E-Financial
E-PPAN To Host Nigeria’s e-Government Summit
E-Payment Providers Association of Nigeria (E-PPAN) has concluded plans to host Nigeria’s premier edition of the e-Government Summit, themed ‘E-Government: Key To Sustainable Development’.
The international conference scheduled to take place in Abuja will hold on the 7th and 8th of July 2015 this year.
It will address issues such as access, efficiency, transparency, cooperation and sustainable development in the area of e-government.
The Committee of E-Banking Industry Heads (CeBIH), First Bank Nigeria Plc and SecureID Nigeria Limited which are members of the E-PPAN Governing Board, will work with the E-PPAN’s secretariat, as planning committee, for the event.
Speaking in a statement, Mrs Onajite Regha, executive secretary and chief executive officer, E-PPAN, said the objective of the summit is to create a platform for developing outstanding models and formulate winning strategies, which will enhance government administrative productivity, efficiency and transparency.
This, she said, will be centred on improving efficiency in government service delivery, and moving away from a ‘silo approach’ to greater collaboration between the private and public sector for sustainable development and economic growth.
“Other objective includes exploring how government can manage the process of innovation in the context of public finance and how technology can improve the process of governance itself.
According to Regha, “The 2015 e-government summit will provide an exciting opportunity for public sector to learn from and network with private sector experts as we identify common challenges and share useful solutions. As part of our strategy, we will be collaborating with major government agencies and state governments.”
She explained that the summit formerly called the “E-Payment for government summit” was borne out of the desire to be a driver of a new generation of e-services in public sector, providing a platform where decision makers and top government officials meet with the best and brightest of the e-payment industry on a single platform. This has been successfully achieved in 3 consecutive conferences.
She maintained that the e-government summit will proffer strategies and solutions for identified issues which will propel new steps towards the changing needs and challenges of the public sector in terms of achieving excellence in service delivery, infrastructure and attaining both organizational and national transformation.
“It will also provide an exciting platform for industry experts, key government representatives, and professionals from various MDAs at the three tiers of government to discuss the latest issues and trends related to e-government,” she added.
Also speaking, Ms Ntia Sylvia, business and strategy development manager, E-PPAN, noted that today, governments are looking for powerful tools to reinvent themselves.
“They are being encouraged to transform from the traditional bureaucratic paradigm, which emphasizes standardization, departmentalization, and operational cost-efficiency, to the “e-Government” paradigm, which emphasizes coordinated network building, external collaboration and citizen oriented service.
“This growing interest in e-Government raises the question of how governments can efficiently and effectively improve their services to its citizens. E-Government becomes especially important given its potential to reduce costs and improve service compared with alternative traditional modes,” she stated.
Sylvia also stressed that the e-government summit will highlight ways that government agencies can achieve economies in the use of information technology through collaboration with the private sector and between the various levels of government through shared services arrangements.
“It will bring together the best and the brightest in public service and information technology. These diverse stakeholders from across the country, including representatives from government, business and education, will commit to sharing technology solutions for operating in today’s fiscal environment,” she added.
Keystone Bank Limited and the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), youth entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion across Nigeria.
The MoU signing ceremony took place at the bank’s head office in Lagos on Tuesday, June 24, 2025.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Nnenna Anyim Okoro, the Executive Director, Corporate and South, Keystone Bank, described the partnership as a bold and strategic step toward accelerating national economic transformation.
According to her, the collaboration underscores Keystone Bank’s unwavering commitment to empowering the next generation of business leaders and fostering an inclusive financial ecosystem.
“At Keystone Bank, we believe that entrepreneurship is the heartbeat of sustainable economic development.
Across Nigeria, MSMEs are not just businesses; they are the dreams and daily struggles of men and women determined to create value, provide jobs, and build a better future. They are, quite literally, the engine room of our national economy.
“Our sponsorship of the Annual EDC SME Conference 2025 and support for the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) Walk reflect our deep belief in the transformative power of small businesses.
“This partnership is also about financial inclusion, youth engagement, capacity building, job creation, and collaboration,” she stated.
Olayemi Sule, Group Head, Retail & Digital Banking, Keystone Bank, emphasized the innovative offerings customers can expect as a result of the partnership.
“Our customers should look forward to a suite of innovative financial products and digital solutions specifically designed to support business growth, enhance financial literacy, and improve market access.
Also speaking, Dr. Nnenna Ugo, EDC board member and Head, Alumni Relations and Support Services at Pan-Atlantic University, expressed optimism about the partnership’s long-term impact.
“We are super excited about this partnership and confident that it will drive transformation for both institutions.
“The EDC was established to build capacity and provide support services for SMEs. In the past 21 years, we have trained over 350,000 entrepreneurs across Nigeria.
“Keystone Bank’s support comes at a critical moment as we scale our programs and expand our reach ahead of the 2025 SME Conference and GEW Nigeria.
“The SME Conference is a powerful platform that brings together key players in the ecosystem each year to address pressing issues affecting small businesses.
“This collaboration strengthens our capacity to engage more entrepreneurs, provide deeper insights, and drive conversations that inspire growth, resilience, and innovation.
“We commend Keystone Bank’s leadership for its vision and dedication to inclusive economic growth. The bank has truly distinguished itself as a champion of enterprise, and we are proud to have them as a strategic partner,” she concluded.
As part of the agreement, Keystone Bank becomes the major sponsor of the 2025 EDC SME Conference and a key supporter of the GEW Walk, a flagship event during Global Entrepreneurship Week Nigeria 2025.
Both events are expected to attract thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, thought leaders, and policymakers, offering a vibrant platform for knowledge-sharing, networking, and business empowerment.
Fidelity Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s top-tier financial institutions, has promoted 376 employees following its recently concluded annual performance review exercise.
This represents approximately 12% of the bank’s workforce, underscoring its management’s deep appreciation for the pivotal role played by staff in recoding the highest growth by percentage volumes in the banking industry with 210% increase in its Profit Before Tax (PBT) which grew from N124.3 billion in 2023 to N385.2 billion in 2024.
The announcement, which was recently communicated internally, comes on the heels of a 20% across-the-board salary increase implemented in June 2025—a gesture that reflects the bank’s commitment to staff welfare. It is worth noting that this follows a similar salary adjustment carried out in November 2024.
Under the leadership of Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, Fidelity Bank has consistently outperformed market expectations. In 2024, the bank recorded the highest share price growth of 116% in the industry following the completion of its Public Offer which was over subscribed by 238% .
In recognition of the banks stellar performance, global rating agency, Fitch Ratings recently upgraded Fidelity Bank’s National Long-Term Rating from ‘A(nga)’ to ‘A+(nga)’ in a further endorsement of the bank’s financial strength and prudent management. The upgraded ratings reflects improved profitability metrics and robust capital buffers, reinforcing the bank’s sustained upward trajectory.
Fidelity Bank Plc on Wednesday refuted claims that its Managing Director, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, is involved in an ongoing fraud case concerning the account of Woobs Resources.
The Bank’s position follows reports published by Sahara Reporters alleging that Dr. Onyeali-Ikpe was listed as a defendant in the case.
However, documents sighted by Nigeria CommunicationsWeek revealed that the charge sheet dated May 12, 2025, named the defendants as Victor Ukutt, Fidelity Bank Plc, Whoba Ugwunna Ogo, and Safiya Whoba.
A statement by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice dated June 9, 2025, confirmed that Onyeali-Ikpe’s name was struck off the charge list.
The Ministry noted that she was neither the Managing Director nor the account officer at the time the account in question was opened.
The clarification aims to dispel misinformation and uphold the integrity of the institution and its leadership.
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