E-Financial
UBA Rewards 100 more Customers with N100,000 Each in Fresh Bumper Draw
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, Pan African Financial institution, has rewarded another set of 100 loyal customers with a total of N10m in the UBA Bumper account draw. The 100 customers won N100,000 each in this month’s edition of the draw which began in January 2020.
The virtual and transparent draw which was held at the UBA Head Office in Lagos on Wednesday, was transmitted live via the Facebook platform in strict compliance with social distancing rules as directed by the Federal and Lagos State Government.
Just like the previous draw held in May, lucky winners, who were contacted via their mobile phone numbers were overjoyed as they emerged the latest winners of N100,000 each. While expressing gratitude to the bank, they said the winnings will go a long way in meeting their pressing needs especially in these trying times, when the Covid-19 pandemic has made most businesses vulnerable.
Jude Anele, UBA’s group head, Consumer and Retail Banking, who congratulated the lucky winners, said they were rewarded for their loyalty to the bank. He also noted that the bank is dedicated to supporting customers and remains passionate about their success and overall growth.
He said, “I will like to reiterate that UBA is always happy to reward and support customers. There is no better time to give back and delight customers than this challenging economic period where people need all the support they can get to make life more meaningful. With this in mind we decided to prioritize them as we always like to do at UBA by giving them ample reason to be joyful.
Continuing, Anele said, “Our key objective is to encourage our customers save regularly. We are here to support them likewise encourage them save and ultimately grow as well, because we are aware that they are invaluable to all that we do”.
Michelle Nwoga, UBA’s group head Marketing & Customer Experience, who explained that the main purpose of the UBA Bumper Account is to ensure that Nigerians fully embrace the savings culture; noted that the monthly, quarterly and targeted draws will also go a long way to assist customers through these turbulent times, by providing them with funds that will help ease the difficulties occasioned by the pandemic.
Explaining the modalities for the draw, Nwoga said that all new and existing customers need do to qualify for the draw is to ensure that they have a minimum deposit of N5,000 in their UBA Bumper Account. Current UBA customers are to dial *919*20*1# to migrate to the UBA Bumper Account whilst potential customers should dial *919*20# if interested in opening a UBA Bumper Account.
She also added that for the bumper account a monthly shopping allowance of N100,000 for a year is also up for grabs. “No fewer than five account holders will get a whopping N2 million each across all participating regions every quarter.
Speaking further, Nwoga disclosed that UBA is constantly working on best ways to serve the interest of customers by making their lives easier, “This is why as a bank, we continue to invest in cutting edge technology that guarantees ease as is evident in our recent mobile app upgrade which offers a more interactive, user friendly interface that makes available a myriad of opportunities from the comfort of customers’ homes,” Nwoga stated.
She explained that the new mobile app will now prompt users to use their device enabled biometrics, adding that the menu has been reduced and divided into sub-menus to enable users view Transaction History, Net worth, Trends amongst others at a glance.
“One other key feature of the app, worthy of mention is that it includes the live chat option, where users can communicate on the go with dedicated staff trained to assist with any enquires and challenges; biller validation; as well as group transfer – a new menu where users can create groups, save members and transfer funds to up to 100 members on the group. You can be assured that UBA never relents in guaranteeing premium customer satisfaction”, she said.
Gambaryan, Binance Executive Leaves Company after 8-Month Detention in Nigeria
Tigran Gambaryan, Binance executive, is leaving the exchange after four years of service, eight months of which were marked by detention in Nigeria for money laundering allegations.
Tigran Gambaryan, Binance executive Pix created by photogrid
Gambaryan, praises Changpeng Zhao’s commitment to building a stronger compliance framework.
Having been cleared of all charges, Gambaryan’s departure from Binance marks the end of a tumultuous chapter for both him and the company.
Earlier yesterday, Tigran Gambryan shared an X post, announcing his departure from Binance. He wrote, “Today is my last day at Binance, marking the end of a chapter I’m deeply proud of.”
In a heartfelt farewell, Gambaryan reflected on his four-year tenure at Binance, where he built and led the company’s global investigations function.
Addressing founder Changpeng Zhao, he praised his commitment to building a stronger compliance framework. He noted,
“[CZ] was committed to bringing in experienced leadership to help the company engage more constructively with law enforcement. His support for our mission never wavered, and I’ll always be grateful for the trust he placed in me and the team.”
Further, he highlighted the team’s notable achievements during his tenure. Notably, the team handled over 57,000 law enforcement requests and provided critical support in cases involving financial crimes. He has also led the training of thousands of officials worldwide.
To exemplify, he highlighted cases like assisting the Royal Thai Police.
The team helped them in taking down a massive $270 million crypto fraud scheme targeting citizens in Thailand and the US. He also pointed to the collaboration with Nigeria’s EFCC to recover over $400,000 in illicit funds and provide advanced training to their agents.
Notably, his departure comes following Coinbase’s recent data breach.
The incident exposed personal details of prominent figures like Sequoia Capital’s Managing Partner, Roelof Botha.
Tigran Gambaryan was the Head of Financial Crime Compliance at Binance, who served the exchange for four years.
During a business trip to Nigeria, Gambryan was arrested along with another Binance executive over money laundering allegations.
During his nearly eight-month detention, Gambaryan reportedly endured harsh conditions that took a toll on his health.
Though Gambaryan suffered from malaria and pneumonia, he reportedly received inadequate medical care.
In addition, in a September 2, 2024, court hearing, Gambaryan was subjected to ‘inhumane treatment’ by Nigerian authorities, as evidenced by a video.
However, following consistent requests from his family and influential figures, Gambaryan was finally released and cleared of all charges in October 2024.
It is noteworthy that the Nigerian government sued Binance when the exchange was facing a lawsuit from the US SEC.
While Nigeria is still pursuing the case, the SEC recently dismissed its lawsuit against the exchange.
PalmPay, an African digital bank fintech, is in negotiations to fund between $50 million and $100 million in a Series B financing, according to people with knowledge of the situation.
Although its target worth is unknown, its most recent round in 2021 placed it among the most valuable firms on the continent, coming in just short of unicorn status.
A representative for PalmPay stated that the 6-year-old fintech company is “in a strong financial position and exploring growth opportunities,” but the company declined to comment on the specifics of the fundraising.
People with knowledge of the company’s finances say it is now profitable after raising about $140 million in seed and Series A rounds.
The additional funding, which is anticipated to consist of both loan and stock, will support PalmPay’s growth by expanding its presence in Nigeria, growing its more recent business-oriented product line, and introducing both goods in new African and Asian countries.
PalmPay reported last month that its 35 million registered users were responsible for 15 million daily transactions.
The corporation claims that the value of these transactions now totals “tens of billions of dollars” every year.
Revenue has increased as well. According to those with knowledge of PalmPay’s finances, the company’s revenue has more than doubled since 2023, when it was $64 million, as reported by the Financial Times.
PalmPay was first introduced in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and a significant engine for fintech, in 2019.
Since traditional banks primarily served salaried or formal-sector clients, frequently with restrictions that barred mass-market users, more than half of the nation’s adults were unbanked at the time.
PalmPay saw a chance to reverse that approach by creating a digital bank from the ground up while tailoring it to the needs of the unorganized sector in Africa. To meet the needs of underbanked people and small companies, the company released an app with rapid onboarding, no transfer fees, and an expanding range of services (such as credit, savings, insurance, and bill payments).
Importantly, PalmPay relied on more than just digital acquisition. Through the PalmPay Business app and point-of-sale devices (for cash-in, cash-out services), the fintech established a massive on-the-ground network of over 1 million small businesses and agent merchants that currently serve over 10 million clients each month.
The hybrid strategy, which combines digital apps with physical touchpoints, has also been adopted by other significant fintech companies in the nation, such as OPay, Moniepoint, and Paga.
According to 25% of its members, PalmPay was their first banking account, and it promises to execute more transactions than any traditional bank in Nigeria. According to the report, that percentage rises to 60% among borrowers for loan products provided in collaboration with authorized lenders.
PalmPay’s relationship with Transsion, the Chinese phone manufacturer that controls the majority of smartphone sales in Africa with a market share of more than 40% across its brands (Tecno and Infinix), contributes to its strong distribution and marketing edge.
As part of the collaboration, PalmPay pre-installs its software on a few financed smartphones, which promotes user engagement and acquisition.
Now that it has become one of the most popular fintech applications in the nation, PalmPay is getting ready to expand its business strategy overseas.
The neobanking platform has made its first appearance outside of Africa in Tanzania and Bangladesh, where PalmPay is introducing consumer credit and device finance as stepping stones before adding more services. (With differing degrees of success, other African digital banks have extended their financial services into Asia, notably TymeBank, MNT-Halan, and FairMoney.)
According to a business representative, the company also intends to launch device financing in Nigeria.
The Fintech firm is aggressively looking into partnerships with additional original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), according to a representative for the firm, even if Transsion, who spearheaded PalmPay’s seed investment, is still a key partner.
Other investors include MediaTek, one of the biggest producers of mobile chipsets worldwide, and GIC, Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund.
PalmPay’s newly launched business feature, which is currently available in Nigeria, Kenya, and Tanzania (with South Africa in the works), handles “hundreds of millions of dollars monthly,” according to a company spokesperson. PalmPay facilitates cross-border payments for merchants who wish to send and receive payments across Africa via a single API, a persistent pain point (despite the promise of stablecoins).
Source: techbooky.com
The Board of Directors of Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI), the parent company of the Ecobank Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ayo Adepoju, the current group chief financial officer (CFO), to the Board as Group Executive Director, effective June 4, 2025.
Ayo brings two decades of broad-based leadership experience and deep institutional knowledge as a proud product of the Ecobank Group. His expertise spans financial management, capital markets, strategic planning, capital raising and structuring, treasury management, investor relations, business performance management, governance, enterprise transformation, financial due diligence, internal control, and risk-based audit.
As a distinguished finance executive, he has been instrumental in shaping the Group’s financial transformation, capital strategy, and long-term resilience. Since joining Ecobank in 2012, he has held several key leadership positions, including Group Financial Controller, Group Head of Business Performance and Analytics, and currently Group CFO.
Over the years, Ayo has led numerous strategic initiatives, including landmark capital market transactions such as Eurobonds, Basel III-compliant instruments, and sustainability-linked debt. These efforts have significantly enhanced Ecobank’s presence in international capital markets and strengthened transparency and investor engagement.
Prior to joining Ecobank, he worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in London and Lagos, serving in the Financial Services Practice.
Commenting on the appointment, Papa Madiaw Ndiaye, Chairman of the Ecobank Group, stated: “On behalf of my fellow directors, I commend Ayo for his outstanding performance and warmly welcome him to the ETI board. His proven leadership has fostered trusted relationships with the Board and made this appointment both natural and strategic for the Group’s future.
“I believe that Ayo embodies Ecobank’s renewed talent philosophy, a homegrown leader with global exposure and a compelling track record.
“His intellect, integrity, and impact-driven leadership have long been evident. His appointment to the Board is a testament to our belief in recognizing and elevating excellence from within.”
Jeremy Awori, Group Chief Executive Officer, added: “Ayo has played a critical role in strengthening Ecobank’s financial resilience and enabling sustainable business growth.
“His ability to manage complexity, innovate in financial strategy, align finance with enterprise-wide transformation, and lead collaboratively has made him a critical member of our executive team. I look forward to deepening our partnership as we drive forward our Growth, Transformation and Returns strategy.”
Ayo holds a First-Class Honours degree from the University of Lagos and is a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK. He also holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a Ph.D. in Organizational Leadership from Regent University, USA.
He has completed executive education programs at Wharton, London Business School, and most recently in 2024, the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School. An official member of the Forbes Finance Council, he is also a published author and respected thought leader in finance and organizational strategy.
This appointment reinforces Ecobank’s continued commitment to nurturing internal talent and promoting leadership excellence across Africa.
Gambaryan, Binance Executive Leaves Company after 8-Month Detention in Nigeria
NITDA Makes Case for Inclusive Tech for Special Needs
Airtel Recommits to Fraud Prevention after NCC’s N104m Fine for SIM Registration Breaches
IHS Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to raising Nigeria’s Next Tech Giants from the Ilorin Innovation Hub
Kenya Beats Nigeria As the Most Progressive ICT Regulation in Africa
Telecom2 days agoTelcos Threaten to Disconnect Banks over Misinformation on New USSD Charges
Telecom2 days agoMTN Nigeria Plans N900Bn in Service Upgrade
General News2 days agoJumia Marks 13 Years of E-Commerce Innovation and Impact in Nigeria
Telecom2 days agoTelecom Regulators in Africa Chart New Course for a Data-driven Future
Broadcasting2 days agoNetflix Hikes Subscription Fees Again in Nigeria over “Market Conditions”
News2 days agoAbbas Jega, Ex-AMCON ED, Testifies, Says Arik Never Cooperated With AMCON
E-Financial2 days agoNDIC Calls for Inputs to IADI Core Principles for Effective Deposit Insurance
Broadcasting2 days agoNBC, Nigcomsat Launch Satellite Plan to Transform Broadcasting