Business
FirstBank Raises the Bar in New CEO Appointment, Others
The appointment of Mr. Gbenga Shobo as new Managing Director/CEO designate of First Bank of Nigeria Limited on Wednesday by the Board of Directors of the Bank has been commended by industry stakeholders who said with the appointment, the Bank will no doubt raise the bar in delivery of financial services to its teeming customers.
Recall that the Board of Directors of the Bank, at its meeting on Wednesday, while announcing Shobo’s appointment, said the decision has proven the resilience of its succession planning mechanisms and the value the Bank places on long-standing corporate governance practices, which underpin its enduring sustainability.
Industry stakeholders while welcoming the appointment, praised the Bank for the smooth transition, adding that with his wealth experience, the new Managing Director/CEO designate will take the Bank to greater heights.
They commended the Board of the Bank for the visionary role it continues to play in ensuring that the institution remains the industry leader.
Speaking on the development, an Ibadan based legal practitioner, Mr. Olawale Toyin, said the Board of the Bank by the appointment of Shobo has kept faith with succession tradition it set in place some years ago, adding that Nigerians expects nothing short of excellence from the foremost financial institution in the country.
He stressed that having been part of the top management of the Bank, the new CEO will not only continue the good work left behind by the immediate past Managing Director/CEO of the Bank, Dr. Sola Adeduntan, but will improve on it.
A Stockbroker, Nnamdi Ajuzie, while stressing that Shobo’s appointment will surely rub off positively on FirstBank having garnered experience over the years courtesy of the top management positions he held prior to his latest appointment, traced the success recorded by the banking giant to the quality of persons on its board which he described as exceptional personalities.
According to him, the visionary disposition of the present board of directors resulted in the creation of the position of the Deputy Managing Director which was introduced at the exit of Mr. Bisi Onasanya as MD/CEO.
The creation, Ajuzie said, has helped in no small way to stabilize the Bank’s succession process, adding that with Gbenga Shobo who served as DMD to Dr. Sola Adeduntan, outgoing MD/CEO, now in the saddle, the Bank will continue to set the pace in the delivery of financial services to customers.
“In this seamless transition which has seen Mr. Gbenga Shobo emerge as MD/CEO and Abdullahi Ibrahim who had previously worked very closely with him becoming the DMD, FirstBank will continue to take the lead in meeting the ever-growing needs of its customers. The appointment of the two portends a great working relationship within the Bank,” he stated.
Ajuzie commended the outgoing MD/CEO of the Bank, Dr. Adeduntan, for the achievements he recorded while at the helm of affairs of the financial institution, adding Shobo’s appointment will ensure continuity and stability.
“The outgoing MD/CEO certainly recorded great achievements which the incoming MD/CEO will build upon to take FirstBank to higher heights. I have no doubt that with the appointment of Shobo as MD/CEO, the FirstBank Board has once again shown that it believes in continuity of the great things undertaken by Adeduntan as MD/CEO as well as disposition to explore new areas. This appointment is well thought out and bound to rub off positively on FirstBank,” he added.
The Daily Times recalls that alongside the appointment of Shobo as MD/CEO, the Board of FirstBank also announced the appointment of Abdullahi Ibrahim as Deputy Managing Director, while Mr. Ini Ebong, Mr. Segun Alebiosu, Mr. Seyi Oyefeso and Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu were also appointed as Executive Directors.
These decisions are subject to all regulatory approvals, the Bank added.
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.
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.
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.
