E-Financial
Ogunsanya, Airtel MD Advices SMEs to Invest in Technology @ UBA Business Series
In adjusting to the new normal, business owners and operators of Small and Medium Scale businesses have been advised to invest massively in technology and find ways to source their raw materials or supplies locally, as this is expected to boost their activities and help them stay afloat especially in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Segun Ogunsanya, managing director/chief executive officer, Airtel Nigeria, who gave these tips at the UBA Quarterly Business Series on Tuesday, said that it is important that businesses redefine their activities to adapt to the new normal which most economies have found themselves as a result of the raging virus.
The UBA Business Series, organised by Pan-African financial institution, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, is a capacity building initiative held every quarter, where leading business leaders share insights on best business practices and how entrepreneurs can build a sustainable business empire especially in the challenging business environment in Africa.
This edition was moderated by Bankole Williams, chief executive officer, Lyd Consulting.
Ogunsanya spoke on the topic: ‘Strategies and competencies for adjusting to a Post COVID-19 Business Environment’, where he sought to equip business owners with the important and essential strategies on how to recover and rebuild their business concerns following losses incurred due to the pandemic which took the world by storm, forcing many businesses to re-examine their models and strategies in line with the new normal.
Giving essential strategies to business owners to help their businesses thrive and stay afloat, he said, “I must stress the need for business owners to invest in technology as it is very key in the new normal to ensure that our employees are able to deliver the goods and services to customers while remaining safe and keeping the customers safe also. Remember that the customer is still the king, so it is important to ensure that you configure all your operations to make sure that they are still able to transact their businesses and also encourage online payment for services because handling cash can also be dangerous. More importantly, look for ways to configure your businesses to what your customers actually need especially in this era of physical and social distancing.”
While giving examples of companies that have changed the direction of their businesses due to the limitations occasioned by Covid-19 pandemic, Ogunsanya told the over 2,000 participants at the webinar, that this period called for critical evaluation of businesses where SMEs should think of creative ways to ensure that they meet the needs of customers and provide services that customers are actually willing to pay for.
“If as a business you find out that a huge part of your key services are not in high demand as a result of lockdown rules, then it is important to reconfigure your services; find other needs that you can meet for customers; look for various things you can do differently, completely cut out wastes and costs that are irrelevant as well as areas where value is not being added to the customers and ensure that you have a digital roadmap” he said in response to a participant who wanted to know how to increase productivity.
Jude Anele, UBA’s group head, Consumer and Retail Banking, who spoke ahead of the webinar, said that far beyond banking services, UBA is interested in ensuring that customers and entrepreneurs run businesses that can stand the test of time, adding that the Business Series seeks to arm business leaders with all the knowledge and experience required to take their businesses to the next level. “it is always an opportunity to learn something new from the people who have the experience,” Anele said.
United Bank for Africa is a leading pan-African financial institution offering banking services to more than twenty million customers globally.
With footprint in 20 African countries and presence globally in the United Kingdom, the USA and France, 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.
Banks in the country have begun suspending instant transaction alerts for cheques drawn from other banks until such cheques are fully cleared.
This is in compliance with a recent directive from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
This new policy affects customers who receive cheques from other banks, signaling a major change in how cheque payments are confirmed.
According to the CBN directive, the move is intended to prevent confusion around the status of cheque payments and to curb premature release of goods and services before the actual receipt of funds.
In an email sent to its customers, Access Bank stated that moving forward, alerts for cheques deposited into accounts will only be sent after the cheque has been completely processed.
This is to notify you of the recent directive by the CBN which requires banks to send transaction alerts on payments of other bank cheque only upon cheque clearance.
This means that you would only receive alerts for other banks’ cheques paid into your account after the cheque has been fully processed, that is, after the funds are paid into your account or if the cheque is unpaid and and returned from the other bank.
As a result of this new directive, you will no longer receive alerts for cheques lodged into your account until the cheque is cleared or returned”, the bank stated.
Access Bank also advised customers to monitor their accounts through other available channels such as the AccessMore app, internet banking platforms, PrimusPlus, and the USSD service *901# to stay updated on the status of their cheque deposits.
To track your transactions and ensure you do not part with your goods and services prior to payment. Please use our other channels; Accessmore, Internet banking, PrimusPlus, *901#.
We remain committed to delivering seamless and secure banking services to you always”, it said.
The CBN’s directive is designed to protect both payees and payers by ensuring that goods or services are not exchanged before the actual payment has been confirmed.
Previously, customers often received immediate alerts once a cheque was lodged, leading to confusion when the cheque was later dishonoured.
A banking industry insider commented, “This change is critical in promoting financial discipline. It safeguards businesses from losses due to bounced cheques and helps maintain the integrity of cheque payments.”
While digital payment methods are on the rise in Nigeria, cheques still remain a significant payment instrument in various sectors, particularly in wholesale trade and business-to-business transactions.
The apex bank’s new guideline is expected to strengthen trust in cheque transactions by ensuring that payment confirmations are accurate and timely.
As the financial ecosystem evolves, this move is one among several measures aimed at enhancing the safety and reliability of banking transactions across Nigeria.
Credit: Daily Sun
Sterling Financial Holdings Company Plc (“Sterling HoldCo”) has reported a remarkable 157% year-on-year growth in profit-after-tax, hitting ₦41.78 billion for the half-year ended June 30, 2025. This jump from ₦16.26 billion in H1 2024 reflects the Group’s strategic excellence and operational resilience.
Yemi Odubiyi
Profit after tax rose to ₦41.78 billion, while earnings per share climbed to 89 Kobo from 56 Kobo in the prior period. Gross earnings increased by 39.7%, reaching ₦212.61 billion. Interest income grew by 38.3% to ₦167.16 billion, and non-interest income surged 45% to ₦45.45 billion.
The Group’s cost-to-income ratio also improved significantly, declining from 75.7% to 64.5%, thanks to focused cost optimisation.
Sterling HoldCo’s total assets increased to ₦4.08 trillion as of June 2025, up 15.3% from ₦3.54 trillion in December 2024. Shareholders’ funds rose by 22.9% during the period, driven by strong retained earnings and successful recapitalisation. Asset quality also improved, with the non-performing loan ratio down to 5.1% from 5.4%.
Building on its financial strength, the Group completed a ₦100 billion private placement and rights issue, which enabled the recapitalisation of Alternative Bank and bolstered Sterling Bank’s capital base. A public offer to raise an additional ₦53 billion is set to launch in the coming weeks, forming the first phase of a US$400 million capital programme approved at the Group’s Annual General Meeting on June 30, 2025.
Group CEO Yemi Odubiyi attributed the half-year performance to strategic clarity and operational agility, noting that the results reflect resilience and value creation in a dynamic macroeconomic environment.
He reiterated the Group’s commitment to responsible growth, sustainable impact, and continued investment in Nigeria’s growth sectors, including renewable energy, healthcare, and community development.
Sterling HoldCo remains focused on leveraging its robust capital strategy to fuel long-term expansion, innovate across its financial services, and deepen its contribution to Nigeria’s economic progress.
Fidelity Bank Chapter of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) has inaugurated Mr. Audifax Onuoha as its new Chairman, ushering in a fresh era of professional development and strategic collaboration within the bank.
L-R: Chairman of the Occasion and Regional Bank Head -Ikeja, Fidelity Bank Plc, Jude Monye, FCA; Associate Prof. & Member, Governing Council, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Dr. Mrs Obal Usang Edet Usang, FCA; 4th Chairman, ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter, Audifax Onuoha, FCA; 61st ICAN President, Mallam Haruna Yahaya MNI, PhD, FCA; and Immediate Past Chairman, ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter and Chief Financial Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Victor Abejegah; during the 4th Investiture and Patron Conferment Ceremony of the ICAN Fidelity Bank Chapter, held at the Fidelity Bank Head Office in Lagos recently.
The investiture, which took place at Fidelity Place, Lagos, also featured the swearing-in of the Chapter’s 2025–2027 Executive Committee and the conferment of a Patron award on Mr. Stanley Amuchie, Executive Director/Chief Operations and Information Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc.
Onuoha, who currently serves as Group Head, Compliance Risk Management at Fidelity Bank, succeeds Mr. Victor Abejegah, the bank’s Chief Financial Officer. In his acceptance speech, Onuoha pledged to prioritise capacity building and continuous learning for ICAN members and non-members across the bank.
He said the new administration would focus on equipping professionals with the skills required to navigate the evolving financial services landscape, while strengthening the strategic alliance between ICAN and Fidelity Bank.
“We will deepen the synergy between Fidelity Bank and ICAN as a foundation for a resilient financial ecosystem,” he said.
Delivering the opening address, Mr. Jude Monye, Regional Bank Head – Ikeja, Fidelity Bank Plc, urged the new leadership to make professional development a top priority, describing capacity building as imperative in today’s financial environment.
Monye commended the Chapter’s growth and attributed its success to the support of Fidelity Bank’s leadership, particularly its Managing Director/CEO, Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe.
In his remarks, Abejegah highlighted achievements during his tenure, including entrepreneurship training in fish farming, snail farming, poultry, and export processing, as well as improved member welfare and insurance support for bereaved families.
The event also saw the conferment of the Chapter’s Patron award on Amuchie, in recognition of his over 25 years of exemplary service in banking. He described the honour as a call to serve as a mentor and advocate within the ICAN community and Fidelity Bank family.
The ceremony concluded with the swearing-in of the new executive committee by ICAN’s 61st President, Mallam Haruna Yahaya.
Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged commercial bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital channels, 255 business offices across Nigeria, and its UK subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited. The bank has received multiple awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award and the Euromoney Award for Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria.
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