Amidst pomp and pageantry layered with a mixture of glitz and glamour, Zenith Bank Plc marked its 35th year anniversary with a commemorative Chairman’s Dinner at the Eko Convention Centre, Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Friday, August 15, 2025.

In recognition of their immense contributions to the success of the brand, the bank also presented commemorative awards and plaques to pioneer customers and long-serving staff, who have served meritoriously for 25 years and above.

The ceremony brought together key stakeholders of the bank including customers, staff (past and present), regulators, partners, and friends, who all came together to celebrate 35 years of excellent and innovative banking services that has propelled the banking giant to the peak of Nigeria’s financial industry.

Among the eminent personalities who graced the occasion were the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON; Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Governor of Ondo State, Mr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa; Governor of Taraba State, Dr. Agbu Kefas; Governor of Borno State, Prof. Babagana Zulum; Governor of Delta, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, Sir. Monday Onyeme; Alhaji Aliko Dangote, GCON; and former governors Peter Obi and Udom Emmanuel (also an alumnus of Zenith Bank).

In her welcome address, the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON applauded the Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR for his foundational role in building the structures for what has today become a shining example of excellence in the Nigerian banking industry and a globally recognised financial institution. She described him as “the Godfather of modern banking and the Nostradamus of our time, who through sheer tenacity, foresight, and uncompromising integrity transformed a modest vision into the financial powerhouse we celebrate today”.

In his goodwill message, the Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, GCON, a proud alumnus of the bank, praised the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR for being at the heart of the very successful brand that today stands as Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-One capital. According to him, “Long before technology became the bloodstream of global finance, Jim Ovia had already woven it into the DNA of Nigerian banking industry. He introduced innovation not as a fashion but as a philosophy, placing Zenith Bank on a path where excellence is not an ambition but a standard. Yet his true signature is not only on the balance sheet. For Jim Ovia, the people make an institution. His greatest investment has been in human capital – in transferring his experience and sense of adventure to generation after generation of bankers and investors forged at Zenith Bank”.

Also speaking at the event, the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, CFR expressed its immense appreciation to all guests for joining the bank in celebrating this momentous occasion. He thanked the bank’s esteemed customers and shareholders for their trust, confidence and shared vision; the regulators, for their guidance over the years; his friends and partners, for being a constant source of strength; the Zenith Bank family led by the exceptional Group Managing Diector/CEO, Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON, for their loyalty and commitment; and his beloved wife and family for their love and support.

Founded in May 1990, Zenith Bank has grown from humble beginnings into one of Africa’s leading financial institutions with branches across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja as well as subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Gambia, France, UAE and a representative office in China.

Access Bank has announced that it has been certified under ISO/IEC 27701:2019, the global standard for Privacy Information Management Systems.

The award, according to a statement by the management, demonstrates Access Bank’s consistent commitment to the highest levels of data privacy, security, and compliance.

The certification affirms that Access Bank operates a Privacy Information Management System (PIMS), which fully complies with the rigorous requirements of ISO/IEC 27701:2019.

The scope of the certification encompasses the management, processing, and protection of Personally Identifiable Information (PII) related to customers, employees, and third parties across the entire organisation.

This certification covers all physical and digital assets, processes, and information systems engaged in the collection, storage, processing, sharing, and disposal of PII throughout the bank.

The Statement of Applicability, version 15.0, dated March 27, 2025, demonstrates Access Bank’s role as both a PII Controller and a PII Processor, ensuring a robust framework for safeguarding sensitive information at every stage of its lifecycle.

The certification is referenced under ISMS Certificate, No. IS 583140.Dr. Favour Femi-Oyewole, Group Chief Information Security Officer / Data Protection Officer, Access Bank, commented, “Achieving the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification is a testament to Access Bank’s proactive approach to information security, Data Protection and Privacy, which reflects our commitment to safeguarding the trust our customers place in us, and our culture of continuous improvement. It demonstrates our dedication to adopting global best practices and reinforces our position as a leader in privacy information management across the financial services sector.”

Lanre Bamisebi, Executive Director, IT and Digitisation, Access Holdings, remarked, “Securing the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification marks a pivotal milestone in Access Bank’s journey to embed privacy and data protection at the heart of our digital strategy.

It also underscores the strategic investments we continue to make in digital innovation. This achievement reflects our unwavering commitment to building resilient systems that not only meet global standards but also anticipate the evolving expectations of our customers and regulators. It is the result of deliberate cross-functional collaboration and a forward-thinking approach to governance and trust.

Receiving the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 certification shows Access Bank’s proactive approach to privacy management, its investment in state-of-the-art security infrastructure, and its commitment to building trust with stakeholders and the broader community.

Access Bank remains fully committed to upholding the privacy rights of all individuals and adapting to the evolving global data protection landscape.

International Direct Dialing (IDD) costs have been significantly lowered by Globacom, with some call rates going as low as N30 per minute. This is for the benefits of existing and new customers on the network.

The new tariffs, which cover calls to over 15 well-known overseas locations, went into effect on August 10.

Calls to the United States now cost ₦30 per minute instead of ₦35 due to the review. Additionally, the rate to the UK has dropped from ₦400 to ₦350, while the rate to India has decreased from ₦45 to ₦40. Calls to Cameroon is now ₦700, while Saudi Arabia is now ₦300 and China ₦75.

Rates to neighbouring African countries have also been reviewed. Benin Republic now costs ₦650 per minute, Niger Republic ₦750, Ghana ₦500, and Togo ₦650. Calls to the United Arab Emirates have been reduced from ₦450 to ₦325. Germany is now ₦550, Côte d’Ivoire ₦700, Libya ₦700, while Malawi has dropped from ₦1,200 to ₦1,100.

Given the affordability and competitiveness of the lower prices, Globacom stated that the updated rates are a part of a larger plan to give both new and existing Glo customers more value and make them stick to Glo as their preferred network for their international calls.

Additionally, Globacom hinted about the introduction of new IDD bundles that will offer even more alluring discounts to regular international callers.