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E-Financial

NGX Moves to Reduce Trading Costs Through Technology

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Temi Popoola, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), has revealed that the exchange is exploring ways to leverage technology to focus on reducing brokerage costs.

Popoola disclosed this while fielding questions from stakeholders at the MTN Capital Markets Day which held in Abuja recently.

He noted that NGX recognizes the high cost of trading in and out of Nigeria and added that it is looking at incorporating digital technology to enhance overall trading experience and make it more cost-effective for investors.

Popoola, while specifically stating that the exchange is focused on reducing brokerage costs, said this will encourage more participation in the stock market and attract a broader range of investors and added that the NGX wants to emulate other digital market platforms that offer zero-cost trading on their platforms.

He explained, “Looking at many other markets, there are many digital platforms that allow them to trade for free at zero cost and today there are people (brokerage) who charge around 130 basis points to do business and so we think that with digital and tech transformation, trading costs on NGX can be addressed.

Of course there are costs that we charge as a business but a lot of our stakeholders are looking to see whether lowering trading costs can be addressed whether in a short or long term and relax the costs to build the market.

Another thing that brings these costs are people who bring deals and issuances to the market and a lot of feedback has been that it is very expensive and so we think we will address these things”.

Weighing in on the spate of delistings which is currently ongoing in the market, the NGX boss, quoting PitchBook, said that Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) have witnessed a slowdown of more than 60 per cent in the last two years globally, adding that there has been a noticeable scarcity of smaller cap stocks on public exchanges due to various factors such as voluntary and involuntary delistings, mergers and acquisitions, and liquidations.

Emphasizing NGX’s strategy around delistings, Popoola said, “What most exchanges aim to do is replace those delistings faster than they occur, and that has formed the crux of our strategy at NGX.

“We have had notable listings within the last two years including BUA Foods, Geregu – which is our first power sector listing, MeCure Industries, VFD Group, and interestingly our first listed Investment Trust, Nigeria Infrastructure Debt Fund.

“NGX has experienced a remarkable surge in market capitalization, with new listings contributing over 10 per cent in the past two years and we think that there is a need for government advocacy and policymaking in enhancing listings in our markets”.

Whilst acknowledging the global availability of capital for sustainable initiatives, he further revealed that the exchange places a strong emphasis on sustainability and said it is planning to launch a sustainability framework and work with listed corporates to address current carbon footprints to promote responsible corporate behavior.


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E-Financial

DBN to Invest $2.5m in Proposed Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank

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The Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) has received shareholders’ approval to invest $2.5 million or 25% equity stake in the proposed Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YIB) — a new investment vehicle designed to provide equity funding to youth-led businesses in Nigeria.

The approval came during the bank’s 8th Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was held in Abuja.

The move is a strategic step aligned with the bank’s broader mission to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), job creation and entrepreneurship among Nigeria’s youth.

According to Tony Okpanachi, DBN Managing Director, Youth Entrepreneurship Investment (YIB) is not a conventional bank. It is an investment vehicle that will deploy equity into promising youth-owned enterprises.

“This is about backing ideas and unlocking growth through long-term capital — not debt,” Okpanachi told journalists after the AGM.

The initiative is a partnership between DBN, the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB), with additional backing expected from development finance institutions.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) is currently in discussion to provide debt financing, which would bolster the capital available to the vehicle without diluting equity.

“This $2.5 million is DBN’s initial stake,” Okpanachi said. “We are co-investing alongside NSIA, and this sets the stage for broader institutional participation — both local and global.”

YIB aims to fill a critical funding gap in Nigeria’s startup ecosystem. While the country has a vibrant pool of young entrepreneurs, access to early-stage funding remains limited. Many businesses rely on short-term loans or informal capital, which often constrains scalability and long-term planning.

Okpanachi emphasised that YIB’s structure is deliberately designed to avoid the trappings of a traditional bank.

“This is not a commercial bank. It won’t provide loans or open retail accounts. It’s structured purely as an equity-focused investment vehicle, targeting scalable ventures with strong fundamentals and youth ownership”, he noted.

This will be DBN’s second strategic investment following the establishment of its wholly owned impact credit guarantee subsidiary, which offers partial credit guarantees to MSMEs.

Final structuring of YIB is underway. Following the shareholder greenlight, the promoters are now coordinating with the relevant stakeholders to complete incorporation, legal frameworks, and capital mobilisation.

“We expect all groundwork to be finalised by the end of this year. With operations likely to begin by early 2026,” Okpanachi disclosed.

The move comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s rising youth unemployment rate.

By investing directly into youth-led businesses, DBN and its partners aim to accelerate job creation, promote innovation, and catalyse broader economic development.

“There’s already strong interest from global players,” the MD noted, though he declined to name institutions due to ongoing negotiations.

“What we are doing is laying the foundation. YIB will serve as a credible, well-structured platform to crowd in institutional capital and scale youth-driven entrepreneurship.”

He added that YIB is not a one-off initiative but part of a long-term strategy to create sustainable investment channels focused on Nigeria’s demographic dividend.

“This is more than a financial transaction,” Okpanachi said. “It is a statement of intent. We believe in the entrepreneurial potential of Nigerian youth — and we are backing that belief with real capital.”

 


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E-Financial

CBN Slams ₦250m Fine on Paystack Over Zap Wallet Operations

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has slammed a ₦250 million fine on Paystack for operating Zap, its peer-to-peer payment app, as a wallet in breach of its regulatory approval.

The apex bank flagged Zap as a deposit-taking product, a function reserved exclusively for institutions with microfinance or banking licences, according to a report by TechCabal.

Launched in March, Zap allows users to send and receive money, positioning itself as a consumer-facing digital wallet.

However, Paystack only holds a switching and processing licence, which permits it to facilitate transactions but not to hold customer funds. This regulatory limitation is at the heart of the CBN’s sanction, sources familiar with the matter said.

“Paystack is working closely with the regulator as they further review Zap, and out of respect for the process, we won’t be making any public comments at this time,” a company spokesperson said.

The penalty comes amid a legal dispute between Paystack and Zap Africa, a Nigerian crypto startup, which has accused the fintech of trademark infringement.

In Nigeria’s highly regulated financial services space, digital wallets are considered deposit-taking entities, and offering such services without the requisite licence raises compliance concerns for the regulator.

Although Zap reportedly does not directly hold customer funds, it operates in partnership with Titan Trust Bank, which is authorised to accept deposits.

This is Paystack’s most significant publicly disclosed regulatory sanction since it received CBN approval in 2016. It reveals the growing scrutiny facing fintech firms as they transition from enterprise-focused offerings to consumer-facing financial services.

 


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E-Financial

Gtb Increases SMS Transaction Alert Fee Today

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Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) has announced an increase in its SMS transaction alert fee from ₦4 to ₦6 per message, effective May 1, 2025. The bank cited a recent rise in telecommunication tariffs by service providers as the reason for the adjustment.

In a message to customers, GTBank explained that SMS alerts sent to international phone numbers would attract higher charges due to varying telecom costs. The bank emphasized the importance of transaction alerts in helping customers monitor account activity

Customers who no longer wish to receive SMS alerts have the option to update their alert preferences by submitting a form available on the bank’s website via email. This move allows customers to manage their notification preferences according to their needs.

The fee increase affects GTBank customers, who will now be charged ₦6 per SMS alert for transactions


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