Business
Access Group Staff Donates Blood Across Africa in Life-Saving Initiative
In commemoration of World Blood Donor Day and World Sickle Cell Day 2025, Access Holdings, one of Africa’s leading financial services groups, successfully executed a group-wide blood drive across six African countries, reinforcing its commitment to improving health outcomes and driving real impact in the communities it serves. Held under the theme “Shine the Light on Sickle Cell,” the initiative brought together employees, community members, health professionals, and partner organisations in a coordinated effort to provide safe blood donations, a lifeline for individuals living with sickle cell disorder and others in critical need of transfusions.
A Continent United by Purpose
Blood donation is still one of the most essential yet underappreciated pillars of public health in Africa.
According to the World Health Organisation, Africa faces a significant shortfall in safe and voluntary blood donations, a challenge that puts countless lives at risk, especially those living with conditions such as Sickle Cell Disorder (SCD), which affects millions across the continent.
Recognising this need, Access Holdings expanded its annual blood donation initiative beyond Nigeria’s borders, extending its reach to African subsidiaries of its banking group, Access Bank, in Angola, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, and Cameroon.
In some countries, the drive focused specifically on supporting individuals living with sickle cell disease, while in others, it formed part of broader efforts to strengthen national blood banks and encourage a culture of voluntary donation.
“This was not just about donating blood, it was about showing up for our communities when it matters most,” said Esther Graham, Programme Officer, Health, Access Holdings.
“In Nigeria, where an estimated 2 million units of blood are needed annually but only about 25–30% of that is collected, and less than a fifth of that from voluntary donors. The impact is heartbreaking; emergency care is delayed, maternal mortality rises, and lives are lost to preventable shortages. Across Africa, the situation is just as critical, with an average of only 5 units available per 1,000 people, only half of the World Health Organisation’s recommended benchmark. This initiative was a powerful reminder that even the smallest act of generosity can create life-saving impact and reaffirm our shared humanity.”
Real Impact, Tangible Results
The campaign witnessed strong participation from staff, customers, and local community members, many of whom were first-time donors. To ensure safety and ethical standards, Access Holdings partnered certified healthcare organisations and blood banks to guarantee that every unit collected was properly handled and responsibly distributed.
Key results from the drive include:
• 760+ pints of blood donated across 6 countries
• Hundreds of lives potentially impacted, especially among patients with chronic conditions.
• Increased public awareness around sickle cell disorder and the importance of voluntary blood donation.
• High staff engagement, led by the Sustainability Champions Network across Access subsidiaries.
“It was heartwarming to see staff across all levels participate,” said Tania Macaneta, Team Lead, Marketing and Communications, African Subsidiaries, Access Bank.
“In some locations, even community members and customers stepped up to donate. This kind of unified action is what sustainable development truly looks like.”
More Than One-Time Campaign
The blood drive forms part of Access Holdings’ broader commitment to sustainability and health equity under its impact agenda.
In recent years, the Group has supported sickle cell warriors through initiatives that include:
• Free insurance cover for individuals living with SCD
• Educational support and back-to-school items for affected children
• Public awareness campaigns and screenings in underserved communities.
By integrating sustainability into the fabric of its business operations, Access Holdings continues to demonstrate that profit and purpose can, and should, go hand in hand. “Blood donation is one of the most selfless acts anyone can make, it requires no wealth, only the will to help. At Access Bank, we believe in building stronger communities through compassion and care. Today, we celebrate every donor whose generosity saves lives, and we encourage more people to step forward and be heroes,” said Allan Ratemo, Head of Corporate Communications, Access Bank Kenya.
The Way Forward
While the 2025 blood drive may be over, its message endures: impact is a habit, not an event. Through continued education, partnerships, and volunteerism, Access Holdings is committed to fostering a culture of compassion and proactive health support across Africa.
“At Access Bank, we recognise that the simple act of donating blood can mean the difference between life and death. On this World Blood Donor Day, we stand in solidarity with donors around the world and reaffirm our commitment to supporting health and humanity. Giving blood is not just a donation, it is a gift of life, and we are proud to champion this cause,” noted Maline Cera, Team Lead, Corporate Communications, Access Bank Mozambique.
As Access Holdings reflects the impact of this year’s drive, one thing is certain; its staff, partners, and communities are ready to keep showing up, time and again.
United Bank for Africa (UBA), Redtech, and MoMo PSB have launched a payment interoperability partnership that expands cardless payment access for consumers and merchants across Nigeria. Redtech is backed by Heirs Holdings; MoMo PSB is MTN Nigeria’s fintech subsidiary.
With this development, MoMo PSB customers can now make payments directly from their MoMo wallets at participating UBA merchant locations using the “Pay with MoMo” feature on RedPay POS terminals; they can also visit any UBA branch to make withdrawals and deposits from and into their MoMo accounts. For online shoppers, e-commerce merchants can now receive payments directly from MoMo PSB customers through Redtech’s payment gateway infrastructure.
The partnership brings together Redtech’s payment technology and enablement capabilities, UBA’s merchant-acquiring and distribution layer, and MoMo PSB’s mobile money wallet ecosystem and customer base. Redtech holds licences as a Payment Terminal Service Provider (PTSP) and Payment Solution Service Provider (PSSP) from the Central Bank of Nigeria, authorising it to provide both POS and payment gateway services. Together, the three organisations are addressing a critical gap in Nigeria’s payments market – connecting banking-led merchant acceptance with telco-led mobile money wallets.
For MoMo PSB customers, Pay with MoMo increases the number of places where their wallets can be used for everyday payments. In the case of merchants, it opens access to a wider pool of customers and provides an additional payment option at the point of sale.
UBA’s Head, Digital Banking, Kayode Olubiyi, who spoke during the launch, noted that this partnership represents the solution to the gap identified in cash transactions and card access.
“What this partnership represents is an honest and effective answer to the gap we identified in cash transactions and card access. Our merchants are already serving millions of customers every day through the UBA network. By bringing Pay with MoMo into that network, we are giving those merchants a direct connection to MoMo PSB’s customer base – and giving MoMo PSB customers more places to use their wallets when they shop. That is a clear win for both sides.”
Redtech’s Chief Executive Officer, Emmanuel Ojo, emphasised that the partnership aims to make payments work better together in a way that is practical for everyday commerce.
“This partnership is about making payments work more seamlessly for everyday commerce and most importantly, It aligns with Africapitalism, as championed by the Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, CFR. By integrating our RedPay technology with MoMo PSB’s wallets through the UBA network, we will offer merchants and customers greater choice. Our goal is to build the payment infrastructure that ensures a merchant never has to turn away any customer in Nigeria or across Africa because of their preferred payment method. By connecting our technology with MoMo PSB’s wallets through the UBA network, we are giving merchants and customers more options”
Ag. CEO, MoMo PSB, Omolara Michael-Nwadu, who highlighted the barriers to payment in the country, emphasised the importance of partnerships, explaining how integrating MoMo wallets into UBA’s merchant network through Redtech’s infrastructure will unlock additional merchant touchpoints.
“This partnership marks a significant step toward true interoperability in Nigeria’s payments ecosystem. By integrating MoMo wallets into UBA’s merchant network through Redtech’s infrastructure, we are removing barriers between bank-led and mobile money systems while unlocking access to over 55,000 merchant touchpoints. Our focus is on driving usage at scale, enabling more transactions, deeper engagement, and greater value for merchants. At MoMo PSB, we are building a more connected financial ecosystem where payments aren’t tied to platforms but to a seamless customer experience. At MoMo PSB, our focus is on simplifying payments, expanding access to financial services and helping more Nigerians do more every day. Pay with MoMo gives our customers more places to use their wallets, while supporting broader financial inclusion by bringing useful financial services closer to where people live, work and do business.”
UBA’s Group Head, Brands, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, captured the broader significance of the moment at the signing ceremony. “Every institution in this room is a giant in its own right. What makes today meaningful is the decision to come together anyway,” she said. Ladipo added, “Financial inclusion is not a slogan to us at UBA. It is a commitment that requires scale, technology, and the willingness to build ecosystems rather than silos. This partnership is that commitment made concrete.”
Pay with MoMo is being introduced through RedPay POS terminals already deployed within UBA’s merchant network. More than 55,000 RedPay POS terminals have been deployed across the network, with the platform having processed over ₦278.47 billion in transaction value and more than 12.23 million transactions to date.
Starting in Nigeria, Pay with MoMo is now live at participating UBA merchant locations, with plans to extend the rollout to selected African markets where both MoMo PSB and UBA operate.
As part of efforts to promote SMEs and strengthen support for operators in the informal sector, Unity Bank has continued to empower small-scale traders and shop owners across Nigeria through its initiative called Shop Collateralised Facility, SHOCOF.
SHOCOF is an innovative loan product, and Unity Bank has disbursed over N500 million to beneficiaries, significantly improving access to financing, and further driving financial inclusion.
Originally introduced as a targeted intervention for traders in Southeast Nigeria, SHOCOF quickly gained traction and broad acceptance for its flexibility and tailored structure, prompting the Bank to expand the product nationwide.
Under the initiative, eligible customers can use their shops as collateral to access financing. The product simplifies access to credit by leveraging the commercial value and stability associated with fixed business locations, enabling traders to secure funds without the stringent collateral requirements associated with traditional lending structures.
The facility provides working capital support that enables beneficiaries to restock goods, increase inventory turnover, improve cash flow, and respond more effectively to market demand.
Recent reports indicate that more than 80 per cent of Nigeria’s small businesses operate informally, with many relying on personal savings and informal borrowing channels due to limited access to Bank credit. SHOCOF was developed to bridge this gap through a lending model tailored to the realities of market traders and small shop owners.
Speaking on the impact of the product, the Group Head, Risk Management, Unity Bank, Olusegun Oladipo, said the Bank recognised the need for financing solutions aligned with the realities of informal sector businesses.
“SHOCOF was created to address a critical gap within the small business ecosystem by providing access to credit through a structure that traders can satisfactorily meet without much ado,” Oladipo said.
He added: “By recognising the value and stability embedded in their businesses, we have been able to support traders with the capital required to sustain and grow their operations.”
Also commenting, Divisional Head, SME & Retail Banking, Unity Bank, Adenike Abimbola, said the nationwide adoption of the product reflects proper market segmentation to meet the growing demand for accessible financing among small business owners.
“What started as a targeted intervention in the Southeast, which quickly gained momentum because the product directly addressed the realities of everyday traders,” Abimbola said.
Over the years, Unity Bank has continued to introduce targeted solutions aimed at empowering entrepreneurs, including its flagship Yanga account package developed to support female entrepreneurs.
The Bank reaffirmed that expanding access to capital for underserved business segments remains critical to boosting trade, strengthening local economies, and driving sustainable economic growth.
