E-Financial
Path Solutions Emerged ‘Best Islamic Technology Provider’ @ IFN Awards 2017

Path Solutions, a leader in banking software systems with a strong focus on the Islamic banking sector, has won the ‘Best Islamic Technology Provider’ award at the 2017 Islamic Finance news Awards. The company is winning the award for the tenth successive year and eleventh time in total.
Instituted by REDmoney – a leading global provider of specialized Islamic financial media services across three core divisions of publishing, events and training, IFN Awards is one of the most prestigious awards and highly recognized by the global Islamic finance community.
The IFN Polls was established in 2005, and continue to be an apt representation of the current Islamic financial landscape.
Speaking on the award, Mohammed Kateeb, Group Chairman & CEO, Path Solutions, said: “It’s an absolute privilege to be voted as ‘Best Islamic Technology Provider’ one more time at the IFN Service Providers Poll 2017. We especially thank our clients and partners for their continued trust and support.
They’ve made an informed choice in adopting our state-of-the-art Islamic core banking system that will enable them to add further value to complying with industry regulations, improving their management processes and service delivery.
We are again at a pivot point where new technologies are creating new paradigms that will change the shape and face of our industry along with opening up new vistas for the global financial world”.
Kateeb then added, “Path Solutions provides the power of digital transformation, enabling the unbanked to access financial services, improve their lives and secure a better future for them. Our strategy toward 2018 is driven by the ambition to become our clients’ trusted partner in digital life, creating long-term value for them.
We will allow them to be ahead of the curve by implementing a digital-first strategy, leveraging new technologies such as big data, advanced analytics, a 360-degree view of the customer and a personalized engagement, thus providing instant fulfillment to their customers.
In today’s increasingly digital world, failing to invest in and prioritize technology will come at a cost. We believe it’s time to move into the future”.
The prestigious IFN Awards are based solely on merit, and highlight key players, individuals and innovative firms who have provided the Islamic financial world with ground-breaking initiatives.
The award underscores Path Solutions’ momentum to maintaining a leadership position for more than two decades in the evolving Islamic financial marketplace, and the company’s critical role in pioneering industry-specific software solutions and services that are required for its sustainable growth.
“Announcing the IFN Service Providers Poll nominees is always exciting. The special awards honor and celebrate the outstanding annual contributions of those who are the backbone of the Islamic finance community”, commented Lauren McAughtry, Group Managing Editor, REDmoney Group.
“Path Solutions’ leadership and business model promote continuous innovation and impactful growth. Their hard work and commitment is vital to ensuring a technologically-standardized Islamic finance industry”, she said.
In a turbulent year that had its ups and downs — from the geopolitical tensions in the GCC and the ongoing effects of the US elections to giant debut sovereign issuances and oil prices bouncing back — the Islamic finance industry has sailed through successfully.
The IFN Awards recognize and reward the wide range of essential building blocks behind the scenes working to support the Islamic finance industry as it grows ever upwards. This year’s survey has seen a substantial swing with the received votes representing a rock solid review of the real state of the industry and the views of its participants.
The recipients of the IFN Service Providers Poll 2017 will be presented with their awards at a dinner ceremony held alongside the inaugural IFN Global Leaders Forum on 11th March 2018 in Dubai, and the Asian dinner ceremony on 19th March 2018 in Kuala Lumpur.
E-Financial
FG Halts FRC’s Turnover-Based Levy, Introduces N25m Cap

Federal government has halted the implementation of the controversial turnover-based annual dues imposed by the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and has introduced a N25 million cap for Public Interest Entities (PIEs) in the private sector.
This was disclosed on Sunday by Dr Jumoke Oduwole, minister Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment.
“To provide immediate clarity, the Minister has directed the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) to apply an interim cap on annual dues payable by private sector PIEs at N25m, aligned with the cap already in place for publicly listed entities under the legislation.
“This directive creates a stable environment for compliance for affected companies in the short term and reflects the Ministry’s commitment to prioritizing transparency, investor confidence, and regulatory equity while allowing the Ministry of Justice to appropriately determine the longer-term path for seeking legislative amendments on behalf of the Federal Government, if required,” the ministry announced.
The decision followed sustained pressure and advocacy from leading industry groups, including the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), and the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), who expressed serious concerns about the Financial Reporting Council (Amendment) Act 2023.
At the heart of the outcry was the reclassification of large private companies as PIEs, which subjected them to annual dues ranging from 0.02 per cent to 0.05 per cent of turnover—without any upper limit.
This was in stark contrast to the fixed ₦25m levy applied to publicly listed companies, regardless of their size or market value.
Responding to these concerns, the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment convened a high-level stakeholder engagement in March 2025, aimed at addressing the implications of the amended Act and preserving a fair regulatory environment.
Following a formal public consultation held on March 26, 2025, the Ministry announced an administrative pause on the implementation of the turnover-based levies.
The ministry explained, “In line with this commitment, the Technical Working Group coordinated by the Ministry, comprising NECA, MAN, ALTON, NACCIMA, PFPTRC, CAC, and SEC, along with a robust team from the FRCN, met six times over a three-week period for stakeholder consultations.”
The ministry narrated that after six rounds of stakeholder meetings over a three-week period, the Working Group submitted a detailed report to the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment on April 17, 2025.
The Minister subsequently briefed President Bola Tinubu, highlighting the disproportionate burden the policy placed on affected companies and its potential to harm investor confidence.
It added, “These engagements culminated in a report assessing the implications of Section 33D of the FRC (Amendment) Act 2023 submitted to the Honourable Minister on April 17, 2025, the Minister of industry trade and investment provided a detailed briefing to Mr. President on the critical concerns raised by organized private sector stakeholders prior to the implementation of the administrative pause and made recommendations based on the submitted report and affirms that the administrative pause will be maintained in the mid- to long-term, pending a broader legislative review.”
E-Financial
GTBank to Close Branches Early Today for Half-Year Audit

Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd. (GTBank) will close all its branches across Nigeria earlier than usual on today (Monday, June 30), according to email sent to customers at the weekend.
According to the message, the early closure allows for the bank’s scheduled half-year audit activities.
The statement read, “Please be informed that our branches nationwide will close to customers early on Monday, June 30, 2025, for our half-year audit.”
It also specified different closure times for locations based on geographical locations in the country.
“Kindly note the early closure time below: Upcountry Branches – 2.00 pm; Lagos Branches – 3.00 pm,” the bank stated.
GTBank advised customers to use its digital banking channels for transactions during the period of early closure.
GTBank assured that its branches will resume operations at regular business hours on Tuesday, July 1.
It appreciated customers for their understanding and continued patronage during the audit period.
E-Financial
Shareholders Oppose Transfer of Unclaimed Dividend to CBN

Shareholders have condemned the recent decision by the National Assembly to pass legislation requiring the transfer of all unclaimed dividends from company registrars to accounts managed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as opened by the Debt Management Office at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In a statement issued under the aegis of the Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), shareholders strongly rejected the position of the National Assembly, describing the move as an unconstitutional transfer of unclaimed dividends to the CBN.
They noted that this action constitutes a gross violation of shareholders’ rights, a betrayal of investor trust, and a dangerous precedent that threatens the sanctity of private property and the integrity of the capital market.
Giving reasons for their rejection, the shareholders emphasized that unclaimed dividends are not government revenue; they remain the legal property of individual investors and their heirs, regardless of the time elapsed.
They argued that the attempt to centralize and manage these funds under SEC control amounts to indirect expropriation.
They added that this law would erode investor confidence in Nigeria’s capital markets, as both local and international investors require assurance that their returns will be protected—not seized under the guise of state policy.
The statement, jointly signed by Moses Igbrude and Mr. Eke Chibuzor, national coordinator and general secretary respectively of ISAN, criticized the passage of the law without broad consultations with shareholders, registrars, and capital market stakeholders, calling it a troubling disregard for participatory governance and due process.
“There are no clear frameworks for how the SEC intends to manage these funds, what returns will be offered to rightful owners, or how and when claims will be honored. This is a recipe for bureaucratic mismanagement and corruption,” the statement read. It added that instead of simplifying the process for claiming unclaimed dividends, the law introduces additional layers of opacity and complexity—especially for rural and aging investors who already face significant challenges.
Shareholders, therefore, demanded the immediate suspension of the law’s implementation and urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to assent to the bill. If already signed, they called for its immediate suspension pending judicial review.
They also noted that the association is mobilizing legal resources to challenge the law in court, describing it as unconstitutional, unjust, and economically harmful.
Instead, they proposed that efforts should focus on reforming the claims process at the registrar level through technology, public education, and standardization—not through centralization and state appropriation.
The group concluded that the future of Nigeria’s investment climate must be built on fairness, property protection, and inclusive growth—not arbitrary power grabs. They called on all shareholders to unite in rejecting this injustice.
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