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Ecobank Fintech: Stakeholders Advocate Sound Corporate Governance, Scalable Proposal

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3 years ago

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To achieve a sustainable and stable fintech ecosystem, operators in the industry have been advised to put in place sound corporate governance principles and policies and also package their business proposals to attract potential investors. This was the opinion of speakers at the second edition of Ecobank Fintech Breakfast Series held at Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC) in Lagos.  The Speakers who weighed in on the theme: ‘Strengthening the ecosystem’ with emphasis on the role of good corporate governance in the fintech industry and what fintechs need to know about securing investments, emphasized that sound corporate governance strengthens organizations while good value proposition and structure determine and attract potential investors.
Tosin Iyayi, Partner, Aluko & Oyebode stated that to entrench sound corporate governance, an organization must put in place a well constituted board of directors who will oversee and perform the roles of strategic planning and keeping oversight of the company’s affairs. According to her, “the board will ensure an organization that is well run in line with laid down ethics, rules and regulations. It should be able to add value to the organization, review the operations at every given point and offer helpful advice on the growth of such organization. Members should have sound business acumen; they must have experience in running a successful business, and able to steer the direction of the company. There should gender diversity in constituting the board. Members should have good knowledge of environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) which refers to a set of standards for a company’s behavior used by socially conscious investors to screen potential investments.”
Speaking on Fintech and Fundraisers: What fintechs need to know about securing investments, Chinedu Onuoha, Managing Director, Mzuri Solutions Limited, advised fintechs startup to have a clear insight on the need and purpose for raising fund, stressing that they should ensure such funds are deployed for the purpose.  In his words, “fintech startups should raise funds they actually need. Sometimes you don’t need fund but goodwill. Know when to raise funds and when not to, and where not to raise funds. You should have a clear insight on what you need the funds for and meet your payment schedule to avoid breach on corporate governance and your ethics. Don’t outrun yourself in order not to lose control thereby questioning your ability to drive the business.”
Also speaking, Yemi Keri, Co-founder, Rising Tide Africa who spoke on how to secure fund, stated that investors look at the product, passion and structure of organizations. “Investors are looking for good deals. You can get investors from networking event such as this breakfast meeting. Visit platforms such as LinkedIn. Check out profiles. There are genuine investors out there looking out for profitable business they can invest in” adding that “on our part, we look at your product, your passion, motivation. We also look at how you will leverage technology for ease of operation and meet the needs of the customers. We look at your team, scalability, value proposition and structure to ensure business continuity.”
Earlier, Osahon Akpata, Group Head, Consumer Payments, Ecobank stated that the Pan African bank pays high premium on the growth of Africa fintechs, stating that the fintech space is attractive. He said Ecobank was providing a platform for banks and fintechs to explore areas of mutual interests and opportunities with a view to building a stronger ecosystem.
Other speakers at the event included Lexi Novitske, General Partner, Norrsken22 and Yele Oyekola, co-founder & CEO, Duplo amongst several others.
The Ecobank Fintech Breakfast Series which holds in partnership with Tech Cabal, a digital media and publishing firm based in Nigeria, is designed to hold quarterly and aims to gather fintech leaders across the continent to share business insights, as well as discuss pertinent topics in the fintech ecosystem such as regulatory guidelines, funding, and other topics of interest to support both established and fintech startups at different stages of their journey.
Ecobank Nigeria Ltd. is a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group with operations in 33 African countries and an international presence in four locations (London, Paris, Beijing, and Dubai). Ecobank Nigeria is a full-service bank providing wholesale, retail, investment and transaction banking services and products to governments, financial institutions, multinationals, international organizations, medium, small, and micro businesses, and individuals. Ecobank is a major player in the distribution of financial services in Nigeria, leveraging digital platforms including Ecobank Mobile App and USSD *326#, Ecobank Online, Ecobank OmniPlus, Ecobank Omnilite, EcobankPay, Ecobank RapidTransfer, ATMs, POSs and an extensive distribution network of over 250 branches and over 50,000 agency banking locations.
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Business

FirstBank Partners Verve to Issue Free Debit Cards in Nationwide Promo

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4 days ago

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November 2, 2025

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First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank), Nigeria’s premier and leading financial inclusion services provider, has announced the launch of the Verve Flash Promo, a special initiative rewarding customers with free Verve cards.

The campaign, which commenced on 6 October 2025, and will run until 30 January 2026, is exclusively targeted at FirstBank customers whose ATM cards have expired.

The free cards will be issued daily to 131 customers on a first-come, first-served basis across the Bank’s branches, nationwide. FirstBank’s unwavering commitment to convenience, accessibility, and customer satisfaction.

Speaking on the rewards to FirstBank customers, Chuma Ezirim, the Group Executive, e-Business and Retail Products at FirstBank, said: “The Verve Flash Promo is not just about rewarding customers with free verve debit cards; it is about celebrating our legacy of 131 years of trust, resilience, and innovation in the Nigerian financial services industry. At FirstBank, we remain committed to providing customer-centric solutions that enable secure, seamless, and convenient payment experiences. Partnering with Verve International on these initiatives, including the Verve Good Life promo, underscores our shared vision of deepening financial inclusion while rewarding our loyal customers for their continuous patronage.”

Also commenting, Vincent Ogbunude, Managing Director, Verve International, noted:

“Through strategic collaborations like this with FirstBank, we continue to demonstrate Verve’s commitment to enhancing access to seamless payment solutions for every Nigerian. The Verve Flash Promo not only rewards loyal customers but also reinforces our vision of making everyday transactions more rewarding, secure, and convenient. As we extend the Good Life Promo, we remain steadfast in our goal of deepening financial inclusion while delivering real value to Verve cardholders across the country.”

Meanwhile, the ongoing Verve Good Life promo, designed to reward Verve debit card holders for using their cards at specific merchant points, has been extended to 30 November 2025.

During the period, Verve Card holders enjoy 10% cashback at The Place Restaurant, Quickteller, Buypower, Filmhouse, AlliExpress, Addide Supermarkets, and Chowdeck app every Thursday to Sunday.

Verve cardholders can now enjoy a 10% cashback on the Google Play Store any day of the week throughout the Good Life Promo, which runs until 30 November 2025. Moreso, every transaction made with a Verve card whether on ATMs, POS terminals, or online platforms automatically earns customers a chance to win up to ₦1,000,000.

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Business

Glo Enhances Data Bundles, Offers More Data at No Extra Cost

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1 week ago

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October 30, 2025

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Nigeria’s leading telecommunications company, Globacom, has announced enhancement of its data bundles to give subscribers more data volume at the same affordable prices.

The upgrade reinforces the company’s commitment to providing superior value and exceptional customer satisfaction.

The upgraded Glo Data Bundles are enhanced versions of the existing daily, weekly, and monthly plans, giving subscribers more data at no additional cost.

These improvements offer users greater freedom and convenience to enjoy their favourite online activities from streaming and gaming to social media, video calls, and more.

For daily users, the ₦100 plan has been upgraded from 105MB to 125MB, giving light internet users even more data to browse, chat, and stream short videos conveniently.

The weekly bundles have also received notable boosts, such as the ₦1,500 plan, which now offers 6GB instead of 5.9GB, enabling subscribers to stay connected longer.

Heavy data consumers will also enjoy remarkable value on the monthly plans. The ₦2,000 bundle now gives 6.25GB, while the ₦10,000 package has been enhanced from 38GB to 42GB, allowing users to do more from video streaming and large file downloads to remote work and virtual meetings.

Students are not left out, as the Campus Booster Plan has been upgraded with higher data allowances, ensuring seamless access to academic resources and social networks while on campus.

Globacom noted that the revised bundles are available to all Glo customers  prepaid, postpaid, and hybrid and can be activated by dialing *312#, using the Glo Café app (available on Android and iOS), or visiting hsi.glo.com.

The company added that subscribers can use, share, or gift data through *312# or the Glo Café app. Customers will also continue to receive data usage alerts at 75% and 100% consumption levels to help monitor usage effectively.

Unused data is automatically rolled over upon renewal before expiry or when a new plan is purchased within the grace period (ranging from one to seven days, depending on the plan).

Globacom reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerians with reliable and affordable data access, urging customers to take advantage of the revised data bundles that combine affordability, quality, and more browsing power ensuring every Glo subscriber enjoys more data without paying more.

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Business

Maiden Flight to Heathrow Airport: Fidelity Bank Hails Air Peace

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1 week ago

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October 29, 2025

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Fidelity Bank Plc has congratulated Air Peace on the successful launch of its maiden direct flight from Lagos to London Heathrow, describing the milestone as a significant achievement for Nigeria’s aviation sector and a testament to the power of indigenous partnerships.

The commendation was delivered by Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, managing director of Fidelity Bank, during a special event held in Lagos to celebrate the airline’s expansion into the European market.

“This is not just a win for Air Peace, but a win for Nigeria,” Onyeali-Ikpe said. “It reflects the strength of home-grown businesses and the impact of strategic financial support in enabling national champions to thrive on the global stage.”

Nigeria CommunicationsWeek reports that Fidelity Bank has played a pivotal role in Air Peace’s growth, providing early financial backing and advisory services that helped the airline become the largest carrier in West Africa. The bank continues to support Air Peace through payment processing and other financial services

The launch of the London route marks a new chapter for Air Peace, which now joins a select group of African airlines operating direct flights to Heathrow.

The development is expected to boost tourism, trade, and connectivity between Nigeria and the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the event, Allen Onyema, Chairman of Air Peace, expressed gratitude to Fidelity Bank for its unwavering support and reaffirmed the airline’s commitment to excellence and service.

“This partnership has been instrumental in our journey,” Onyema said. “We are proud to fly the Nigerian flag across international skies.”

Industry stakeholders present at the event praised the collaboration between the two companies as a model for sustainable business growth and national development.

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