By Rukayat Adeyemi

Access Bank Plc says it has enhanced its Agriculture Desk to boost sustainable agricultural business and attract global investments.

The Executive Director, Commercial Banking, Access Bank, Ms Hadiza Ambursa, at a news conference in Lagos, said that the move aimed at improving value for its customers and stakeholders.

Ambursa said that the advancement positions the bank at the forefront of Nigeria’s agricultural financing market segment to serve and support agribusinesses in Nigeria.

According to her, this is in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive to banks.
She said that the agriculture desk serves as a specialised unit which is charged with the responsibility of offering financial and advisory services.

She said that the desk also supports prospects and existing players in the agri-business value chain.
Ambursa said this is in the areas of input and supply, primary production, storage, processing, marketing, mechanisation, among others.

The executive director explained that the creation of the desks was to actualise the ‘From Farm to Table’ Policy thrust of the CBN, which aligns with the bank’s vision of contributing to the country’s achievement of sustainable food security.

“Access Bank’s agriculture desk is first of its kind in the Nigerian agricultural financing market segment to bridge the funding gap in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

“This is done by promoting agribusiness activities through sustainable lending to customers, while providing sustainable and innovative agribusiness solutions for the markets and communities the bank is serving.

“This is done by collaborating closely with the market to understand their unique needs, offering tailored financial products and services to optimise their operations and facilitate expansions.

“Accelerate the growth of agribusiness and enhance the livelihoods of farmers and agro-entrepreneurs, by strategically aligning its services with the evolving needs in the agricultural industry,” she said.

According to her, the bank provides tailored financial solutions that address the unique challenges faced by farmers, agribusinesses and other stakeholders in the value chain with the value addition services.

Ambursa said these include provision of financial and advisory services, market linkages to support sales, capacity building, with special focus on women and youth, stakeholders’ engagement, project monitoring and reporting.

She mentioned that the bank’s agriculture desk has a seamless and simplified process for the accessibility of the service.

The executive director said: ” The agriculture desk is not only about financing; it is about driving transformational change within the agricultural landscape.

“Our commitment extends beyond monetary support to encompass capacity building, technology adoption and market access for our clients.

“The desk’s impressive track record has been built on partnerships with key stakeholders, including government agencies, international organisations and industry associations.

“This collaborative approach has reinforced our reputation as a reliable driver of growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.”

Ambursa noted that the bank has positively contributed to the nation’s achievement of self-sustained food security.

She revealed that the bank’s investment in agribusiness, so far, is over N200 billion, which has benefitted over 10,000 Agribusinesses, across Small Holder Farms (SHFs).

Also, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), organised farmer associations or cooperatives and corporates who are financed under various bank’s product and government schemes.

The executive director said that the support for these projects has had impacts, such as increase in food security, job creation, growth in customers’ businesses and increased revenue.

Ambursa stated that with a steadfast commitment to sustainable agricultural business and strategic stakeholders partnerships, the bank is steering the nation and continent toward greater self-sufficiency and global prominence.

She said that the bank had earned several awards to its credits, which includes: 2021 and 2022 Global Brand Magazine Award of “Best Agro Banking Brand, 2021 Nigeria Agriculture Award of Agric Bank of the year.

It also won the 2020 African Banker Awards of “Agriculture Deal of the Year, 2019 Central Bank of Nigeria ‘Agricultural Credit Guarantee Scheme’ Award, 2018 and 2019 Central Bank of Nigeria ‘Most Sustainable Bank in Agriculture’ award. (NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Lucy Ogalue

The African Development Bank(AfDB) has unveiled the Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation (ACRIFA) to insulate countries against catastrophic weather-related events.

The AfDB’s President, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said this in a statement on the bank’s website.

Adesina spoke on the sidelines of the African Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.

The facility, which will be hosted by the bank, expands its pioneering Africa Disaster Risk Insurance Program into a facility that will develop insurance to help African countries.

“Specifically, their agriculture sectors, prepare for, adapt and build resilience against adverse effects of climate change such as flooding and drought.

‘It will raise an initial one billion dollars of concessionary high-risk capital and grants to catalyse the development and uptake of insurance solutions.

“This will help countries, businesses and communities adapt to climate change,”he said.

According to the AfDB boss, the initiative is the bank’s effort to scale up support to insure countries and households against extreme weather patterns.

He said extreme weather patterns negatively impact the livelihoods of millions of farmers in Africa, majority of who are women.

According to him, one way of tackling this issue is to ensure farmers have access to crop and livestock insurance.

“The Africa Climate Risk Insurance Facility for Adaptation will extend credit insurance to investment portfolios related to climate, agri-food system and enterprise development.

“It will engage primary insurers across Africa to ensure business opportunities flow through them to continental and international re-insurers.

“In addition, it will support national governments to more efficiently manage climate disasters,” he said.

The Comoros President Azali Assoumani, Chair of the African Union, who spoke at the event described the initiative as a necessary innovation.

“Considering the frequency and impact of national disasters in African countries, ACRIFA has come at a time when African countries are facing enormous challenges affecting agriculture, such as floods and drought.

“It will help us to strengthen our adaptation and resilience capacities.

“Comoros is just 2,000 square kilometers. We cannot unlock our touristic potential when we face severe climate risks.

“And therefore the importance of this facility to Comoros, which continues to experience adverse realities of climate change,” he said.

Ibrahima Diong, the Director-General of the African Risk Capacity Group and United Nations Assistant Secretary-General, said ACRIFA would help to scale up what the African Risk Capacity Groupi s doing.

He said risk transfer is not just about premiums but also about what happens before the disaster strikes, hence the facility which would help to build data that feeds early warning systems in Africa.

He said ACRIFA would expand partnerships to carry out services to clients, such as the World Food Programme.

Martin Frick of the World Food Programme, expressed excitement about ACRIFA’s potential to expand insurance cover to farmers who need it.

Frick said,“The Facility will help to unlock private sector capital and we can inject trust in the market and unleash more capital than is currently provided in the market.”

Following a panel discussion about the facility’s potential, AfDB’s Vice President for Agriculture, Human and Social Development, Dr Beth Dunford, said it needs to move into action quickly.

“What we are talking about today, is not just about policies; the impact of a thriving climate insurance industry in Africa is about lives.

“It is about an Africa that doesn’t just survive in climate uncertainties but thrives in them,” she added.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ijendu Iheaka/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Nana Musa

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the First Bank Group, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan said that the group had made banking transactions convenient for its customers to transact all their business.

He said this at the cocktail party organised by the Annual Banking and Finance Conference in Abuja on Monday.

Adeduntan, who was represented by Mr Callistus Obetta, the Group Executive, Technology and Services at the bank, said technology had rebuilt a lot of the transmission across many industries within the financial services space.

He said that technology within the financial sector had come in different stages which had helped to drive development level leveraging on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

According to him, technology has made it easy for customers to make payment, withdrawal and other transactions.

“Customers has more time to do their personal things because technology has enable the bank to do business at easy.”

He said that technology would continue to change the society in the way it envisaged the future.

“We live across the globe and the key to move forward is to build a future driven by technology and no one can be be left behind.

“As we talk about next generation, we are talking about how to really drive access, drive convenience, drive development, leveraging on technology or intelligence and more data,”.

Earlier, Dr. Ken Opara, the President/Chairman of the Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and Executive director with Fidelity Bank, said that the future of banking industry had gone digital.

He said that the youth were the future of the banking industry and charged them to work hard as the sector belonged to them in the nearest future.

While commending the organizers, Opara said that the event was about networking, sharing ideas and experiences. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Maureen Atuonwu

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has inducted 1,212 graduated banking professionals,  urging them to continuously learn and adapt to new changes.

The President/Chairman, CIBN, Dr Ken Opara, gave the advice at the 2023 CIBN graduates induction and prize award on Saturday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ceremony has its theme as: “The Dynamics of Work and Current Realities: The Way Forward for Financial Service Professionals.”

Opara said that the theme resonated deeply with the rapid changes that had continued to shape the landscape in the financial services sector.

“We live in a world of unceasing transformation, fuelled by the convergence of technological breakthroughs, shifting market dynamics, and changing customer expectations.

“According to a report by the World Economic Forum in ‘Future of Jobs Report 2022’; it was noted that by 2025, emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and data analytics are expected to drive significant shifts in labour markets, necessitating new skills and adaptability from professionals across all industries.

“Statistics from the same report underline the urgency of embracing change: approximately 40 per cent of the core skills required to perform existing roles in financial services sector are expected to change by 2025.

“This underscores the importance of aligning our skill sets with the emerging demands of the industry, enabling us to navigate the disruptions and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.

“It is imperative to state that as an institute, we are in tune with the dynamics shaping the financial services landscape and recognise the profound impact of technological innovations, which have orchestrated a significant transformation within our industry,” he said.

The CIBN president pledged the institute’s commitment to executing strategic capacity-building initiatives that would bridge skill gaps and empower professionals.

According to him, this will help them to remain at the forefront of industry advancements while also ensuring their sustained competence in an ever-evolving landscape.

Opara, who celebrated the inductees, said that they represented the future of the industry.

He said, “We are confident that your knowledge, skills, and ethical values will contribute significantly to the continued growth and development of the financial services landscape in Nigeria and beyond.”

The CIBN president, later announced that going forward, the induction ceremony of the institute would hold twice a year, beginning from February 2024.

This, he said, was a strategic move by the institute to ensure it turned out graduands more rapidly and enable them use the ACIB/MCIB designations almost as soon as they completed their programme.

The institute inducted a total of 1,212 graduates, comprising 27 from the CBMBA route, 29 from the MSc/ACIB route, 354 with the ACIB designation, and 804 as Microfinance Certified Bankers.(NAN)

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Olawunmi Ashafa

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has commended President Bola Tinubu for unifying the Naira exchange rate to save the country from financial crisis.

The President/ Chairman of Council of CIBN, Dr Ken Opara, said this at the 2023 Lagos Bankers Night with the theme, ” Exchange Rate Unification: Glocal Implications, Organisation’s and the Country “, on Friday night in Lagos.

According to him, the institute has always advocated transparency and a free market that would allow the interplay of supply and demand.

He said, “The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria totally supports the Central Bank of Nigeria’s reform as it relates to the unification of the exchange rate and other measures basically taken to ensure the true value of the Naira.

“As a matter of fact, we have been advocating for this and during the week, Dr ‘Biodun Adedipe, leading other scholars, and Mr Laoye Jaiyeola of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group, gathered at the Bankers House to applaud the reform, especially as it relates to the unification of the exchange rate.

“We have seen that the effort that the Central Bank of Nigeria has initiated is already yielding dividend.

“We can see that the exchange rate between the Naira and the dollar has started coming down which means it is a good initiative that is well thought out.”

Opara said that the institute recently organised a half year economic review, where captains of industries also spoke in support of the reform.

He urged Nigerians to take advantage of the good opportunities that the reform had presented, saying wherever there are challenges lie in opportunities.

The CIBN president pledged the institutes continued commitment to making contributions and suggestions relating to what should be done to support and grow the country.

He said, “As it is the concept of the industry; we played this role very well when the industry was facing challenges and we will continue to do that because we believe that the banking industry is very solid, stable and efficient.”

He described the payment system in Nigeria as “the best” all over the world, stressing that it is a system that one could consummate transactions on an online real-time basis.

Opara said this showed that the banking industry and its regulator had done well in stabilising what an effective payment system.

He debunked media reports that its Lagos branch was not in support of the exchange rate unification, describing as “untrue”, but calculated to cause panic.

Chief Consultant of B. Adedipe Associates Ltd. (BAA Consult), Dr ‘Biodun Adedipe, said that the exchange rate unification, which was not new in Nigeria, had gone through the route before with different appellations.

“Let me trade very quickly what I brand as Nigeria’s journey to exchange rate unification.

“Nigeria has gone through this route before but with different appellations like devaluation, correction, alignment, depreciation, all of which are matter of semantics.

“The simple interpretation of this is to remove the premium on the official rate and the parallel market or road side market.

“Of course, this is a typical Bretton Woods recipe; keep premium within five per cent to decentivise round tripping and then find liquidity to sustain it.

“This is the easy way out; but, it never brings enduring solution to the persistent crisis in the external sector of the Nigerian economy.”.

According to him, there are 54 evidence-based research documents to establish that free float is not always the most appropriate for all economics.

Giving historical illustrations, the expert noted that exchange rate movements had a more significant impact on all other prices more than interest rates adjustment.

He said the only period that Nigeria experienced a successful and stable rate convergence in the country was when it had a significant external reserve.

Adedipe said it took the country an average of two to six weeks for the parallel market rates to diverge from the official exchange rate during each episode of premium removal.

He added that speculative attack on the currency occured each time there was no clear sight to a stable and enduring supply.

NAN recalls that President Bola Tinubu, had during his inauguration on May 29, said his administration would seek to bring the different exchange rate regimes being operated across the country’s foreign exchange channels under a single regime.

However, in June, Tinubu through the Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communications, and Strategy, Dele Alake, announced the implementation of a unified exchange rate to save the country from a financial crisis.

He emphasised that his decision to implement a managed float, similar to his approach to fuel subsidy removal, was in the best interest of Nigeria.(NAN)

Edited by Olawunmi Ashafa

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Nigeria Electronic Fraud Forum (NEFF) has called on stakeholders in the financial sector to collectively address and mitigate risks posed by electronic fraud.

Mr Musa Jimoh, Director, Payment Systems Management of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), made the call at the company’ third quarter 2023 general meeting on Friday in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting has “New Strategies for Combating e-Fraud in a Cashless Environment,” as its theme.

Jimoh, who is also the Chairman, NEFF, noted that the criminals in the cyber world had increased and that if not addressed could increase individuals and organisations exposure to financial losses.

He said, “Today, we are here to look at the new strategies by which we can combat fraud; If we don’t combat the cyber criminals; they will weigh us down and breed the entire system.

“So, we all need to work together to see how we can make life extremely difficult for the cyber criminals.

“You know like the popular saying today; they say you should let the poor breath, but we shouldn’t let this criminals breath.

“We should actually suffocate them to death because our hard earned money is what these guys are forcibly taking away from us,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Ignis Solutions Ltd., Simon Martin, while speaking on the topic, “e-Fraud in a Cashless Environment: Trends, Threats, Emerging Typologies and International Standards for Regulators”, urged stakeholders to pay more attention to building capacity to be able to combat e-Fraud.

She said, “I think it’s important that we build our capacity; I think it’s important that we pay attention to possible emerging threats that could hamper our developments in digital payments and moving toward a cashless society.

“I think education is definitely important, not only for our systems and for people, but for our individual self and it’s one of the reasons why I identify myself as an unconventional regulator.

“It’s important that we apply design thinking in our lives as we go forward. Things are evolving, and so too, we must evolve as well.”
Martin, therefore, urged individuals and organisations to protect, properly store and manage their data to avoid bad actors leverage on it.

Mr Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement Systems (NIBSS), urged stakeholders to pay more attention on mobile channels, saying it was the most significant point used for defrauding.

Oiwoh, represented by Mr Temidayo Adekanye, spoke on the topic, “The Current and Emerging e-fraud Landscape in Nigeria: Data Analytic”.

Oiwoh said, “So, I will advise that everyone focuses on mobile channels as the most significant point used for these fraudulent actions.

“But what we see most importantly is the fact that the primary channels are the betting platforms.

“So, once the money leaves the betting platform; Wallet account, or in some cases PoS agents; once it is cashed out, it is a black hole. There is no way you can recover that money.

“Literally we’re talking about potentially five per cent recovery rate across the industry.

“So, we all have to identify those betting Wallet accounts, PoS agents, cryptocurrency accounts, and in some cases purchases,” he said.

NAN reports that the goal of NEFF is not only to identify the latest fraud trends but also to craft dynamic and effective countermeasures.

The forum serves as a catalyst for stimulating dialogue, enhancing collaboration, and fostering partnerships that will result in practical solutions to combat e-fraud.

The major highlight of the meeting was the unveiling of the NEFF website (neffng.com/site/new-home) to share information that is fit for public consumption.(NAN)

Edited by Yinusa/Olawunmi Ashafa

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks (ACAMB) has urged traditional financial institutions to embrace innovation and adapt in a changing environment to remain relevant.

The President of ACAMB, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, gave the advice at the association’s second National Stakeholder Conference 2023 edition in Lagos.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the conference was: “Marketing Financial Services in Dynamic Times’’.

“As good news as this seems to be, for us as financial services providers, the rate at which fintechs and neo-banks have, and continue to transform the finance industry, is a wake-up call for the traditional financial institutions to keep up with latest innovations in order to succeed and thrive.

“Part of the imperative of these dynamic times is the demand on us in the industry to embrace innovation, adaptation, and agility if we must remain relevant in today’s marketplace,’’ he said.

According to him, the topic underscores the dynamism of the present time and the impact on the financial services industry.

Bolarinwa said among the key indicators of these dynamic times were macroeconomic headwinds that redefine the financial market as well as other markets across the board.

He added that rising inflationary trend, purchasing power parity and supply shocks occasioned by foreign exchange scarcity had a significant impact on production and ability of people to save money and invest.

He said digitalisation was also a major trend that was rapidly disrupting the general ecosystem including the financial services sector.

Bolarinwa noted that consumer’s behaviour was being altered as the mode of buying and selling shifted from the brick-and-mortar traditional mode to online purchases, while fostering increasing adoption of digital payment systems.

“It is not just that; demand for safer, faster and cost-efficient services is also getting higher as consumers become more sophisticated while competition also gets fiercer by the day,” he added.

The Lead Partner, CMC Connect LLP, Mr Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya, urged financial institutions to rebuild customer trust by finding new ways to meet their needs.

According to him, a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltd. reveals that only 39 per cent of Nigerians trust their banks in contrast to the global average of 56 per cent.

He said, “this lack of trust impedes financial inclusion and digital service adaptation.

“When you are promoting your product, you make it look easy in the promotion but when I get there you make it very difficult.’’

Okunsanya urged the banks to know their customers and market, adding that the era of mass marketing was gone.

He said, “in those days when you wanted to sell financial products, you just put a couple of pretty girls in a sweet looking car and sometimes, the higher their skirt line, the better; but you cannot do that anymore.

“A customer has become so aware; the issues of corporate governance does not allow that anymore and also how many banks were there in those days compared to how many they are now? So, competition is key.’’

He also advised financial institutions and other industries to create a strong and active research and development unit in order to succeed.

Okunsanya noted that institutions were not investing enough in research and service.

He added that innovation and digital revolution was one of the most significant effects of the digital evolution in finance urging banks to democratise financial services, among others.

NAN reports that ACAMB is a body of corporate affairs and marketing communication professionals in Nigerian banks.(NAN)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

By Lydia Ngwakwe

The Lagos State Branch of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has perfected plans to hold its 2023 Bankers Night on key policy issues affecting the nation’s economy.

The Chairman, Lagos State CIBN, Mr Adeyemo Adeoye, said at a media briefing on Tuesday in Lagos that the event would hold on Aug. 18, at the Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island.

Adeoye said the event with the theme: “Exchange Rate Unification: Global Implications for Households, Organisations and the Country,’’ would x-ray the challenges affecting the nation’s economic.

The theme, he said, was important because Nigeria’s economy was driven by imports and rarely manufactures anything.

“We are once again bringing to you our Lagos Bankers Night this year, after a period of absence of three years, due to slip-over effects and factors that were not unrelated to the global pandemic. The last outing was in 2019.

“This is our flagship programme and we use it as a platform to raise revenue, rally-round a large number of professionals, within and outside the industry, to discuss topical issues and improve networking opportunities for our members.

“It is the institute’s larger strategy of promoting financial enlightenment, and providing platforms for discussing key policy issues that will strengthen the nation’s economy,’’ Adeoye said.

Adeoye said Dr Biodun Adedipe, Founder and Chief Consultant at B.Adedipe Associates (BAA Consult), would be the guest speaker.

He added that Mr George Onafowokan, the Managing Director, Coleman Wires and Cables, would be the Chairman of event.

According to him, the Chief Host of the event will be the President of the CIBN, Dr Ken Opara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event is an annual event where major financial policies are reviewed and new focus articulated, with well over 500 high profile banking/financial practitioners and other institutions in attendance. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma