Business
MASSIVE RETURNS FOR ZENITH BANK SHAREHOLDERS AS BANK PAYS DIVIDEND OF N97.33 BILLION
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
Sponsored by: H&H
Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc, at the 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the bank held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, unanimously approved the proposed final dividend, expressing delight at the final dividend payment of NGN2.80 per share which brings the total dividend for the 2021 financial year to NGN3.10 per share with a total value of NGN97.33 billion.
In his statement, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Jim Ovia, CON, thanked the shareholders for their unflinching loyalty, which has enabled the bank to rise to the pinnacle of the nation’s financial services industry, and assured them of the bank’s commitment to consistently deliver superior value to them.
Speaking on the bank’s performance, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “if you look at the bank’s history over the years, Zenith Bank has always grown, and even within the pandemic, we have maintained a reasonable positive growth trajectory.
Growth is coming from the fact that we are deploying our digital capability to grow more businesses, simplify our service processes, make our processes more efficient, and deal with customers’ complaints.
Apart from developing new products, we are discovering new business verticals, especially within the retail segment, which have significant revenue.”
He added that: “meeting the expectation of shareholders means we have to work harder. The team is dodged, hardworking, resilient, and above all, we have a very supportive board that comes with superior guidance”.
Commenting on the dividend payout, the Chairman Emeritus of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), Sir Sunny Nwosu, expressed the delight of shareholders over the consistent payment of dividends by Zenith Bank, noting that the bank’s shares remain the toast of investors because the bank has never failed to pay dividends to shareholders.
Also speaking on behalf of shareholders, the President of the Association of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), Dr Faruk Umar, said: “The bank is doing very well. All the ratios and indices have gone up.
And more importantly, while we were in the meeting, I got my alert of the credit of my dividend.
This is very commendable. The leadership of the bank has been very effective; we thank Jim Ovia for the leadership he has been giving, he has increased the dividend in spite of the economic hardship in the country, and I believe the GMD is doing very well.
I commend the management and staff of the bank, including the board, and I am very confident that this year would also be very good for the bank.” Dr Faruk Umar also commended the Group Managing Director for the numerous awards the bank received in 2021, especially the sustainability awards.
In spite of a challenging macroeconomic environment aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Zenith Bank Group achieved year-on-year (YoY) growth in gross earnings of 10% from NGN696.5 billion reported in the previous year to N765.6billion. This was on the back of a 23% YoY growth in non-interest income from N251.7billion to N309billion and a 2% YoY growth in interest income from N420.8billion to NGN427.6billion.
Profit before tax also grew by 10%, from NGN255.9 billion to NGN280.4 billion in the current year.
The increase was due to growth in the top-line and very strong management of the treasury portfolio that increased efficiency, resulting in a drop in interest expense by 12% from NGN121.1 billion in 2020 to NGN106.8 billion in the current year.
This further led to a 7% increase in net interest income of NGN320.8 billion in 2021 from NGN299.7 billion in 2020.
Customer deposits increased by 21%, growing from NGN5.34 trillion in the previous year to NGN6.47 trillion in the current year.
The growth in customer deposits came from both corporate and retail customers. Retail deposits grew by NGN146 billion from NGN1.72 trillion in 2020 to NGN1.87 trillion in 2021.
The Group’s continuous drive for retail deposits combined with the strategic rebalancing of its funding base helped to reduce the cost of funding from 2.1% to 1.5% in the current year.
Although operating expenses grew by 13% YoY, growth remains below the inflation rate, and the Group improved its Earnings per Share (EPS) which grew by 6% from NGN7.34 to NGN7.78.
Total assets increased by 11%, growing from NGN8.48 trillion in 2020 to NGN9.45 trillion in 2021, mainly driven by growth in customer deposits. With the steady recovery in economic activities, the Group prudently grew its gross loans by 20%, from NGN2.9 trillion in 2020 to NGN3.5 trillion in 2021, with moderated NPL ratio from 4.29% to 4.19% YoY.
The Group recorded impressive liquidity and capital adequacy ratios of 71.6% and 21.0%, which remained above regulatory thresholds of 30% and 15%, respectively.
In recognition of its track record of excellent performance, Zenith Bank was voted as Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria in the World Finance Banking Awards 2021, Best Bank in Nigeria in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards 2020 and 2021, Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020, and Best in Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa 2020 and 2021 by the Ethical Boardroom.
Also, the bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital in the “2021 Top 1000 World Banks” Ranking by The Banker Magazine and the Retail Bank of the year at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BOFI) Awards 2020 and 2021.
Similarly, Zenith Bank was honoured as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020 and emerged winner in four categories at the Sustainability, Enterprise, and Responsibility (SERAS) Awards 2021, carting home the awards for “Best Company in Reporting and Transparency”, “Best Company in Infrastructure Development”, “Best Company in Gender Equality and Women Empowerment”, and the coveted “Most Responsible Organisation in Africa.
Business
UBA Champions Youth Empowerment through Graduate Programme, Employs 398 Across Africa.
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
African’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), held the second edition of its expanded Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP) class of 2024, where 398 young Africans were inducted into the UBA Tribe after a rigorous six-month hands-on-work and learning experience.
The event, which was held in a grand ceremony in Eko Hotel, Lagos on Thursday, was graced by esteemed guests, the UBA management, faculty members, mentors, and the graduating cla
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA), held the second edition of its expanded Graduate Management Acceleration Programme (GMAP) class of 2024, where 398 young Africans were inducted into the UBA Tribe after a rigorous six-month hands-on-work and learning experience.
The event, which was held in a grand ceremony in Eko Hotel, Lagos on Thursday, was graced by esteemed guests, the UBA management, faculty members, mentors, and the graduating class.
The graduands are from six African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroun, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia.
Addressing the gathering, UBA’s Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu, who congratulated all the graduates, expressed profound pride and admiration for their success having completed the intense capacity-building programme, combining learning with on-the-job training experience, garnered while rotating across several departments and units in the bank.
Elumelu took time to highlight the bank’s passion for youth empowerment in Africa, while bridging the unemployment gap, which according to him, remains one of the greatest challenges of the continent.
“For me these young UBA Graduates are a testament to who we are: a truly pan-African Group, that invests in African talent.This milestone is more than just numbers. It signifies UBA’s commitment to youth empowerment. Unemployment is the greatest challenge we face – a tragic and cruel betrayal of a generation. We know governments alone cannot create all the jobs we need – so it is up to us, the African private sector, to partner our government in improving lives and livelihoods. This is Africapitalism, and it is gratifying to see UBA play its part. UBA is dedicated to creating a positive impact, through the GMAP programme UBA is creating employment, boosting economic growth, and transforming lives across Africa,” Group Chairman said.
Continuing, he said, “At UBA, identifying these young ones, bringing them to the centre, training them, equipping them for the future and the task ahead, not just for a career in UBA, but wherever they end up remains our passion, because this is how we play our role as a Pan-African bank, in helping to empower the next generation, which is the African youth. We are helping to create employment and this for us is our driving force.”
Earlier in his speech, UBA’s Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Oliver Alawuba, commended the graduating class for their unwavering commitment and emphasized the program’s role in cultivating the next generation of UBA leaders.
“Your dedication, resilience, and unwavering commitment have been nothing short of inspiring. Each of you has demonstrated the qualities of a true UBA ambassador, and today, we celebrate not just your achievements but also the collective strength of our UBA family.
While recognizing the invaluable support extended by families and friends, the GMD said, “Let us take a moment to express our deepest appreciation for their steadfast support as the invaluable support of your families and friends throughout this journey. Their love, encouragement, and understanding have undoubtedly played a pivotal role in your success.”
UBA’s Group Head, Human Resources, Modupe Akindele, said the bank remains committed to nurturing talent and leadership within the organisation. She noted that the GMAP programme, which marked its second graduation will be a continuous initiative, as it culminates an intensive journey towards leadership excellence.
“Already, the programme has graduated over 1,100 graduates, that is about 700 in 2023 and now we have 398 graduates. The fact remains that at UBA, we believe in equal opportunity for all, regardless of age, tribe, gender, or background; and so, we will continue to pursue our dream to nurture these young ones to their full potential,” she added.
United Bank for Africa Plc is a leading Pan-African financial institution, offering banking services to more than twenty-five million customers, across over 1,000 business offices and customer touch points, in 20 African countries and across 4 continents.
With presence in the United States of America, the United Kingdom and France and more recently the United Arab Emirates, UBA is connecting people and businesses across Africa through retail; commercial and corporate banking; innovative cross-border payments and remittances; trade finance and ancillary banking services.
Picture 1: l-r: Group Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi; Group Head, Human Capital Management, Modupe Akindele; Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba; Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Group Head, Customer Experience, Michele Nwoga; Executive Directors, Ugo Nwaghodoh and Alex Alozie flanked by graduands of Graduate Management Accelerated Programme(GMAP) of United Bank for Africa(UBA), held in Lagos on Thursday
Picture 2: l-r: Group Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi; Group Head, Human Capital Management, Modupe Akindele; Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba; Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu; Group Head, Customer Experience, Michele Nwoga; Executive Directors, Ugo Nwaghodoh and Alex Alozie flanked by graduands of Graduate Management Accelerated Programme (GMAP) of United Bank for Africa(UBA), held in Lagos on Thursday
Picture 3: l-r: Group Treasurer, Stephen Amangbo(1st from Left) ; Executive Director, Alex Alozie(3rd from left); Group Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi(5th from left); Group Chairman, Tony Elumelu(middle); Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba(9th from left); Executive Directors, Ugo Nwaghodoh(11thfrom left); Group Head, Human Capital Management, Modupe Akindele(12 from left); and Company Secretary, Bili Odum, flanked by graduands of Graduate Management Accelerated Programme(GMAP) of United Bank for Africa(UBA), held in Lagos on Thursday
Business
Access Bank Advocates for Innovative Financing Models to Realise SDGs
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
At the 2024 Medic West Africa Event, organised by ABCHealth in collaboration with Informa Markets, Access Bank reaffirmed its dedication to fostering positive transformation in healthcare across Africa.
L-R: Mories Atoki, Chief Executive Officer, ABCHealth; Jane Ike-Okoli, Head of Specialised Sectors Business & Commercial Banking, Stanbic IBTC; Ralph Opara, Group Head, Commercial Banking Division (Lagos 2), Access Bank PLC; Odunayo Sanyo, Executive Director, MTN Foundation; Ibironke Akinmade, Group Head, Health Finance, Sterling Bank, and Zouera Youssoufou, MD/CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation at the 2024 Medic West Africa Event hosted by ABCHealth in partnership with Informa Markets in Lagos…recently.
The event, which served as a platform for stakeholders across industries deliberate on the theme ‘Healthcare Investments in Africa: Mobilizing the Private Sector to Drive Healthcare Investments in Africa,’ aimed to chart a path through which corporates can leverage innovative financing models and strategic partnerships in fostering the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
The discussions also explored strategies for strengthening healthcare infrastructure, leveraging technological advancements, as well as enhancing community health initiatives.
Lending his voice to the conversation, Ralph Opara, Group Head, Commercial Banking Division at Access Bank Plc, stressed that, “The government can’t carry the burden of the health sector alone. Hence, it is imperative that the private sector explores and implements innovative financing models and strategic partnerships to bridge the healthcare investment gap.”
Opara noted that collaborative effort between the public and private sectors is not only crucial but essential to driving innovation, improving healthcare accessibility, and ensuring sustainable development across the continent.
Walking the talk on partnerships, Access Bank partnered with the Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), to launch the Adopt-A-Health Facility Program (ADHFP) with the primary aim of delivering, at least, one global standard Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of the 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Nigeria. So far, the initiative has resulted into over 180 PHCs adopted across the country.
Other notable participants at the event include Mories Atoki, CEO, ABCHealth; Jane Ike-Okoli, Head of Specialised Sectors Business & Commercial Banking, Stanbic IBTC; Odunayo Sanyo, Executive Director, MTN Foundation; Ibironke Akinmade, Group Head, Health Finance, Sterling Bank, and Zouera Youssoufou, MD/CEO, Aliko Dangote Foundation.
Business
Transcorp Hotels Breaks All-time Revenue Record in Q1 2024, Achieves 844% PAT Growth
AJAGBE ADEYEMI TESLIM
SPONSORED BY: H&H
Transcorp Hotels Plc, the hospitality subsidiary of one of Africa’s leading, listed conglomerates Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), has sustained its remarkable financial performance as shown in its released Q1 2024 unaudited financial statements, for the period ended March 31, 2024.
The company recorded a 72% increase in revenue to N13.8 billion compared with N8 billion reported in Q1 2023.
Highlights of Transcorp Hotels Q1 2024 Results
Q1 2024 RevenueN13.8 billion, up 72%, in comparison with N8 billion reported in Q1 2023.
Profit before Tax rose by 568%, amounting to N6 billion in Q1 2024, compared to N911.6 million during the same period last year.
Profit after Tax grew by 844 % year-on-year to N5 billion in Q1 2024, compared to N531 million in the same period last year.
Occupancy grew to 82% in Q1 2024, up from 75% in Q1 2023.
Commenting on the Q1 results, Oluwatobiloba Ojediran, the Chief Financial Officer said, “This outstanding performance highlights the continuous improvement we have recorded in all parts of our business, and how our operational efficiency has given us a competitive edge.
We have continued to break our own revenue records and outperform industry performance on all indices”.
Transcorp Hotels Plc Managing Director/CEO, Dupe Olusola said, “Our excellent first quarter performance marks the beginning of another great year for our company.
We broke our all-time monthly revenue record in March, a demonstration of our commitment to excellence and superior performance.
We leveraged opportunities across our segments for continuous growth. Demand in our International Business Travel and leisure segments remained strong in Q1 2024, delivering an industry-leading revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth of 74% and profit growth in excess of 844%”.
“We assure our stakeholders that we will continue to deliver exceptional value and leverage innovative tactics to rapidly expand our business portfolio.”
About Transcorp Hotels Plc
Transcorp Hotels Plc is the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc (Transcorp Group), one of Africa’s leading, listed companies with strategic investments in the power, hospitality, and energy sectors.
Transcorp Hotels is redefining hospitality standards in Africa through its businesses, including the iconic Transcorp Hilton, Nigeria’s flagship hospitality destination, and digital platform, Aura by Transcorp Hotels. www.transcorphotelsplc.com
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