Headlines
FirstBank’s FINTECH 5.0 Summit: Unleashing Possibilities for Operators, Customers
- /home/rhoncare/pointblank.ng/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://pointblank.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Dr.-Adesola-Adeduntan-FirstBank-CEO-1000x600.jpg&description=FirstBank’s FINTECH 5.0 Summit: Unleashing Possibilities for Operators, Customers', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/rhoncare/pointblank.ng/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 69
https://pointblank.ng/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Dr.-Adesola-Adeduntan-FirstBank-CEO-1000x600.jpg&description=FirstBank’s FINTECH 5.0 Summit: Unleashing Possibilities for Operators, Customers', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
By Eric Elezuo
The FirstBank FINTECH Summit 5.0 held with total fulfilment of the promises made and expectations of the financial public, who waited with bated breath to experience the feeling and satisfaction only the financial giant can offer.
The event, which was in its fifth year/edition, and held via virtual, was as usual opened to the general public, who were privileged to register via https://firstbanknigeria.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NmkYfeckQqu4vjTWy5lr5w
Literally a financial technology hub, and themed “Open Banking and its Derivative Opportunities for the Financial Ecosystem”, the well attended summit was addressed by notable professionals, experts, policy influencers, regulatory officials as well as key and leading players from across the globe, with special emphasis to the Nigerian financial, banking and technology climate.
Among the discussants, who presented veritable papers were Prof Ndubuisi Ekekwe, the Lead Faculty of Tekedia Institute with a PhD in Engineering from John Hopkins University, USA, who led the discussion as the Keynote speaker and Ankit Sharma of Strategy&.
Other members of the panel were the Director at Strategy&, a part of the PwC network, based out of Mexico, Ankit Sharma; CEO (Chief Plumber) at One Pipe, Ope Adeoye; Aminu Maida, Executive Director, Technology & Operations at Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS); Deputy Director, Payment Systems, Central Bank of Nigeria, Musa Jimoh; and Head, Corporate Transformation, FirstBank, Olayinka Situ, who completed the list of highly influential discussants.
Anchored by Rotus Odire, the free flowing interactive forum dealt on the importance of open banking system in Nigeria, noting that it goes beyond ‘convenience to its game-changing impact in transforming value creation, product conceptualization and closing the financially excluded gap’.
Leveraging on the CBN’s declaration that FINTECH has raked in over $500, 000, 000 to the Nigerin economy this year alone, FirstBank therefore, has positioned itself as the leading financial institution in the country, and with intimating presence in about six African countries, to initiate a conversation to continually increase earnings for the economy and provide veritable entrepreneurial opportunities for the Nigerian public. It is worthy that testimonies abound of how much FirstBank FINTECH initiative has changed lives.
Kick starting the summit, the ever performing Chief Executive Officer of First Bank of Nigeria Ltd & Subsidiaries and the event’s Chief Host, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO, delivered a stunning opening speech, which captured the vision and mission of the five years old financial conversation.
Acknowledging the pioneering efforts of FirstBank as Africa’s financial inclusion and innovation pacesetter, Dr Adeduntan noted that while the event was primarily to create a global platform for conversations around the future of innovation in the financial technology space of which objective is to contribute to the evolution of banking and finance service delivery, “this years edition themed “Open Banking and its Derivative Opportunities in the Financial Ecosystem promises to be exciting and engaging with a line-up of local and international thought leaders ready to spur the conversation around the prospects for open banking. The theme recognizes the increasing pervasive role open data, cloud technology and artificial intelligence play in the financial ecosystem.” And surely, with incisive and juicy presentations from the team on ground, the event lived up to its billing.
Open banking today demonstrates the practical fusion of these variables, presenting remarkable potentials that can redefine product development, customer experience and overall value creation; with multiplier effects for both players and consumers.
It is worthy of note that FirstBank has generously taken advantage of the the Regulatory Framework for Open Banking in Nigeria as issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria on the rules and premises under which financial data sharing can take place across the financial ecosystem and the National Information Technology Development Agency’s (NITDA) Nigerian Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019. These, according to Adeduntan, are demonstrations of the future of regulations around Open Banking.
In its 127 years of existence, FirstBank has traversed series of regulatory transformation over the years, and is constantly keeping to promise of continuing to play its role in furthering conversations to refine regulatory frameworks and shape thoughts on industry and societal developments as was witnessed at the 5.0 summit.
He concluded: “We will also continue to demonstrate our support for start-ups and innovators in the fintech space by providing them the relevant data support and infrastructure to enable them scale appropriately.
“Every step we take continues to be geared towards strategically positioning us as the bridgehead and reference point for fintech and financial services providers across the African continent, as we will continue to lead the charge towards realizing the future of banking.”
Leading the lecture, a man described as the doctor of innovations, who doubled as one of the 60 great Nigerians listed as making Nigerians lives matter during the nation’s 60th anniversary, Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe, took the audience on a classic tour of Mechanics of Market System, majoring on a sub-theme, Open Banking: The Grand Unification Application and Utility Age. In his dissection, Professor took the audience down memory lane, resuscitating Pythagoras theory of the world as consisting of numbers, invariably stating that human existence is a product of numbers. He proffered incredible and practical ideas to banking and application utility.
“If you understand the numbers of your customers, you will be a better bank… If you understand the numbers around anything you do on earth, you have a possibility of doing that thing better,” he said.
He itemised perceptions, expectations and needs as the major ways of setting the basis for competition, describing open banking as actually open financial services. He mentioned that across the length and breadth of the nation, the quest for open banking is actually the quest for prosperity.
Following in quick succession was the Director at Strategy&, Ankit Sharma, who spoke on Global Perceptions of Open Banking.
“In the world of open banking, there is a collaboration model that allows you to share data and services through APIs, and this collaboration is not only between financial services fund, but even with non-financial services fun,” Sharma enlightened.
He further itemised personal finance manager, credit scoring and payments as avenues to explore in the world of open banking.
A governing council member of the FINTECH Association of Nigeria and Director of Information System, Dr. Olayinka David West was next on line, as the anchor for the well endowed panel discussion. After a brief expose on the activities of open banking as it relates to fintech, she went ahead to introduce members of the panel including a representative of Central Bank of Nigeria, Director of Payment Systems Management Department, Mr. Musa Atope Jimoh, represented by Olubukola Akinwunmi, Aminu Maida, Ope Adeoye and Olayinka Situ.
All the panelists agreed that FINTECH has come to stay, and bring about the great transformation that everybody is talking about in terms of providing the derivatives of open banking and giving the operators and customers a great leverage in the world of finance.
FirstBank’s FINTECH Summit has remained a regular dish in the menu of financial inclusion in the last five years, and has assisted both operators and customers to operator seamless banking operation in the open – anywhere other than the banking hall.
The bank has through standardized and accessible open API technologies, availed innovators and product developers a wealth of big data and attendant insights. This is in addition to the potential to completely redefine standards for product conceptualization, customer satisfaction and service delivery across Africa’s largest economy.
As Dr Adesola Adeduntan says: “our annual FinTech Summit in the past four years has been a platform of leading conversations and practices that have impacted the financial technology and electronic banking eco-system which has been integral to bridging the gap and digital divide of modern banking in today’s global village. Participants at our summits have been enlightened on ways to optimally carry out their digital transactions and business activities in safe and seamless ways.”
The 2021 5.0 edition was no different.
The next edition of FINTECH Summit to be known as 6.0 is due for 2022.
Former Vice President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, has raised concerns over what he described as a suspicious and unauthorised payment into one of his private bank accounts.
In a statement issued on Friday by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the transfer originated from an individual or entity unknown to him and carried the narration, “Contribution Electioneering Campaign.”
According to the statement, neither Atiku nor his campaign solicited, authorised or had any knowledge of the payment.
The former Vice President said the account was strictly private and its details were not in the public domain, raising concerns about how the information could have been obtained.
“How did unknown persons obtain the confidential banking details of a private citizen?”
Atiku said the incident raised broader concerns about the security of Nigerians’ financial information, particularly if the private banking details of a former Vice President and presidential candidate could allegedly be accessed without his consent.
“If the private banking information of a former Vice President and a leading presidential candidate can be accessed and deployed for reasons yet unknown, then no Nigerian’s financial privacy is safe.”
He further expressed concern that the alleged disclosure could have involved individuals with privileged access to confidential information.
According to him, if such access is established, it could expose account holders to criminal elements, including kidnappers, terrorists, bandits and fraudsters.
The former Vice President also called the attention of Nigerians and security agencies to the incident, describing it as part of what he termed a series of “suspicious activities” ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“We therefore put the Nigerian public and the security agencies on notice about this latest incident in a litany of suspicious activities leading up to next year’s general elections.”
Atiku also alleged that the incident could be part of an attempt to damage his reputation as political activities intensify ahead of the elections.
He urged Nigerians not to be distracted by what he described as “tired tactics” aimed at character assassination.
“Such desperate antics have failed before and will fail again.”
The ADC presidential candidate said he remained focused on his political agenda and his stated commitment to providing solutions to the country’s challenges.
“The Waziri Adamawa remains focused on offering Nigerians credible leadership and practical solutions to the nation’s challenges.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima is schedule to begin a two-week leave this Thursday following the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is the Vice President’s first official leave since assuming office on May 29, 2023, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications (Office of The Vice President), Mr. Stanley Nkwocha.
The statement highlighted that during the period of the leave, the Vice President will devote time to study, reflection and intellectual renewal as part of efforts to strengthen his capacity for continued service to the nation.
The leave offers Senator Shettima an opportunity to review the administration’s ongoing programmes, deepen his understanding of emerging national and global policy issues, and prepare for the responsibilities ahead as the Federal Government intensifies the implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Since assuming office on May 29, 2023, the Vice President has remained actively engaged in the coordination and supervision of several strategic government initiatives, particularly in economic development, food security, humanitarian affairs, digital transformation, job creation and regional cooperation.
He has also chaired the National Economic Council, which brings together the governors of the 36 states, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and other relevant public officials to deliberate on policies affecting the economy and the welfare of Nigerians.
Beyond his responsibilities within the country, Vice President Shettima has represented President Tinubu at major international and regional engagements, advancing Nigeria’s position on economic integration, peace and security, climate action, investment and sustainable development.
Senator Shettima remains deeply committed to the ideals of loyalty, duty and service that have defined his role in the administration, as well as to supporting President Tinubu’s efforts to build a more secure, productive and prosperous Nigeria.
The Vice President will return to office at the end of the two-week leave period and resume his official responsibilities with renewed energy and dedication to the service of the nation.
President Bola Tinubu has approved salary increases of between 30 and 80 per cent for personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces, with about 250,000 officers and men set to benefit from the enhanced remuneration package aimed at boosting troop welfare and morale.
The new salary structure, which takes effect from September 1, will see officers above the rank of Colonel receive a 30 per cent salary increase, while personnel from the rank of Colonel down to Warrant Officer will enjoy a 50 per cent increment. Soldiers from the rank of Private to Staff Sergeant will receive the highest increase of 80 per cent.
The approval will raise the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from N660 billion to N924 billion.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the salary review underscores the Tinubu administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of military personnel in recognition of their sacrifices in safeguarding the country.
The President noted that members of the Armed Forces have continued to display courage and dedication in confronting banditry, kidnapping, terrorism and other security threats across the country.
“The men and women who help to keep us safe in our homes must be supported and appreciated in the course of their duties to our nation,” Tinubu said.
He assured that his administration would continue to prioritise troop welfare while strengthening the operational capacity of the military through improved equipment and technology.
“Our administration will continue to prioritise troop welfare and modernise the armed forces by providing the weapons and technological tools needed to discharge their duties,” the President stated.
Tinubu stressed that security remains central to national development, saying no country can attain sustainable progress without guaranteeing the safety of its citizens.
“Our administration believes that no nation can achieve greatness without security. We therefore remain resolute in mobilising all military and law enforcement assets to eliminate security threats and protect the lives and property of all Nigerians,” he said.
The President urged military personnel to see the enhanced remuneration as a demonstration of the nation’s appreciation for their service and commitment.
“I urge our servicemen to take our gesture as a sign of our deep appreciation of the services they render to our fatherland. Together we shall prevail over the enemies intent on destroying the fabric of our nation,” Tinubu added.
