Ecobank on her “Selfmade Woman” initiative because of the bank’s various women friendly programmes, stressing that many individuals, especially women who own small businesses are supported by the bank to succeed. “When I conceive the idea of self-made women empowerment conference, Ecobank was the first bank I thought about because I love how much they are into women empowerment. They have a lot of programmes, a lot of platforms internally to help women in business. They are really into helping women reach their full potentials. Fortunately, when I met with them and told them what I wanted to do, they immediately said yes to me, and they have been fully involved and here we are today. Ecobank today is my bank of choice”.

Linda Ikeji who spoke at the “2021 Selfmade Woman Conference”, her women empowerment initiative testified that Ecobank Nigeria as a female friendly is helping women achieve their dreams and full potentials. On why she initiate the Selfmade Women Conference Linda Ikeji said “I am very passionate about women succeeding and it was very important for me to put something together as a platform where successful women would meet and mentor those aspiring to be successful. My purpose for doing this is to hopefully encourage more women to believe in themselves, encourage more women to fight for their dreams, encourage more women to know that there is absolutely nothing that they can’t achieve. I want them to hear stories of women who have achieved great feats, women who have broken tables and know that it’s possible for them to break through all these barriers, believe in themselves, see people like myself, Tara Durotoye and other women who have done amazingly well. Getting a women friendly bank like Ecobank to partner me is heartwarming”.

Also speaking, Founder, House of Tara, Tara Fela-Durotoye, applauded Ecobank for supporting women initiatives. She observed that partnering with young women and young entrepreneurs would go a long way to empowering women to play greater role in families.” I appreciate Ecobank’s various empowerment initiatives to support women and we can see the results. My advice to the bank is to sustain the initiatives”. This was the view of several other speakers which included.

In his keynote address, Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan, said the decision to partner with Linda Ikeji Selfmade Woman Conference aligns with the bank’s empowerment policy for women. He noted that Ecobank recognizes women as the bedrock of most families and entrepreneurship in the society, stating that to succeed as a nation, it is imperative to recognize women’s unique potentials and support them sufficiently. Akinwuntan who was represented by Head, Consumer Banking, Korede Demola-Adeniyi reiterated that Ecobank remains a women friendly bank and have been playing the role, stressing that, the bank has many initiatives and innovative products targeted at empowering female entrepreneurs in the country.

“We have many women centred empowerment programmes such as the Ecobank Female Entrepreneurs’ Initiative (EFEI) which is designed to empower, and support women owned small-scale businesses. Under this initiative, there is special loan package where prospective female entrepreneurs could easily access credit facility with interest rates as low as 1 per cent. Through EFEI, we have trained many female business owners on digital marketing skills in our state-of-the-art Academy and have also organized capacity building workshop for them. We also have another women empowerment programme “Ellevate” for women in Business; this will be publicly launched across the country in July. With Ellevate, we want to ensure we raise and recognize our women for the significant role they have always played to ensure a better society for us all.” He said.

Further, the Ecobank Nigeria Managing Director said examples of the bank’s support to women entrepreneur includes “our long-standing partnership with Tera Kulture, that is Bolanle Austen Peters who has come out with various movies such as ‘Bling Lagosians’, ‘Moremi The Musical’, ‘Fela and the Kalakuta Queens,’ ‘The Oluronbi Musical’ and others. Recently, we also supported ‘The Wait’, a movie inspired by the popular book from renowned lawyer and entrepreneur, Yewande Zaccheaus. We are currently working with the Ogun state government to promote the Adire industry which is also primarily women driven. In the agric industry, we have supported the Anchor borrowers programme of the CBN across the six regions of the country to reach out to farmers, especially the women folk to support them financially to increase their farm size and yield capacity through the introduction of new techniques.”

The 2021 Selfmade Women conference attracted over 3000 female participants both online and at a physical event. The Linda Ikeji Selfmade Woman Conference was borne out of passion to see women succeed. it is a platform for women who want to achieve success to meet those who have already achieved success. The all-female event attracted many speakers and wide audience including potential and established women entrepreneurs, businesswomen and students. The Linda Ikeji Self-Made Woman debuted in 2013, as an advocacy project with the sole aim to mentor and provide financial empowerment to young female entrepreneurs or aspiring ones. it is essentially to build stronger economies and improve the quality of life for women, men, families and communities.

Business

Access Holdings Vests 23.8 million Units of Shares on Senior Executives

Published

2 hours ago

May 8, 2024

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

In line with the disclosure requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Nigerian Exchange Limited, Access Holdings Plc , Africa’s leading financial services group, has announced the award of 23.8 million ordinary shares to some of its senior executives and executives of Access Bank, its flagship subsidiary.

This is in pursuant of the terms of its shareholders approved Employees Performance Share Plan.

Bolaji Agbede, the Acting Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings, Roosevelt Ogbonna, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Access Bank, and six others were vested with 23,883,790 units of the Group’s shares, worth a combined N427.13 million.

This was disclosed via notices duly filed with the Nigerian Exchange Limited on Tuesday.

According to the filings, Ogbonna got the highest amount of shares totalling 12,345,679 units and worth N220.37 million, having been traded at N17.85 per share.

Agbede was vested with 2,216,992 units of shares, valued at N39.795 million.

Other directors, who had shares vested include Seyi Kumapayi, Executive Director, African Subsidiaries, Access Bank, with 1,234,568 worth N22.16 million; Iyabo Soji-Okusanya, Executive Director, Commercial and Investment Banking Division, Access Bank, with 1,691,308 at N17.95 per share.

Her vested shares are valued at N30.36 million, and Chizoma Okoli, Access Bank’s Deputy Managing Director, Retail South, who got 1,728,395 units valued at N30.85 million.

Dr Gregory Jobome, Executive Director, Risk Management, and Hadiza Ambursa, Executive Director, Commercial Banking, were each vested with 1,728,395 valued at N30.85 and N31.02m respectively.

Access Holdings’ Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, was vested with 1,210,058 units of the Group’s shares worth N21.72m.

The shares were vested on May 3rd and May 6th.

The vesting of the shares is not a purchase or sale transaction in the context of the Exchange’s Rules.

Business

Owen Omogiafo, Transcorp Group President Makes MIPAD’s Global Top 100 List, As Company Posts Impressive Q1 Results

Published

1 day ago

May 7, 2024

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Dr. Owen D. Omogiafo, OON President/GCEO of Transcorp Group, has been recognized as one of the most influential people of African descent (MIPAD)’s Global Top 100 Futurist & Innovators List.

The list recognises individuals who have made remarkable contributions to shaping the future and pioneering innovative solutions within their respective fields.

The announcement of the recognition comes as Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group) released its Q1 2024 results, which showed impressive growth on all indices. Profit before tax (PBT) grew year-on-year (YoY) by 1,475 percent to N45.7 billion in the first quarter of 2024 (Q1’24) from N2.9 billion in the corresponding period of 2023.

The company also reported a 173 percent YoY growth in revenue to N88.6 billion in Q1’24 from N32.4 billion in Q1’ 23.

The Company’s continuous growth and impressive results year after year are testament to Omogiafo’s visionary leadership.

Transcorp Group has experienced significant growth and expansion under Omogiafo’s leadership having taken up leadership during a difficult time, as the world grappled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, she has led the Group and its subsidiaries, including Transcorp Power, Transafam Power and Transcorp Hotels Plc back to the path of exponential growth and profitability.

Transcorp Group’s shares ended 2023 as one of the best-performing stocks of the year. The impressive growth has continued in 2024.

Dr. Owen Omogiafo’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility has made a positive impact on the lives of millions of people across Africa, in line with Transcorp Group’s purpose of improving lives and transforming Africa.

The MIPAD recognition, is therefore, timely, as Omogiafo’s Transcorp releases another impressive result, reinforcing the Company’s position as a leading conglomerate in the country, and highlighting Owen Omogiafo’s transformational leadership.

The MIPAD recognition is a global initiative that identifies and celebrates outstanding individuals of African descent who are making a positive impact in their communities and the world at large. Dr. Omogiafo’s inclusion in this prestigious list is a well-deserved honour, acknowledging her tireless efforts to drive economic growth, social progress, and environmental sustainability in Africa.

The Transcorp President has been recognised by many local and international bodies for her contributions to Nigeria and Africa’s socio-economic growth, including a national award which was bestowed on her by the Federal Government of Nigeria last year.

Business

Union Bank Achieves Another Milestone; Attains MSECB ISO 27001:2022, 20000-1:2018 and 22301 Certifications

Published

2 days ago

May 6, 2024

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AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM

SPONSORED BY: H&H

Union Bank, one of Nigeria’s foremost and most trusted financial institutions, has announced another significant achievement with its attainment of the MSECB management system certifications in ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 22301:2019, and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018.

The Bank was awarded these three noteworthy certifications by MSECB, a leading international provider of audit and certification services, after being rigorously assessed and found to be in accordance with the management system requirements covering Information Security, IT Service Delivery, and Business Continuity standards under the combined Information Management Systems (IMS) standards.

The information security management systems ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 22301:2019, and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 are internationally recognised standards that outline the requirements for establishing an effective information management system that guides against data breaches, IT system compromises, and disruption to business processes.

These latest certifications will enable the bank to continue to offer its customers improved data security, innovative banking solutions, and seamless service delivery through its state-of-the-art banking network.

Commenting on the Bank’s recent attainment, Chief Information Security Officer at Union Bank, Francis Mojoyinlola, said: “The Bank’s continued adherence to best international practices, as acknowledged by an independent third-party audit from a reputable international certification firm, reaffirms our capacity to erect, implement, and maintain best information and security management practices.

We remain committed to offering our esteemed customers simpler, more innovative services rooted in the highest standards of information security and cutting-edge innovative banking service.”

MSECB Management System Incorporated, or simply MSECB, is a reputable international organisation specialising in the certification of management systems based on a wide range of global standards.

They offer audit and certification services and expertise in multiple fields, including, but not limited to, Information Security, Quality Management, Business Continuity, and Service Management. They help guide, evaluate, and issue various organisations’ certifications against internationally recognised standards.

Their mission is to provide their clients with comprehensive services that inspire trust and demonstrate recognition.

This recent achievement by Union Bank follows the bank’s recertification of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) version 3.2 and the International Organisation for Standardisation ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification attained in 2018.

This further highlights Union Bank’s commitment to the strictest information management security standards while securing its pride of place as one of Nigeria’s most trusted financial institutions.

Established in 1917 and listed on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 1971, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc. is a household name and one of Nigeria’s long-standing and most respected financial institutions.

The Bank is a trusted and recognisable brand, with an extensive network of over 300 branches across Nigeria.

The Bank currently offers a variety of banking services to both individual and corporate clients including current, savings and deposit account services, funds transfer, foreign currency domiciliation, loans, overdrafts, equipment leasing and trade finance.

The Bank also offers its customers convenient electronic banking channels and products, including Online Banking, Mobile Banking, Debit Cards, ATMs and POS Systems.