E-Financial
Fidelity Bank Receives BCMS Certification to Mitigate Risk

Fidelity Bank Plc yesterday achieved another feat with Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) and ISMS certifications to improve resilience capabilities and risk management.
Mr Nnamdi Okonkwo, the bank’s Managing Director, speaking at the award ceremony in Lagos, said that BCMS demonstrated its commitment to mitigate risk caused by human or natural disasters.
The 22301 BCMS was developed to protect companies from the risks associated with downtime, which could occur due to unexpected disruptions or disasters.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has given all commercial banks operating in Nigeria Sept. 2018 deadline for BCMS certification.
Okonkwo said that the bank achieved the feat after months of rigorous Business Impact Analysis (BIA) and Risk Assessment across all departments.
He said that the bank was awarded the prestigious International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 22301 certificate by the British Standard Institute (BSI) in August 2017.
Okonkwo said the certification was valid for three years, noting that the certification body would return yearly to conduct surveillance audits.
Okonkwo said that implementing the ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management System) was a critical step toward achieving its corporate strategy and enhancing stakeholders’ confidence in the Fidelity brand.
Okonkwo said that BCMS demonstrated the bank’s commitment to protect its staff and ensure the continuity of critical business functions, mitigate risk, and sustain customer confidence in the event of a disruption.
“For us as a bank, the customer is the sole reason we are in business.
Therefore, it is essential that we continually deliver exceptional service to our teeming customers.
Certification to such standards will assist us in achieving this,’’ he said.
Okonkwo said that most disruptions to smooth business operations were caused by infrastructure outages or human error, random power outages, natural disasters or international events.
He said that these disruptions could be costly and undermine an organisation’s ability to deliver best-in-breed customer service, thereby affecting efficient service delivery.
“More importantly, unplanned outages can also create far-reaching consequences that impact long-term revenue stream, brand and ultimately, an organisation’s survival.
It is against this backdrop that Fidelity Bank decided to take concrete steps to improve its resilience capabilities,’’ Okonkwo said.
Today, we have built resilience in process functions and services that are critically sensitive to time and disruptions. We have also tested our continuity plans and simulated the recovery of staff to alternate work locations.
“BCMS was implemented as a management system and like all management systems, procedures have been developed to maintain the system through planned activities and designated teams,’’ Okonkwo added.
Mr. Ben Ainsley, the Head, Trade & Investment, Nigerian Department for International Trade, British High Commission, commended the bank for the achievement that would set it apart from its competitors.
Ainsley said that the certification would enable the bank to militate against unnecessary risks in its business environment.
He assured that the United Kingdom would continue to support Nigeria in achieving the desired growth and development.
“We are helping Nigeria’s agriculture exporters to meet the United Kingdom standard, as well as in capacity building and skills,’’ Ainsley said.
Mr Dipo Fatokun, CBN Director of Banking Supervision, lauded the bank for achieving the feat ahead of Sept. 2018 deadline.
Fatokun said that Fidelity Bank was known for rendering quality services to its esteemed customers.
He said that hazards were on the increase on daily basis, noting that, BCMS certification would enable companies to mitigate risks.
Fatokun, however, called on the other players in the industry to emulate Fidelity Bank by getting BCMS certification.
E-Financial
SEC Alerts Public on Silverkuun, Trending Dubious Investment Schemes

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against investing in unregistered investment schemes, including Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited.
In a circular issued in Abuja, yesterday, the commission said its attention had been drawn to the activities of these entities, which falsely present themselves as investment advisers and fund managers in the Nigerian capital market.
“The attention of the Securities and Exchange Commission has been drawn to the activities of Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited which holds itself out as an Investment Adviser/Fund Manager.
“The Commission hereby informs the public that Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited is not registered to operate in any capacity in the Nigerian Capital Market.”
SEC advised the public to refrain from engaging with Silverkuun Investment Cooperative Society/Silverkuun Limited or its representatives in respect of any business in the Nigerian capital market.
“The Commission uses this medium to reiterate that transacting in the Nigerian Capital Market with unregistered and unregulated entities exposes investors to financial risk including fraud and potential loss of investment.
“The investing public is therefore reminded to verify the status of companies and entities offering investment opportunities on the Commission’s portal before transacting with them,” the SEC added.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director-general of the SEC, recently warned that the Commission would not hesitate to shut down the operations of such unregistered entities while also ensuring that the promoters are made to face the full weight of the law.
Agama said, “we will shut down their operations and the promoters will be made to face the full weight of the law.
“In a major reform, ISA 2025 officially brings digital assets under the SEC’s regulatory purview, defining them as securities and mandating registration for all virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and digital asset exchanges. This development aims to close the regulatory vacuum that has allowed many Ponzi-style platforms to thrive under the guise of cryptocurrency and digital finance.”
Agama also emphasized the Commission’s education-focused strategy to combat fraud through podcasts, digital campaigns, and the introduction of capital market literacy in schools and universities, the SEC aims to equip Nigerians with the knowledge to detect and avoid dubious investments.
E-Financial
Africa Cross-border Payments Set to Hit $1 trillion by 2035

Africa’s cross-border payments market is on track to hit $1 trillion by 2035, according to a new report by venture capital firm Oui Capital. Titled “Africa’s Cross-Border Payment Landscape—a deep dive into the systems, players, and shifts shaping Africa’s cross-border payment flows,” the report states that the market is currently valued at $329 billion and growing at a compound annual growth rate of 12%.
It identifies Africa’s booming digital adoption, increasing intra-African trade, and a surge in mobile money usage as the key growth drivers.
Despite the impressive growth, the report highlights systemic inefficiencies.
“Legacy rails, double currency conversions, and fragmented regulations still siphon billions in hidden costs,” Oui Capital states, noting that the continent continues to have the highest global remittance costs, averaging 7–8%.
However, digital innovation is helping reshape the landscape. Mobile money is now a key channel, with 30% of Sub-Saharan remittances flowing through mobile wallets.
In 2022, Africa accounted for 66% of global mobile money transaction value, demonstrating the rapid formalisation of what was once a predominantly informal cash ecosystem.
Oui Capital sees significant investment potential in addressing these inefficiencies. “Infrastructure plays—interoperable API layers, decentralised FX liquidity pools, and PAPSS integrations—represent $10 billion-plus opportunities,” the report says.
The Pan-African Payment and Settlement System is one such initiative pushing for local currency settlements and reduced reliance on USD/EUR clearing, which presently adds around $5 billion in annual costs.
According to the report, cryptocurrencies and Stablecoins are emerging as promising alternatives, cutting remittance costs by up to 60% in markets with clear regulations.
“Fintech APIs are already pushing fees as low as 1.5–3%,” the report notes.
Still, the venture capital firm warns that challenges persist as only 55% of African jurisdictions allow full electronic KYC, limiting the scalability of fintech solutions.
The report urges founders to go beyond peer-to-peer transfers by embedding services like lending and insurance.
“Africa’s payments race is now a scale game. Those that solve for liquidity, compliance and cost will define the continent’s digital trade backbone over the next decade,” it concludes.
E-Financial
SANEF, CIBN Partner to Expand Agency Banking Certification

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria has expanded its Agency Banking Certification Programme through a tripartite collaboration between the Institute, FIC, and SANEF Limited.
This partnership according Prof. Pius Deji Olanrewaju, President/Chairman of Council the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria, CIBN, is timely and strategic, “as we aim to broaden the reach of the certification across Nigeria’s agent banking sector. With SANEF’s deep integration in the financial inclusion ecosystem and established relationships with leading super agents, we are confident that this collaboration will strengthen the quality and visibility of the programme.
“The goal is clear, to enhance professionalism among agent bankers, support the national financial inclusion strategy, and contribute to building trust and integrity within this growing segment of the financial services sector. This collaboration presents an excellent opportunity for further implementation of the competency framework for the banking industry in Nigeria”.
He noted that the collaboration among others is part of his LEGACY agenda which highlights the multifaceted role of financial institutions in shaping Nigeria’s economic future.
The letter C in the LEGACY agenda refers to Competence in the banking and Finance industry, which is a very crucial factor in the banking and finance sector. Competent individuals in this industry are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively manage financial resources. Individuals with expertise in this field can contribute to the growth and stability of the economy.
Mrs. Uche Uzoebo, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Shared Agency Network Expansion Facilities, SANEF, described the memorandum of Understanding, MoU, as a visionary partnership that seeks to expand Financial Inclusion through Agent banking training, Financial Literacy and knowledge impartation, an objective that forms a key pivot of what SANEF represents.
“Over the years, SANEF, in strong collaboration with our key stakeholders, Banks and Licenced Super-Agents/Mobile Money Operators and other Financial Service Providers, have continued to deepen the frontiers of Financial Inclusion and agent bank. Financial Literacy and training have remained a key part of this objective.
“This MOU ceremony is a fulfillment of a shared vision through the expansion of Agent Banking, Financial Literacy, capacity building, thought leadership, training and competency.
She further explained that the agreement provides a training structure with well-curated and knowledge filled training modules and materials that will deepen the knowledge and capacity in agent banking.
“It will go ahead to deepen and expand the knowledge and capacity of all participants that will take part in this training and we believe that with the quality and cooperation of all parties present, this very important objective of impartation of knowledge and thought leadership, grooming and training minds to be empowered and learned and contributing our quota to nation building and be a better place,” she added.
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