Business
FBNHoldings, FBNBank Ghana Visit Ghana President, Akufo-Addo in Accra
The Group Board Chairman, FBN Holdings Plc, Dr. Oba Otudeko CFR in company of Directors of FBN Holdings, FirstBank of Nigeria Limited and FBNBank Ghana Limited, have paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo in Accra.
The visit was to appreciate the President for participating in First Bank of Nigeria Limited’s 125th anniversary activities held earlier this year as well as update him of recent investment activities of the Group.
In his speech, Dr. Otudeko assured President Akufo-Addo of FBNHoldings’ belief in the Ghanaian economy and indicated that it was evidenced by the recapitalization of FBNBank Ghana by its parent bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited. He pointed out that the Group’s investment of US$100 million was well above the new minimum capital requirement set by the Bank of Ghana into its Ghana operation.
Otudeko added that the bank’s confidence in the Ghanaian economy and the talent of Ghanaians had resulted in the appointment of Victor Yaw Asante as the first Ghanaian Managing Director of FBNBank Ghana Limited.
Dr. Otudeko lauded the President of Ghana for giving the youth opportunities to serve in his government, saying it will prepare them to take over the leadership of Ghana in the near future. He congratulated the President on the choice of Ghana as host of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, saying that it must have taken significant effort to bring this to Ghana.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo thanked Dr. Otudeko for his kind words and recounted the crucial bilateral and economic ties as well as historic bond, pre and post-independence, that exist between Ghana and Nigeria.
While stating that it is important for the economies of both Ghana and Nigeria to do well for ECOWAS to succeed, the President thanked FBN Holdings Plc for investing in Ghana and gave the assurance that government will provide the necessary support to FBNBank Ghana Limited and the entire business community.
The President also touched on the banking sector reforms and observed that Nigeria also had to embark on a similar exercise in the recent past. He said it was a painful but necessary exercise to strengthen the financial services industry and position it to support business and the economy.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the importance of providing opportunities to the youth to enable them support the nation’s growth and development agenda and the need for all citizens of the two countries to find avenues to give back to their nations.
Members of the delegation pledged, on behalf of FBN Holdings Plc and FBNBank Ghana, their commitment to helping build a stronger Ghanaian economy, as well as forging stronger economic ties between citizens and businesses of Ghana and Nigeria.
The FBNHoldings Group Board Chairman, Dr. Oba Otudeko, CFR, was accompanied by Mrs. Ibukun Awosika, Chairman, Board of Directors, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Mr. U. K. Eke, MFR, Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc.; Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, Chief Executive Officer, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Otunba (Mrs.) Debola Osibogun, Non-Executive Director, FBNHoldings; Dr. Hamza Wuro Bokki, Non-Executive Director, FBNHoldings, and Mr. Victor Yaw Asante, Managing Director, FBNBank Ghana Limited.
FBN Holdings Plc is the most diversified financial services group in Nigeria and includes FirstBank of Nigeria Ltd the mother company of FBNBank Ghana and other subsidiaries around the world.
Business
Naira Gains Against Dollar, Trades at N1,453/$1
The Naira continued its appreciation at the official market on Thursday, March 21, 2024 to close at N1,453.28/$1, according to data from the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).
This represents an appreciation of N39.33 when compared to the N1,492.61/$1 it closed on Wednesday, March 20, 2024.
The intraday high was N1,598/$1, while the intraday low was N1,300/$1, representing a wide spread of N298/$1.
Similarly, the Naira appreciated against the dollar at the parallel window to trade at N1,500/$1, this represents an appreciation of N20.00 as against the N1,520 /$1 it traded the previous day.
The Naira also appreciated slightly against the British Pound to trade at N2,000/£1 as against the previous trading day’s price of N2,020/£1 representing a gain of N20 for the local currency.
The Canadian dollar, however, closed flat against the naira to trade at N1,270/CA$1 same as the N1,270/CA$1 it traded the previous day representing a decline of N20 in the local currency.
The Naira gained N30 against the Euro to trade at N1,670/€1 as against the previous closing price of N1,700/€1.
Business
Global Money Week: MoneyMaster PSB Trains Students on Savings Culture
2024 Global Money Week: MoneyMaster PSB trains students on savings culture
MoneyMaster Payment Service Bank Limited (MMPSB), Nigeria’s leading payment service bank, is poised to train 5,000 students on the need to embrace savings and investment culture in commemoration of the 2024 Global Money Week.
Tagged “Catch them Young” experiential campaign, the programme aims to have the students drawn from schools in Nigeria participating in the week-long financial literacy training in the bank’s coordinating centres across 10 participating states of the Federation.
In the same vein, MMPSB will equally engage teachers and enlighten them on basic knowledge of savings and investment for future purposes.
The 2024 Global Money Week with the theme “Protect your money, secure your future,” is billed for March 18 to 24, 2024.
MMPSB disclosed in a press release that it was committed to the provision of top-notch banking services to its customers at all times, including payment services through wallets, savings, individual and business accounts, as well as provision of a platform for customers to buy airtime/data, pay bills and subscribe to cable television, amongst others.
“As part of the week-long celebration, MoneyMaster PSB will also be releasing thought leadership videos on safety and security on how banking customers can protect themselves. These videos will be shared to its customers via direct email and also on its social media handles for the benefit of the general public,” the bank further said.
Global Money Week is an annual event which creates global awareness-raising campaign on the importance of ensuring that young people, from an early age, are financially aware, and are gradually acquiring the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours pivotal to making sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve financial well-being.
This year’s edition is focused on safe money management, and the importance of adopting a responsible and informed approach to personal finance, by being aware of potential risks in the financial sector and protecting one’s hard-earned money.
Business
Fidelity Bank Shares 3000 Food Packs Among Residents of Zamfara Community
Leading Financial Institution, Fidelity Bank Plc has distributed over 3000 food items to vulnerable households and less privileged families in Gusau, Zamfara State.