Business
FBN Holings Plc Announces New Board Appointments
FBN Holdings PLC (“FBNHoldings), Nigeria’s leading financial holdings company, has announced the appointments of Mr. Seni Adetu and Mrs. Juliet Anammah as Independent Non-Executive directors, while Mr. Otu Hughes has been appointed as a Non-Executive director. These appointments are subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (“CBN”).
Speaking on the appointments, the Group Chairman of FBN Holdings Plc, Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, said, “On behalf of the board, management and staff of FBNHoldings, I am delighted to welcome the trio of Seni Adetu, Mrs. Juliet Anammah and Otu Hughes to the FBNHoldings board as they bring on board their combined professional experience and expertise of over 97 years, cutting across various industries and institutions of global repute.”
“I am certain that these rich experiences will have immediate and long-term impact on the group and its subsidiaries across Africa and beyond,” he added further.
SENI ADETU
Seni Adetu, a former Managing Director/CEO Guinness Nigeria Plc, has 35 years of private sector experience garnered at the highest levels primarily with John Holt Plc, Coca-Cola International and Diageo (Guinness) Plc in various countries within and outside Africa. He holds a first degree in Chemical Engineering and Masters in Business Administration (with specialization in Marketing), both from the University of Lagos. Adetu was at various times Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria Ltd, Managing Director of Coca-Cola, and the first African Managing Director/CEO and Executive Vice Chairman of Guinness Ghana Plc.
In 2009, Adetu was appointed Group Managing Director/CEO East African Breweries (EABL), the biggest company in East Africa, based in Kenya, during which time he was named Runner-up Forbes/CNBC CEO of the Year 2012 in East Africa. He was subsequently appointed MD/CEO of Guinness Nigeria Plc and Executive Chairman Diageo Brands Nigeria thus, again becoming the first Nigerian in nearly 20 years to lead that company. Adetu has had working stints in Hungary and the UK and has been exposed to various high-profile leadership courses globally including at the prestigious Harvard Business School.
He has served on the boards of various multinational companies in both Executive and Non-Executive capacity in Nigeria and abroad and was until recently an Independent Non-Executive Director on the Board of Fidelity Bank Plc and Non-Executive Director at APT Pensions Ltd among others.
Adetu is the Founder/Group CEO of Algorithm Media Limited and Ogilvy Nigeria Limited, two leading Marketing Communications agencies in Nigeria, in partnership with WPP, the world’s largest advertising and media agency network. He is a member of many reputable social clubs including the Metropolitan Club Lagos. He is also the immediate past National Vice President of the University of Lagos Alumni Association.
JULIET ANAMMAH
Juliet Anammah is Chairwoman Jumia Nigeria & Head of Institutional Affairs Jumia Group. Jumia is the largest eCommerce platform in Africa and the first African Tech start-up to be listed on the NYSE
She is an experienced executive with 28+ years of professional experience including 7 + years at Partner / Chief Executive level.
Before her current role, she was the CEO of Jumia Nigeria. Prior to joining Jumia, Juliet spent 16 years at Accenture and was the Partner managing Accenture’s Consumer Goods Practice in West Africa.
A Pharmacist by training, she started her career in Sales & Marketing with May and Baker (Sanofi-Aventis) in 1991 before joining Accenture as a Senior Strategy Consultant in 1999.
Juliet also serves on Corporate and non-profit Boards in a non-executive capacity. She is currently on the Boards of Flour Mills of Nigeria and APT Pensions as Independent non-executive member. She is also an EXCO member of Consultative Action Group for the Poor (CGAP) a not for profit agency funded by the World Bank, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and several Bilaterial/ Multilateral agencies.
She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree, an MBA (Finance track) and is an alumnus of both Wharton College University of Pennsylvania (AMP) and Yale University.
OTU HUGHES
Otu Hughes has over 25 years’ experience in operations and strategy, principal investment, mergers and acquisition as well as capital raising in both the US and Sub-Saharan Africa. He started his career in 1993 with Lehman Brothers, providing strategic and financial advisory services to government entities and companies in privatisation and empowerment issues, notably Brazil (power and mining), Ghana (mining), South Africa (empowerment programmes), amongst others.
Otu joined Deutsche Bank in 1998 as Associate– Mergers, Acquisitions and Corporate Advisory Group with the oversight responsibilities of providing mergers, acquisitions, corporate and strategic financial advisory services to companies and government agencies across industries and countries, rising to Vice President. He is the Co-founder and Principal of Rofgam/Hughes Consulting and also worked at KeyBanc Capital Markets, amongst many others.
Otu is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of Candesco Limited, set up with the primary responsibility of developing and managing off-grid and independent power projects for Sub-Sahara Africa market, providing affordable, clean and stable power to clusters of communities.
Business
Nestlé, AGRA, TechnoServe Launch Groundbreaking Climate-Smart Agriculture Initiative in Nigeria
In a bold step towards building a climate-resilient agricultural sector, AGRA, Nestlé Nigeria, and TechnoServe have launched the Strengthening Farmers’ and SMEs’ Resilience through Climate Smart Grain Production and Accessing the Structured Markets (StreFaS) initiative in Nigeria.
StreFaS is a three-year initiative, funded by AGRA and Nestlé, that will run from June 2024 to October 2027. The program aims to support 25,000 smallholder farmers and eight aggregators across Kaduna and Nasarawa States, promoting sustainable production of maize, soybean, rice, and sorghum. It focuses on integrating regenerative agriculture into every step of the value chain, with particular emphasis on empowering youth and women.
StreFaS will help improve soil health, lower greenhouse gas emissions, increase biodiversity, and strengthen economic resilience. Furthermore, the program connects smallholder farmers to formal markets, including Nestlé’s supply chain, enabling them to receive premium prices for climate-smart produce.
The launch event, held in Zaria, Kaduna State, brought together high-level representatives from the government, development partners, private-sector stakeholders, and members of the media.
The event featured keynote speeches from implementing partners, a case study from a climate-smart farmer, and a powerful project overview underscoring the initiative’s role in transforming Nigeria’s grain value chains.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Adesuwa Akinboro, Country Director of TechnoServe Nigeria, described the STREFAS initiative as a transformative step for Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“This project represents a bold commitment to supporting smallholder farmers and agribusinesses with the tools, knowledge, and market access they need to thrive in the face of climate change. STREFAS is not just about boosting yields—it’s about regenerating our soils, restoring dignity to farming, and creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for communities across Kaduna and Nasarawa States,” she said.
“We are proud to co-lead this initiative that puts farmers first — not just by introducing new practices, but by rebuilding the very ecosystems that sustain farming — core to AGRA’s approach to sustainable and resilient food systems transformation,” said Dr. Rufus Idris, AGRA’s Country Director for Nigeria.
Speaking on Nestlé’s commitment, Mr. Wassim Elhusseini, CEO of Nestlé Nigeria, added:
“At Nestlé, we believe that good food starts with high-quality ingredients and the well-being of the people who produce them. Our partnership in this initiative underscores our commitment to sustainable sourcing and decarbonizing our value chain. Globally, we aim to source at least 50% of our key ingredients from farmers practicing regenerative agriculture by 2030. With an investment of over $1,000,000 in this project over the next three years, we aim to contribute towards establishing regenerative agriculture as the standard in the food industry, addressing both environmental and social priorities holistically.”
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture, Kaduna State, Honourable Murtala Muhammad Dabo stated “This launch marks a significant milestone in our journey towards a more sustainable agricultural future. I commend TechnoServe and its partners for their dedication to promoting climate-smart agriculture practices in Kaduna State. Let us continue to work together to empower farmers, improve food security, and build a climate-resilient agricultural sector. I wish you all the best in this endeavor.”
On the sidelines of the launch, MAGGI celebrated the Soya Bean farmers who were part of the regenerative agriculture pilot project. One of the farmers Engineer Lawan Abdul, shared a compelling testimonial.
“Since I started adopting the strategies, we were taught in this project, my yields have increased by 100%. This was very surprising and encouraging for me. I am very happy with the outcome and thank the project partners and MAGGI for bringing this opportunity to us.”
The StreFaS initiative is aligned with AGRA’s 3.0 Country Strategy, Nestlé’s 2030 Climate resilience sourcing goals, and TechnoServe’s proven expertise in building market-driven solutions for rural prosperity.
By connecting smallholder farmers to better tools, markets, and capital, StreFaS will scale regeneration in ways that are profitable and empowering. As implementation continues, the program will deepen collaboration with government, private sector, and civil society partners to sustain scalable change across Nigeria’s grain value chain.
Shareholders of tier one lender, Fidelity Bank, have applauded the board and management of the bank for delivering an outstanding performance in FY 2024.
Speaking at the 37th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held virtually on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the National Chairman of The Progressive Shareholders Association, Chief Boniface Okezie, praised the bank.
“This is a superlative performance and we the shareholders are grateful to management and staff for giving us a bank to be proud of,” he said. “It is also important to note that the bank has earned its spot as one of the top 3 dividend-paying financial institutions in Nigeria.”
In his remarks, the Chairman, Zonal Shareholders Committee, Sir Tunji Okelana, recognized the bank’s exceptional leadership, which has seen the bank grow to unprecedented heights.
“The achievements of the current MD have surpassed those of everyone who held that office before her. In addition, staff working with her are assets. They are truly ‘Fidelity, they keep their word’. Without any doubt, I am very happy with the bank”, he declared.
Chairman, Board of Directors, Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Mustafa Chike-Obi, said, “Despite the global economic headwinds, we demonstrated exceptional resilience, achieving record breaking growth across all performance indicators, most notably our Profit Before Tax (PBT)”.
The chairman further noted that the bank’s stakeholders were all pleased with the success of the first stage of the capital-raise exercise.
“The oversubscription of 237.9% in the Public Offer and 137.7% in the Rights Issue is a testament to the strength of our brand and the confidence the investing public has in us. Equipped with this vote of trust, we will proceed swiftly and conclude the second tier of our capital-raise exercise”.
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, in her statement to shareholders, shared the strategic outlook to build on the bank’s FY 2024 success.
“Our priorities in the 2025 financial year are to complete the next phase of our capital raise and further strengthen our asset base, enhance operational efficiency and digital innovation and explore strategic regional expansion into select African markets,” she said.
According to the bank’s 2024 annual report available on its website and distributed to shareholders, the bank recorded an impressive 210% growth in Profit Before Tax to N385.2 billion.
Gross Earnings increased by 87.7% to N1,043.4bn, driven by 106.9% growth in interest and similar income to N950.6bn. The bank also witnessed an impressive 47.9% growth in deposits from N4.0trn in 2023FY to N5.9trn while Advances grew from N3.1tn in 2023FY to N4.4tn in 2024FY.
Several resolutions were considered and passed at the AGM, including the declaration of a final dividend of N1.25 kobo, the election of non-executive directors – Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Mohammed and Ms. Obiaku Augusta Okam; the election of Mr Sufiyanu Ibrahim Garba as executive director; and the re-election of non-executive directors – Mr Mustapha Chike-Obi and Engr Henry Obih, among others.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
Its multiple local and international awards include the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine.
Additionally, Fidelity Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.
Business
Zenith Bank Promises Quantum Leap in Future Dividends, Delights Shareholders with Payout of N195.67bn
Shareholders of Zenith Bank Plc, at the 34th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, approved the proposed final dividend payment of NGN4.00 per share, bringing the total dividend for the 2024 financial year to NGN5.00 per share, with a total value of NGN195.67 billion.
The Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, thanked the shareholders for their unflinching support and commitment, which have been responsible for the bank’s stellar performance over the years. He noted that despite challenges globally in 2024, Zenith Bank was able to leverage the opportunities within the environment of each subsidiary to record a performance that solidly attests to the bank’s resilience as a brand.
The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, expressed her appreciation to the shareholders for their commitment and support, promising quantum leap in dividends going forward. According to her, “This is the first time that I am addressing the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in my capacity as the first female GMD/CEO of Zenith Bank. I would like to thank you for your confidence and support that has placed me in this position today”. She further said that “Zenith Bank is committed to, not only meeting your expectations, but exceeding them. We are focused on running a very efficient and sustainable institution that is resilient and will ensure that our institution outlives many generations to come”. Talking specifically about dividend, she emphasized that “If you look at our dividends trajectory, payments over the period have always increased and we will continue to maintain this record. We have successfully completed our recapitalization exercise, achieving 160% subscription. Therefore, we are not under any pressure to go back for the second time to raise funds. Zenith Bank has sufficient capital buffer to do business and we will continue to delight our shareholders. We are committed to growing our topline organically while adhering to our strict corporate governance culture.”
Dr. Faruk Umar, President of the Association of the Rights of Nigerian Shareholders (AARNS), applauded the Group Managing Director for her efforts in ensuring the growth of the bank’s financial indices. He said, “We are very happy that the bank is paying us N5. Most importantly the GMD/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, has done so well. In the past year, she won the award for the Banker of the Year which is very commendable, and all the bank’s indices have gone up; we are now experiencing trillions in profit against N676 billion the previous year, and the shareholder’s funds, the gross earnings – everything now is in trillions. I think this is very commendable. The bank has won so many awards – no bank in Nigeria has won such qualitative awards like they have. They also surpassed the capitalization threshold of CBN by 160% – this is unprecedented. We are very happy with their performance.”
Speaking on the dividend payout, Alhaji Otunba Mukhtar Mukhtar, Chairman, Trusted Shareholders Association of Nigeria, said “The consistency of Zenith Bank dividend payout has never been matched in Nigeria. Since the inception of this bank, they have kept giving shareholders a consistent dividend payout, and this has made shareholders to be richer, happier, and more excited at the hardwork, performance and commitment of the bank. We are very happy. If you look at the Profit Before Tax (PBT) and the Profit After Tax (PAT), they have been able to cross the N1 trillion threshold. They have given us a Profit Before Tax of N1.3 trillion, which is very commendable. The shareholders, as you have seen at the meeting, have expressed their happiness and joy about this performance. I am grateful to the Chairman, Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, the Management and the Board for such an outstanding performance.”
Ambassador Dr. Olatunde Okelana, the Balogun Olugbon of Orile- Igbon, Oyo State, also commented on the bank’s dividend payout. In his words, “Zenith Bank investment has been the best for me. I want to believe that whoever has not invested in Zenith Bank has lost. Their dividend policy is very palatable, very beautiful in the banking industry and the lady at the helm of affairs is performing wonderfully well. She is one of the best female CEOs in the banking Industry in Nigeria. I am a capitalist, so I invest where my money can give me beautiful returns. I want to tell you that Zenith Bank has been the best in the capital market and it is the best investment. Dr. Jim Ovia, CFR, the Founder & Chairman, is a benefit to mankind, he has done the best by giving us Zenith Bank. 99.9% of my savings is in Zenith Bank, because I have confidence in them and in the Management led by Dame Dr. Adaora. I want to encourage many Nigerians to invest in Zenith Bank so that they too can reap the fruit of their labor as soon as possible. I am very happy to be a shareholder of this bank.
Chief Timothy Adesiyan, President of the Shareholders Solidarity Association of Nigeria, praised the Chairman and Management of Zenith Bank for their consistent delivery of value to shareholders. He noted, “The dividend we received this year of N5 has been a promise which they have given to us at several forums which they have called at different times, and we thank them for not failing us in their promise. I am very proud to be a shareholder of Zenith Bank, and also their customer. The bank is a very reliable bank – if you keep your investments in Zenith Bank, you can go to sleep because there is always somebody there watching your investment for you.”
The bank’s robust financial performance in 2024 alluded to its commitment to continually delivering value to its investors in spite of challenging macroeconomic conditions. Zenith Bank Group achieved a remarkable double-digit growth of 86% in gross earnings, from NGN2.13 trillion in the previous year to NGN3.97 trillion in 2024. This was driven by a 138% increase in interest income, supported by investment in high-yield government securities, and growth in the Bank’s loan book. Customer deposits grew by 45%, reflecting the bank’s market leadership and customers’ trust. Total assets rose by 47%, underpinned by a strong liquidity position and effective balance sheet management.
Zenith Bank’s track record of excellent performance has continued to earn the brand numerous awards including being recognized as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the fifteenth consecutive year in the 2024 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking, published by The Banker Magazine. The Bank was also awarded the Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; and Best Bank in Nigeria for four times in five years, from 2020 to 2022 and in 2024, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards.
