Business
Unity Bank Sustains Momentum, As Profits Rise by 43% in Q1/2021
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Nigeria’s foremost agric lender, Unity Bank Plc has sustained the growth momentum demonstrated in its 2020 full year earnings as it recorded an impressive performance of 43% in both profit before and after tax in Q1-2021.
In the Bank’s unaudited Q1-2021 results submitted to the Nigerian Stock Exchange on Friday, the retail lender’s Profit Before Tax grew by 43% to N784.3million from N550.1 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.
The Profit After Tax for the period which also grew by 43% stood at N721.5million compared to the N506.1million recorded in Q1-2020.
As an outcome of increased focus on supporting local enterprises and industry, the asset portfolio also showed a significant growth in loan book of 76% as net loans and advances to customers increased to N223.2billion up from N126.6billion recorded in the corresponding period.
The total assets of the Bank for the period showed an appreciable growth of 42% to close at N521.5 billion from N366.8 billion in the corresponding period of 2020. The balance sheet of the bank had been considerably de-risked with an NPL ratio of near zero per cent (0%) which it had consistently maintained over time, thus making the Bank to rank as one of the best in risk management and credit creation culture.
The Bank recorded gross earnings of N11.5billion, representing marginal decline of 3% when compared to N11.9billion posted in the corresponding period of 2020. The remarkable positive growth in profit and other strong indicators recorded in Q1-2021 is a sign of the Bank’s growing resilience as the economy continues on a recovery path following the impacts of COVID-19 pandemics.
Other key highlights of the Q1-2021 results included the cash and balances with the Central Bank which recorded a whopping 326% leap to close at N111.2billion from N26.1billion in the corresponding period of 2020.
The lender also grew its customer deposits by 13% to N348.3billion up from N308.8billion recorded in the period under review, a strong indication of the growing popularity and acceptance of the Bank’s array of innovative products and services and the arrays of new technologies deployed in its operations to enhance high level of customers’ experience and service delivery.
Interest and similar income also recorded a marginal increase of 1% to N9.7billion compared to N9.6 billion posted in the corresponding quarter of 2020. However, net interest income recorded a 16% increase to N4.8billion from N4.1billion in the corresponding period of 2020.
Total operating income also rose by 3% to N6.6billion from N6.4billion, even as the net operating income rose by 12% to close at N6.7billion from N5.9billion in the corresponding period of 2020.
Commenting on the result, the Managing Director/CEO, Unity Bank Plc, Mrs. Tomi Somefun said that the first quarter result is a promising indication of better outcome for the year, profoundly reflecting the Bank’s renewed focus on driving efficiency and productivity anchored on targeted initiatives to grow both volume and quality of assets and offer a wide range of customer-centric products supported by novel technologies to its teeming and growing customers in all the six-geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
The top-line performance was driven by improvement in net interest income margins which reported 16% growth. To this, Mrs. Somefun stated the Bank’s is replicating the same momentum in the area of liability generation and to gain traction, “we are targeting opportunities across regions and identified segments in retail and SMEs whilst optimising our technology and digital platforms such as Omni-channel UniFi, USSD *7799# to deliver bundled product bouquet, operational efficiency and improved unparalleled customer service delivery. Like the multi-language service channels, customers are to expect more innovations as the year unfolds”.
Looking ahead, the Unity Bank’s Chief further stated: “The Bank will consolidate on the gains it has made on its assets growth and further build the franchise of the brand in many areas of the business to shake off any lethargy to galvanize efficiency across its earning assets, thereby diversifying its earnings base to further grow the bottom-line”.
The Bank will thus continue to play formidably and efficiently in the area of its strength especially in the niche space of agribusiness to get more involved in the value chain banking having firmly established its strong foothold in the financing of primary crop production such as rice, maize, cotton, wheat, sorghum, etc. coupled with their rich and robust structures in value creation. In her words, “we hope to continue to expand on this as we play our part in driving the nations’s quest for self-sufficiency in food production, employment generation, foreign exchange conservation and all allied advantages that come with agribusiness.”
Analysts commend the Q1-2021 result for the strong fundamentals and for the positive outlook in the future, even as market confidence continues to reflect encouraging momentum and the steady growth of the Bank’s balance sheet.
Business
AD Consulting, Ecobank Partner to Host Art and Architecture Icons in “The Convergence”
Nigeria’s leading voices in art and architecture will converge in Lagos as AD Consulting partners Ecobank Nigeria to present The Convergence: The Iconic Architect & the Icons of Art, a landmark cultural experience celebrating Nigeria’s creative excellence, heritage and legacy.
Scheduled to run from October 1 to 7, 2026, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event will bring together internationally acclaimed architect Olajumoke Adenowo, Founder of AD Consulting, and some of Nigeria’s most distinguished visual artists for an immersive exploration of the relationship between architecture, art and African heritage.
Among the artists whose works will feature are Abiodun Olaku, Bunmi Babatunde, Kehinde Adewuyi, Tayo Quaye, Mufu Onifade, Alex Nwokolo, Fidelis Odogwu, Kassi Nathalie, Dotun Popoola, Steve Ekpenisi, Collins Abinoro and Joshua Nmesirionye among others.
Speaking on the concept behind The Convergence, Olajumoke Adenowo, Founder, AD Consulting, said: “Architecture and art are two of the most enduring expressions of who we are as a people. They tell our stories, preserve our heritage and give form to the values we want to pass on to future generations. The Convergence brings these two powerful voices together to celebrate Nigeria’s extraordinary creative heritage while creating a space for new conversations about identity, beauty, ownership and legacy.”
She added: “This is not simply an exhibition. It is an intentional meeting of architecture, art and people who understand that some of the most valuable things we can leave behind are not merely possessions, but ideas, culture and a sense of who we are. Through NeoHeritage, The Convergence creates a contemporary expression of our heritage while looking confidently towards the future.”
Also speaking, Austen Osokpor, Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, Ecobank Nigeria, said the partnership represents an opportunity to support African creative excellence while creating a platform where culture, creativity, private wealth and enterprise intersect.
According to Osokpor, “Africa’s wealth is not defined by financial capital alone. Our culture, creativity, intellectual capital and heritage are equally important assets that must be preserved, celebrated and passed on to future generations. The Convergence gives us an opportunity to support this broader definition of African wealth by bringing together exceptional artists, architects, collectors and cultural patrons in one powerful experience.”
He added: “For Ecobank, this is more than an event. It is about creating meaningful platforms that connect people, ideas and opportunities, while reinforcing our commitment to African excellence. We are delighted to partner with AD Consulting and Olajumoke Adenowo on an initiative that places Nigerian creativity firmly within the wider African and global cultural conversation.”
Unlike a conventional exhibition or art fair, The Convergence has been conceived as a platform for dialogue, exploring how art and architecture shape identity, preserve cultural memory and create enduring legacies.
At its heart is Adenowo’s Neo Heritage philosophy, which connects Africa’s rich cultural inheritance with contemporary creative expression.
The experience is built around three design pillars: Light, Zeitgeist and The 4th Dimension.
The Convergence will open on October 1 with an exclusive Collectors & Patrons evening curated for invited collectors, patrons, high-net-worth individuals and distinguished guests.
The opening will provide an intimate opportunity to experience the exhibition, engage with participating artists and explore the works within a setting centred on art, architecture, ownership, cultural stewardship and legacy.
The programme will include curated viewing opportunities, conversations with artists and creative leaders, and experiences designed to foster meaningful connections among collectors, patrons, architects and cultural leaders.
The wider exhibition will continue from October 2 to 7, giving a broader audience the opportunity to experience the works and engage with the ideas underpinning The Convergence.
The programme will also feature a Patron’s Preview, Founders’ Cocktail featuring an Architecture Salon by AD Consulting, and a Collectors’ Circle, offering opportunities for private viewings and deeper engagement with the artists and their work.
Business
Zenith Bank Opens Digital, Branch Channels for Dangote Refinery Share Subscription
Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora seeking to participate in the landmark Initial Public Offering (IPO) of Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals can subscribe conveniently through Zenith Bank, a receiving bank for the historic transaction and a designated electronic application channel for the offer. Subscription is open through the Zenith Bank website, the Zenith mobile app, internet banking, USSD, corporate internet banking and any Zenith Bank branch nationwide.
Across all of these channels, anchored by Zenith Bank’s network of 456 branches and 84 cash centres, investors enjoy a secure, fast and reliable route into the offer from anywhere in the world, at any hour. Whether the application begins on a phone in London, a laptop in Houston or across the counter of a Zenith banking hall in Lokoja, the path to ownership opens with a few taps and carries the investor smoothly through to completion.
Every subscription is linked to the investor’s Bank Verification Number, a seal of identity and security that accompanies each application from submission to allotment.
It is service the Zenith way: first-time and seasoned investors alike enjoy a straightforward and fully protected process, and the quiet confidence that their stake in history is processed through Zenith Bank.
Applications open on Monday, 14 September 2026 and run for 30 days, closing on Tuesday, 13 October 2026. According to the prospectus, the shares are offered at ₦525 each, with a minimum subscription of 10 shares, or ₦5,250. The offer seeks to raise ₦2.15 trillion, the largest equity offering ever undertaken on the African continent, and the prospectus further provides that retail investors who subscribe and hold their shares may qualify for bonus shares under the Retail Investor Incentive Programme, subject to regulatory approvals.
Zenith Bank stands ready to make participation effortless for investors who choose to take part. Nigeria’s largest bank by Tier-1 capital and the country’s most profitable bank, Zenith has built its reputation on combining scale with innovation, and that strength is now at the service of every investor in this offer. This is proven ground for the bank: Zenith Bank’s own most recent public offering was executed mainly through digital channels, a demonstration of digital readiness built on the bank’s robust digital infrastructure. That infrastructure has since been strengthened further through a comprehensive technological overhaul, positioning Zenith to serve its retail customers with the same excellence long enjoyed by its corporate clients, precisely the capability an offer of this scale demands.
Within the wider transaction, Quantum Zenith Capital & Investments Limited serves among the joint issuing houses, while Zenith Bank itself provides the secure and dependable channels through which applications are received and processed. Having successfully taken its own landmark offer to the market through digital channels, Zenith brings that same tested infrastructure and experience to the largest equity offering in African history. It is the same combination of financial strength, digital excellence and customer devotion that has earned Zenith Bank recognition year after year as one of Africa’s foremost financial institutions, trusted by millions of customers and by the corporates and governments behind the continent’s biggest transactions.
For over three decades, Zenith Bank has been the trusted gateway to Nigeria’s defining financial moments, and its channels are open for this one. Investors who wish to participate can fund their Zenith Bank account and subscribe through any of the bank’s platforms before the offer closes on 13 October 2026.
Please note that the details of the offer are provided in the prospectus and guided by extant regulations. Zenith Bank serves as a Receiving Bank and electronic application channel for this offer. Investors are advised to carefully read the Prospectus and, where appropriate, seek independent professional advice before making any investment decision.
Business
Ecobank Urges Young Nigerian Creatives to Seize ₦20m InnovateX 2026 Opportunity
Ecobank Nigeria has called on young Nigerians, particularly students, innovators, entrepreneurs, and creatives aged 16 to 25, to take advantage of the ongoing registration for InnovateX 2026, the Bank’s flagship youth innovation challenge offering ₦20 million in prizes, mentorship, business development support, and access to industry experts.
Powered by Blaze by Ecobank in partnership with Verve, InnovateX 2026 is designed to identify and support the next generation of innovators and creators developing solutions across inclusive finance, as well as the creative economy.
Beyond the financial support, participants will benefit from an intensive innovation journey featuring hybrid bootcamps, expert-led workshops, mentorship sessions, networking opportunities, and a grand finale pitch competition where finalists will showcase their ideas before a panel of industry leaders and investors.
The competition is open to young Nigerians working on innovative projects in technology, engineering, science, product design, content creation, digital media, entertainment, fashion, and other creative disciplines.
Encouraging young Nigerians to register, Victor Yalokwu, Head, Products & Analytics, Ecobank Nigeria, said: “Nigeria is blessed with an abundance of young talent, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy. Through InnovateX, we are providing a platform for young people to transform bold ideas into impactful solutions and sustainable businesses. We encourage students, innovators, tech enthusiasts, creators, and entrepreneurs across the country to seize this opportunity and take their ambitions to the next level.”
He added: “The future belongs to young people who are willing to innovate, solve problems, and create value. InnovateX is designed to equip participants with the knowledge, mentorship, exposure, and resources they need to succeed in today’s highly competitive and technology-driven world.”
Yalokwu further explained that InnovateX is not just about rewarding great ideas, but also about building confidence, nurturing talent, and connecting young people to opportunities that can help them grow personally and professionally. “Whether you are developing a tech solution, building a creative brand, or working on an innovation that can improve lives, InnovateX provides a valuable platform to showcase your potential and accelerate your journey towards success,” he said.
As part of its commitment to youth empowerment, Ecobank continues to provide innovative banking solutions through the Blaze Account, a youth-focused offering that gives customers access to exclusive opportunities, a uniquely designed debit card, free monthly transfers, and participation in initiatives such as InnovateX.
Young Nigerians interested in participating are encouraged to submit their applications through www.innovatex.africa before the registration deadline.
With ₦20 million up for grabs and a unique opportunity to gain mentorship, skills, exposure, and industry recognition, InnovateX 2026 is poised to become one of Nigeria’s most impactful youth innovation and entrepreneurship programmes.






