E-Financial
DMO Appoints Stanbic IBTC as New FG Stockbroker
The Debt Management Office (DMO) on Thursday appointed Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited as the Federal Government’s official stockbroker, marking a strategic move to bolster Nigeria’s domestic bond market.
In its new role, Stanbic IBTC – a prominent stockbroking and investment management firm in Nigeria- is expected to help government attract necessary investments and develop the retail market.
The appointment comes after the tenure of CSL Stockbrokers Ltd., a subsidiary of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), expired.
Patience Oniha, Director General of the Debt Management Office (DMO), stated that Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers would serve as a vital platform for retail investors while also providing regular guidance and advisory services to the Government.
She explained the reason why Government needed a stockbroker whose functions are clearly defined, first of all, to comply with the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) requirements, being the largest issuer of securities, and secondly to deepen the market.
“We did quite a lot with wholesale investors, and that has helped us to achieve diversification for our FGN bonds, and the sukuk.
“But we realised that this smaller group may not have the money like the big players. They can invest in equities, but we believe that giving them fixed income securities is also another option.
“For that reason, we need to create awareness, particularly for products targeted at them – the FGN savings bond, and also create a secondary market for them,” Oniha explained at a brief event to announce the appointment in Abuja”, she said.
She Stanbic IBTC stockbrokers was chosen since it is a strong and respected brand with a wide reach – in the retail, capital market, and pension business as well.
“Those qualities matche our needs. Their sheer reputation, diversification as a group, and they have been in this role before for the federal government, but now with an expanded role.
“All of those sort of qualified you for the appointment as the government stockbroker”, she added.
She recognised the low awareness in the retail market, noting that increasing awareness would be one of the key responsibilities of the new stockbroker.
She emphasised that liquidity, awareness campaigns, workshops, and similar initiatives would be essential to support that segment of the market.
She stated that the DMO had made significant progress since initiating the process of appointing a Government stockbroker with an expanded role, but emphasised that “there is still much more to be done through engagements with other institutions and retail investors.”
She affirmed the DMO’s commitment to collaborating with Stanbic IBTC to achieve their established objectives.
Additionally, she indicated that the DMO would periodically seek guidance and advice from Stanbic IBTC.
Bunmi Olarinoye, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, expressed her gratitude for the confidence placed in the firm and the opportunity to assume such a pivotal role.
She stated that the DMO’s plan to enhance the retail segment of the market aligns with their own objectives, as they have been developing strategies to strengthen and enrich that area.
She emphasised that enlightenment and awareness are crucial elements they had identified for growing and expanding that segment of the market, and they would focus vigorously on these initiatives to attract more investors.
She also assured that they would collaborate with the DMO to deepen the market and achieve their established goals.
Titan Trust Bank has selected Oracle FSS for its core and digital banking technology, it is understood.
The start-up bank recently obtained its license by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
It’s understood that Temenos and Infosys also competed for the deal.
The shortlist came down to the two most widely installed international core systems in Nigeria, Infosys’ Finacle and Oracle FSS’s Flexcube.
The Nigerian banking sector has seen a great deal of upheaval over the years, with many mergers, start-ups and closures. Flexcube is a well respected name since the late 1990s (the pioneer was Access Bank, now one of the country’s top five banks) and has been a commonly selected platform since then.
The new bank is believed to be one of five to have gained regulatory approval of late (Globus Bank is another).
Local media sources say the new licences stem from the Central Bank’s desire to attract new investments into the sector and better serve the country’s 50 million+ unbanked and under-banked citizens.
Titan Bank is said to be headed by a former executive director of Heritage Bank (which is a Finacle user).
Oracle FSS did not respond to request for comment.
International Monetary Fund (IMF), has appointed Tony Elumelu, Nigerian billionaire and group chairman of Heirs Holdings, owners of United Bank of Africa, to its advisory council on entrepreneurship and growth, convened by Kristalina Georgieva, the fund managing director.
The announcement was disclosed in a statement on Friday.
According to the statement, the IMF advisory council comprises global business leaders, policymakers, and academics dedicated to identifying and addressing regulatory barriers to entrepreneurship.
The IMF said Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurship is central in policy making.
“Elumelu, Africa’s leading advocate of entrepreneurship and whose Foundation has funded, mentored, and trained over 25,000 African entrepreneurs since 2015, champions entrepreneurship as the engine for the economic transformation of Africa,” the statement reads.
“A self-made entrepreneur, Elumelu’s embracing of entrepreneurship is fundamental to his concept of Africapitalism, his belief that Africa’s private sector can and must play a leading role in the continent’s development, making long-term investments that deliver social and economic value.
“Elumelu will be instrumental in ensuring that Africa’s entrepreneurial potential is central to global economic policy making.”
Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the advisory council on March 26, Georgieva said the appointees would share their experiences on how macroeconomic and financial policies “can provide a supportive environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and productivity — key ingredients for a thriving private sector and strong economic growth”.
Africa’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises, fintech industry, scaling remittances, and cross-border payments will be the driving forces behind the continent’s digital ballooning payments system, which is estimated to reach $1.5 trillion by 2030.
This is according to a MasterCard-commissioned study by Genesis Analytics, which states that the digital payments economy is growing faster on the continent.
This comes as the World Bank says Sub-Saharan Africa has shown significant growth in financial inclusion over the past decade, much of it driven by mobile money account adoption.
Dimitrios Dosis, president, Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa at MasterCard, comments: “Africa is filled with immense possibilities, and its people have the potential to shape the global economy in the decades ahead.
“MasterCard remains deeply committed to driving digital transformation across the continent, working closely with entrepreneurs, merchants, banks, start-ups, telcos, and governments. By increasing our investments, expanding innovation, and fostering inclusion, we are helping build a more connected and accessible digital future.”
The payment technology company went on to say as a longstanding technology partner to Africa, its continues to strengthen its commitment to the continent’s digital growth through strategic investments, public-private partnerships, and innovation initiatives that drive financial health and economic growth.
In addition, it says trends in Africa signal a strong shift towards digital transactions, with businesses and consumers increasingly embracing contactless solutions, further accelerating economic participation and financial accessibility across the region.
“For over five decades, MasterCard has worked alongside African governments, businesses, and communities to advance financial inclusion and economic development.
“With Africa projected to host nine of the world’s 20 fastest-growing economies, we are focused on leveraging our expertise and a technology to support the continent’s continued digital transformation.
“Our investments today will help build a more resilient economy for the future,” says Mark Elliott, division president, Africa, MasterCard
By fostering collaboration with key stakeholders, MasterCard says it aims to enhance digital connectivity, expand economic opportunities, and enable millions of people and businesses to thrive in the digital economy.
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