Business
Access Bank UK Polo Day 2026 Holds July 4 in Windsor
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Access Bank has set Saturday, July 4, 2026 to host its annual UK Polo Day in Windsor, an event when judged by past editions, promises to be one of the season’s most captivating social experiences.
The guest list is a true global roll call, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, public sector leaders, and cultural influencers, from around the world. It is the kind of setting where a brief exchange over lunch can swiftly evolve into a strategic partnership by day’s end.
But beyond the prominence of those in attendance lies a deeper significance: the collective impact their presence is helping to drive, far beyond Windsor, and thousands of miles away in Northern Nigeria.
The Access Bank UK Polo Day has always carried a philanthropic dimension. This year, that dimension takes centrestage. Proceeds from the event will go directly towards the construction of additional classroom blocks in underserved communities across Northern Nigeria, a region where the gap between school-age children and available learning spaces remains one of the most stubborn obstacles to progress.
For many families in these communities, a classroom is not a given; it is a luxury. Access Bank has been changing that. The numbers tell a familiar and troubling story. Millions of children across Nigeria’s north remain out of school, some because of distance, some because of poverty, and many simply because there is no building to go to.
Bricks and mortar matter. A classroom block does not just give children somewhere to sit; it signals to a community that their children’s futures are worth investing in. It draws teachers. It gives girls a reason, and a safer route, to stay in education. It plants something durable in a place that often feels forgotten by the institutions that should be paying attention. This is the logic behind Access Bank’s commitment.
Access Bank has long recognised that financial inclusion and human development are not parallel pursuits, but one continuous journey. A resilient economy cannot be built on an undereducated workforce, nor can a generation be empowered without first equipping it with the tools to learn. In that sense, the classroom blocks being funded through this year’s Polo Day represent more of a deliberate investment in long-term economic growth than a humanitarian gesture.
What started as a polo fixture has grown into something harder to categorise: part networking forum, part celebration of what African enterprise looks like on a global stage. For Access Bank, the day has become one of the clearest expressions of what the institution is actually trying to do: make it easier for capital, talent, and ideas to move across borders, and to ensure that the benefits of that movement reach communities that rarely appear on an investor’s map.
This year’s event arrives at a moment when those connections feel more urgent than ever. Trade corridors are shifting. Development finance is being redirected. And the institutions best positioned to lead are those that already have trusted relationships and the credibility to match.
Access Bank has spent the better part of two decades building those relationships. The Polo Day is where they show up in person. Windsor lends the occasion its own particular atmosphere. A short drive from London but removed enough from the city to encourage the kind of unhurried conversation that rarely happens in a boardroom, it is a fitting setting for an event that has always been as much about relationship-building as it is about sport.
Jamie Simmonds, Managing Director of The Access Bank UK, was direct about what the day means: “Every year, we bring together an extraordinary community of leaders from across the world. People come to strengthen relationships, explore new possibilities, and contribute to something that matters. What matters most is the chance to make a real, lasting difference in the lives of young Nigerians who simply need a place to learn.”
For Nigerian observers, the symbolism is hard to miss. A bank founded on Nigerian soil is using one of England’s most prestigious social calendars to raise money for classrooms in Kaduna. That is not a small thing; it is a statement about where Access Bank believes its obligations lie, to shareholders and regulators as well as communities that made it possible in the first place.
The matches will be played. The conversations will happen. And somewhere in Northern Nigeria, a child will eventually walk into a classroom that did not exist before July 4, 2026.
Access Bank Plc has said that a social media post announcing a shutdown of the bank’s operations, is false and misleading.
In a statement signed by the bank’s management, and made available to the media, the Bank insisted that the notice is the handiwork of mischief makers, who impersonated the bank’s official handle.
It advised members of the public to disregard the notice, and pay attention only to verified information from the verified accounts of the bank.
Below is the full statement:
“A message impersonating Access Bank’s official handle is currently circulating on social media and WhatsApp. It is false and misleading.
“We wish to reassure our customers, partners, stakeholders, and the public that Access Bank is safe, financially strong, and fully operational across all our subsidiaries. Our services continue to run seamlessly, and we remain committed to serving our customers with the highest standards of excellence.
“We are working closely with the relevant regulatory and law enforcement authorities to identify those responsible for creating and spreading this false information to cause panic and business disruption. Appropriate legal action will be taken in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
“We also remind members of the public that creating, publishing, and disseminating false information capable of causing public alarm, damaging reputations, or undermining confidence in institutions constitutes an offence under Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
“If you receive a false and misleading message, please do not share or forward it. Instead, disregard it and rely only on information communicated through Access Bank’s official and verified channels.
“We thank our customers, partners, and stakeholders for their continued trust and confidence in Access Bank.”
Business
Ecobank Nigeria Launches Scaling Up!!! Podcast to Champion African Entrepreneurship, Business Growth
Ecobank Nigeria has launched Scaling Up!!!, its flagship business storytelling podcast designed to inspire, educate and empower entrepreneurs, founders, business leaders and the next generation of African innovators through authentic conversations with some of the continent’s most accomplished business personalities.
The podcast, which will be available on Ecobank Nigeria’s official YouTube channel and other major digital streaming platforms, reinforces the Bank’s commitment to supporting businesses beyond banking by creating a platform where entrepreneurs can learn from the experiences of successful founders, creatives and industry leaders who have built thriving enterprises across diverse sectors.
Featuring compelling conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation, resilience and business growth, Scaling Up!!! offers practical lessons and real-life insights that aspiring and established entrepreneurs can apply in building sustainable businesses.
The inaugural season features an impressive lineup of distinguished guests, including beauty entrepreneur and Founder/CEO of Beauty by AD, Adeola Adeyemi (Diiadem); renowned filmmaker and Founder of Golden Effects Pictures, Kunle Afolayan; veteran music producer and Founder of Coded Tunes, ID Cabasa; luxury fashion entrepreneur Ejiro Amos Tafiri; celebrated commercial photographer Emmanuel Oyeleke; Co-founder and Lead Interior Designer of Siriano Limited, Adewunmi Adegbola; and Founder of Windsor Gallery and Nahous Creative Hub, Richard Vedelago.
Each episode explores the guests’ entrepreneurial journeys, highlighting the opportunities they embraced, the challenges they overcame and the strategies that enabled them to build enduring brands and successful businesses.
Speaking on the launch, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, Austen Osokpor, said: “Scaling Up!!! reflects Ecobank’s belief that empowering entrepreneurs goes beyond providing financial solutions. Through authentic storytelling and insightful conversations, we are creating a platform where business owners can learn directly from people who have successfully navigated the realities of building sustainable enterprises. It is another way we are reinforcing our commitment to driving entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth across Africa.”
Also speaking, Head, SMEs, Partnerships & Collaborations, Ecobank Nigeria, Omoboye Odu, said: “Entrepreneurs learn best from the experiences of those who have walked the journey before them. Scaling Up!!! provides practical insights, inspiration and valuable lessons that will help founders make better business decisions, overcome challenges and unlock new opportunities for growth. The podcast further strengthens Ecobank’s role as a trusted partner supporting SMEs at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.”
Sharing the creative vision behind the initiative, the Producer of Scaling Up !!!, Jemimah Ugiagbe said: “Our goal was to create more than just another business podcast. We wanted honest, engaging and relatable conversations that reveal the realities behind success, the setbacks, the resilience, the bold decisions, and the lessons that every entrepreneur can learn from. Every episode is designed to leave listeners informed, inspired and motivated to build businesses that create lasting impact.”
The podcast further strengthens Ecobank Nigeria’s position as a trusted partner for entrepreneurs by providing a knowledge-sharing platform that extends beyond traditional banking services. Through meaningful conversations with accomplished founders and innovators, the Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to fostering enterprise development, encouraging innovation and promoting sustainable economic growth across Africa.
Scaling Up!!! is targeted at SMEs, entrepreneurs, founders, startups, business executives, creatives, students and young professionals seeking practical business insights from some of Africa’s most respected industry leaders.
New episodes will be released regularly across Ecobank Nigeria’s YouTube channel and other major podcast streaming platforms, offering audiences thought-provoking conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, innovation and business growth.
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has been named Nigeria’s Best Digital Bank for Consumers 2026 by Euromoney, one of the world’s most respected authorities on financial services and banking excellence.
The prestigious recognition affirms the Bank’s sustained leadership in digital innovation, customer experience and financial inclusion, reinforcing its position as one of Nigeria’s leading technology-driven financial institutions.
Presented annually, the Euromoney Awards for Excellence celebrate banks that are redefining financial services through innovation, measurable impact and outstanding customer value. In selecting Wema Bank for the award, Euromoney recognised the Bank’s successful digital transformation journey, its continuous innovation through ALAT, Africa’s first fully digital bank, and its unwavering commitment to delivering simpler, smarter and more accessible banking experiences for customers.
Commenting on the recognition, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, said: “This award is a strong validation of the deliberate investments we have made over the years to build a truly digital bank that puts customers at the centre of everything we do. Innovation for us has never been about technology for its own sake. It has always been about creating solutions that make banking easier, faster, safer and more rewarding for every customer.
“From pioneering Africa’s first fully digital bank with ALAT to continuously evolving our digital capabilities, we have remained focused on anticipating customer needs and building experiences that create real value. We are honoured by this recognition from Euromoney and inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation as we shape the future of banking in Nigeria,” he concluded.
A key milestone in Wema Bank’s digital transformation has been the evolution and upgraded version of ALAT, which introduced next-generation capabilities including voice banking, tap-to-pay functionality, personalised financial services and integrated investment opportunities through strategic partnerships. Together with faster digital onboarding, AI-powered fraud monitoring, intelligent customer personalisation and an expanding agency banking network, these innovations continue to enhance customer experience while extending financial services to more Nigerians.
Euromoney also recognised Wema Bank’s ability to leverage technology to build deeper customer relationships through data-driven personalisation, enabling customers to receive tailored recommendations across savings, investments and credit products based on their financial needs and behaviour.
For over eight decades, Wema Bank has remained at the forefront of innovation in Nigeria’s financial services industry. As the pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, the Bank continues to redefine banking by combining technology, customer insight and innovation to deliver seamless, secure and inclusive financial solutions for individuals, businesses and communities.
The Euromoney recognition further reinforces Wema Bank’s commitment to building the future of banking through continuous innovation, operational excellence and customer-centric solutions that create lasting value.
