Business
FirstBank: Empowering Staff, Driving Productivity against the Odds
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By Segun Adams
As the coronavirus pandemic forces firms to downsize and cut their wage cost to cope with the adverse economic realities, First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is bucking the trend with a different approach that puts its staff first, writes Segun Adams.
In a pandemic year where employees are agreeing to pay cuts to keep their jobs and businesses are either downsizing or simply liquidating, First Bank of Nigeria Limited is an outlier, taking an unusual approach to demonstrate how organisations can still ensure the best outcomes for both employer and employees.
The first-tier lender last Friday promoted a crop of its staff across all levels in a rare show of corporate resilience in the banking industry and beyond, both locally and across the borders.
According to FirstBank, keeping staff motivated during these unprecedented times is not only crucial for the soul of businesses, but it also demonstrates corporate responsibility.
In the wake of the new coronavirus pandemic, there have been unprecedented layoffs across the world as companies went bust, unable to generate cash to sustain their operations.
The United States, the world’s biggest economy has recorded a historic rise in unemployment with over 45 million initial unemployment claims in the last three months.
In Britain, HSBC, a giant global bank, is reviving plans for a 35,000 job cut due to pre-existing problems thought to have been worsened by the pandemic. Big banks like Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, Citigroup, Barclays, Société Générale among others have announced about layoffs exceeding 60,000 jobs.
In Nigeria, 38% of the workforce was jobless in April due to the virus and lockdowns, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates. In the MSMEs sector, 50,000 jobs were lost and 10,000 businesses have shut down according to Auwal Bununu Ibrahim, the National Vice President, North Central of the National Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, (NASME) and in the Aviation industry, some 24,000 jobs were lost as of April.
While banks in the country have been barred by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) from laying off staff without regulatory approval, there is no obligation for banks to implement promotions or raise pay. In fact, most lenders have initiated pay cuts to cope with the excess capacity arising from skeletal operations and depressed levels of economic activities in the economy which is reeling from the coronavirus and lockdown shocks.
But against the odds, FirstBank promoted its staff and didn’t cut down salaries.
In a recent article, Forbes stated that the manner in which firms treat their employees during the ongoing health and economic crisis will not only be remembered for years to come but have a direct effect on their productivity going-forward.
“How businesses respond will have a lasting impact on employee behaviour including, engagement, productivity and loyalty,” the American business magazine noted.
Hertzberg’s Two-Factor Theory also known as dual-factor theory postulates that career progression is a motivating factor for employees to work harder.
As the coronavirus pandemic continues to take a toll on the mental health and focus of employees in the country, and across the world, due to uncertainty of job status, lower income and a disruption to their career development, FirstBank stands out as a safe and rewarding place to work.
The stability and confidence enjoyed by the bank’s staff are the vital environment human resources experts say is necessary for firms that will successfully navigate the tides of current realities.
In a recent BusinessDay Webinar, Nkemdilim Begho, CEO, Future Software Resources Limited advised that businesses can engage their team and see how they can help in creating new ideas and products that the company can deliver. The resultant effect will be greater efficiency of staff and innovation whereas, elsewhere organizations are bound to struggle with a demotivated workforce which could lead to inefficiencies and higher costs for the businesses with adverse implications for bottom-line.
To realise optimal human resources contributions, Begho acknowledged the need for firms to sustain team bond and ensure that morale of their staff is high.
Even before current events, FirstBank has always proven to be conscious of the impact a stimulating and rewarding environment can have on the overall employee performance and thus, provided value accretion to shareholders, customers and other stakeholders.
From its competitive remuneration across cadres including mid-level and senior-level employees to benefits that cover medical insurance and disability insurance, sick leave and vacation, and retirement options, FirstBank puts its workforce first ensuring that they are well motivated and equipped to deliver higher productivity.
FirstBank has featured on some of the best workplace rankings including A Great place to Work and Jobberman. Last year, the big bank ranked among the Jobberman 2019 best 100 companies to work for in Nigeria, a list that scrutinizes over 60,000 companies to pick the best 100 based on strict metrics. The bank has enjoyed positive reviews from credible job/career sites like Indeed where it banks a 4.1/5 positive rating.
A former employee of the bank Aderemi Adebiyi commended the institution for its keen interest in the welfare and career progression of its employees. “I worked in the Bank for 15 years and do not regret it. It’s fast-paced, performance-driven with varied streams of career development,” Aderemi said. “The company also offers paid trainings.”
FirstBank’s talent management strategy is aimed at supporting employee engagement, employee motivation and increased productivity, and leadership development across all levels of employees within the organization, according to its website. As a tenet of career development, FirstBank has devoted itself to creating a culture of continuous learning tailored to the needs and aspirations of the employees and the business itself.
The bank’s FirstAcademy and learning centres strategically located around the country allows for e-learning, mobile learning, physical classrooms and virtual libraries to allow all employees the opportunity to equip themselves for future roles that benefit both them and the organization. This means pandemic or not, learning is continuous and uninterrupted.
FirstBank also prides itself as an equal opportunity employer so that qualified persons irrespective of gender, culture, age, nationality, sexual orientation, disability or social background can participate in its business.
At the same time, FirstBank remains a performance-driven organization and merit-based, allowing individual talents to be rewarded for their hard work and contribution to overall organisational goals.
With people as one of the bank’s greatest assets, it strives to maintain a pool of multi-skilled and well-rounded employees relying on initiatives like Job Shadowing, Coaching, Counselling, Mentoring, Succession Planning and Career Maps to develop and retain talents at all levels of the organisation’s operations.
Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability and climate resilience through its support for environmental education and community-based conservation at the 20th edition of the Walk for Nature in Lagos.
The bank reaffirmed this commitment at this year’s event, organised in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) and the Lagos State Government, held on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Lagos.
Speaking at the event, themed, “Inspired for Climate Action”, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, described the milestone event as a testament to the power of sustained partnerships in advancing environmental conservation and encouraging responsible environmental practices.
“At Fidelity Bank, we recognise that environmental sustainability is integral to building resilient communities and supporting long-term economic growth. Our commitment goes beyond advocacy to practical initiatives that promote cleaner energy, environmental awareness and responsible resource management,” Nwagboh said.
Reaffirming the bank’s commitment to environmental preservation, Nwagboh highlighted Fidelity Bank’s continued support for renewable energy solutions, environmental education, tree-planting programmes, recycling initiatives and community beautification projects.
“The theme, ‘Inspired for Climate Action” reminds us that environmental awareness must translate into practical action. Every individual has a role to play, whether through conserving resources, reducing waste, planting trees or adopting more sustainable lifestyles. By working together, we can build a cleaner, greener and more resilient Nigeria for future generations”. He said.
Nwagboh also commended the Nigerian Conservation Foundation and the Lagos State Government for their longstanding collaboration with the bank, noting that meaningful progress in addressing environmental challenges required sustained commitment from public and private sector stakeholders.
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Dr. Gaji Omobolaji Tajudeen, stressed the importance of protecting wetlands, mangroves and waterways to reduce flooding risks.
He disclosed that the state was targeting the planting of 20,000 trees in 2026 to improve environmental quality and strengthen urban resilience.
“Protecting our wetlands, waterways and green spaces is essential to reducing flooding and building a climate-resilient Lagos. Residents must also take responsibility by disposing of waste properly and adopting environmentally friendly practices,” Dr. Gaji said.
In a goodwill message, environmental advocate and Founder of Green Education for the Youth, Chief Olufunso Amosun, urged young people to champion environmental conservation beyond organised events.
“Environmental protection requires consistent action. Young people can make a difference by educating their peers, promoting sustainable habits and becoming ambassadors for conservation in their communities,” Amosun said.
The Walk for Nature partnership forms part of Fidelity Bank’s broader commitment to environmental sustainability and community development, reflecting its continued efforts to promote responsible environmental practices through strategic partnerships and stakeholder engagement.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 10 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international awards, including the 2025 Development Bank of Nigeria (DBN) Innovation Award for MSME support; Best Retail and SME Bank Award from Independent Newspapers; Best Bank for Export & Trade Finance and Most Innovative Bank of the Year at the 2025 BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; and Nigeria’s Best Private Bank at the 2025 Euromoney Awards. The Bank also received the inaugural Most Improved Commercial Bank of the Year award by Nairametrics, the SME Bank of the Year award by NewsDirect, and the Straight-Through Processing (STP) Excellence Award by Citi Group, in addition to recognition by Global Brands Magazine for Excellence in Community Empowerment.
Business
EIB-Backed Boost Africa Fuels Daya’s Ambition to Connect African Businesses to Global Markets
Moving money across borders should not be more difficult than doing business across borders. Yet, for many African businesses, international payments remain slow, expensive and complicated.
Nigerian fintech company Daya is working to address these challenges by developing financial solutions designed to make cross-border transactions faster, simpler and more accessible.
Through Boost Africa, a joint initiative of the European Investment Bank (EIB), supported by the European Union (EU), financing is reaching innovative African businesses through venture capital funds.
Daya, backed by Janngo Capital, a venture capital firm supported by Boost Africa, demonstrates how this investment model is helping African entrepreneurs develop solutions to real-world challenges and pursue new growth opportunities.
In a video, Tomiwa “Aleph” Lasebikan shares the story behind Daya, the challenges the company is addressing and how investment is helping transform an ambitious idea into a growing business with aspirations to connect Africa to global markets.
The story highlights the role of investment beyond capital provision, showing how financial backing can support innovation, business development and solutions to challenges affecting African businesses.
Through initiatives such as Boost Africa, the EIB and its partners are supporting entrepreneurs working to unlock opportunities across the continent.
Watch the video to learn more about Daya’s growth journey and the impact of Boost Africa:
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, has unveiled the Top 21 finalists for Hackaholics 7.0, who will compete at the grand finale scheduled for Friday, November 6, 2026, in Lagos. Themed Festival of the Future, the grand finale will bring together innovators, technology leaders, startup founders, investors and key players in Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem for an immersive celebration of ideas, technology and the possibilities shaping the future.
The Top 21 finalists are: Dynalimb, Harthiq, Acceede, Vhorde, URI, Trarrk, SocialSign, RaverPay, All-Arbitrates, CitizensGage, Craft-Planet, FOID, PayByPalm, Niteonn, Nexa-AI, Neural-Forge, MamaAlert, JolliFlow, Becca, CropiQ and Middleman.
Hackaholics is Wema Bank’s youth and start-up-focused initiative, designed to provide young innovators with a platform to transform creative, technology-driven ideas into practical solutions to real-world challenges and gain a competitive edge in the global technology and digital space. Since its launch in 2019, the initiative has recorded over 21,000 applicants, engaged more than 50,000 participants, supported over 10,000 startups across three countries and developed more than 100 solutions from scratch.
The 7th edition, which commenced on July 1, 2026, attracted 5,329 participants and generated 1,632 innovative ideas and solutions across seven pitch-centre locations: Uyo, Kano, YabaTech, Benin, Ibadan, Enugu and Lagos. Following the nationwide tour, 59 participants emerged from the various centres, with the Top 21 selected through a rigorous, multi-stage evaluation process.
The Hackaholics 7.0 grand finale week will feature a three-day programme of strategic engagement and innovation-focused activities. On Wednesday, November 4, the finalists will participate in the Pre-Pitch, where they will present refined versions of their solutions. This will be followed by the Ecosystem Tour on Thursday, November 5, powered by Wema Bank, offering participants the opportunity to visit leading institutions within the technology and innovation ecosystem, interact with industry professionals and gain practical insights ahead of the final competition. The programme will culminate in the grand finale on Friday, November 6, where outstanding innovators will be recognised and celebrated.
Through Hackaholics, Wema Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem by identifying emerging talent, creating opportunities for young innovators and supporting the development of solutions to real-world challenges. The initiative reinforces the Bank’s role in empowering the next generation of innovators and building an ecosystem where ideas can thrive and possibilities become reality.
