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Access Bank Clinches THISDAY’s ‘Global Bank of the Year’ Award, Aig-Imoukhuede is Named ‘Titan of the Year

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Access Bank Clinches THISDAY’s ‘Global Bank of the Year’ Award, Aig-Imoukhuede is Named ‘Titan of the Year

Access Bank Clinches THISDAY’s ‘Global Bank of the Year’ Award, Aig-Imoukhuede is Named ‘Titan of the Year

 

Access Bank PLC (‘the Bank’), the flagship subsidiary of Access Holdings PLC (‘the Company’), has been honoured with the prestigious THISDAY Global Bank of the Year award for 2024, recognising its significant impact on the global banking landscape. In addition, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, Chairman of Access Holdings, received the distinguished THISDAY Titan of the Year award for his exceptional contributions to the banking sector in 2024.

 

At THISDAY Awards 2025, Access Bank emerged victorious, surpassing African Export-Import (AFREXIM) Bank and United Bank for Africa (UBA) to claim the coveted title. The prestigious award ceremony, held at Eko Hotels & Suites in Victoria Island, Lagos, marked the 30th anniversary of THISDAY Newspapers and the 12th anniversary of Arise News Channel, with the theme, “When the Going Gets Tough… The Tough Get Rewarded.”

THISDAY Newspapers highlighted Access Bank’s nomination, praising its strategic leadership, rapid expansion, and unwavering commitment to innovation and sustainability. The bank’s leadership in digital banking was also recognised, with Access Bank receiving multiple accolades, including the 2024 Digital Jurist Award for Best Digital Bank.

Access Bank Clinches THISDAY’s ‘Global Bank of the Year’ Award, Aig-Imoukhuede is Named ‘Titan of the Year

In addition to its achievements in digital banking, Access Bank has demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles, earning the 2024 Euromoney Award for Best Bank for ESG in Nigeria and Ghana.
With an expanding international presence in the United Kingdom, Ghana, United Arabs Emirates, China, and several African nations, Access Bank continues to solidify its position as a major global banking player.

The bank’s innovative approach is further evidenced by its cutting-edge technological initiatives, including Facepay, Access Closa, the AccessMore mobile app, and Africa Fintech Foundry—further establishing Access Bank as a leader in technological advancements, and underscoring its deserving recognition as Global Bank of the Year.

During his acceptance speech, Access Bank’s Managing Director and CEO, Roosevelt Ogbonna, expressed his gratitude to the public, THISDAY Newspapers, and Arise Media Group for the recognition. He remarked, “This award represents 30 years of hard work of doing things differently, and of building on the legacy of industry giants like Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede and Herbert Wigwe. We are deeply grateful to our board, management, customers, and stakeholders, who have continuously supported us. This award is for you, and we accept it in your honour.”

In a similar vein, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, along with 11 other influential leaders, was recognised with the THISDAY Titan of the Year award for 2024. Reflecting on his journey, Aig-Imoukhuede shared, “In 1991, Prince Obaigbena and I first met as customer and banker. He told me that anyone fortunate enough to manage his account would one day become a managing director of a bank, and I am thankful that God fulfilled that vision. It is an incredible honour to stand with such esteemed colleagues.”

The star-studded event, which brought together dignitaries from both the private and public sectors, celebrated excellence, innovation, and leadership across industries and the political landscape.

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Wema Bank to Train and Empower 800,000 Nigerian Businesses

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Signs MOU with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN)

Reinforcing its reputation as an institution committed to empowering SMEs, Wema Bank, Nigeria’s foremost innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, has undertaken an initiative to empower 800,000 Nigerian Businesses; following its MOU Signing with Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) on February 25th, 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria.

SMEDAN is a national agency established in 2003 with the goal of promoting the development of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector of the Nigerian Economy. The partnership with Wema Bank is focused on training MSMEs on soft skills, technical skills, and business skills, empowering them to build profitable businesses, gain more visibility and scale sustainably. To execute this grand initiative, Wema Bank will provide the training and resources for the 800,000 businesses who will be curated by SMEDAN. This initiative will take course over the next 12 to 18 months.

Commenting on the partnership, Wema Bank’s MD/CEO, Moruf Oseni, reiterated the Bank’s lifelong commitment to empowering Nigerians to thrive. According to him, “At Wema Bank, we don’t pay lip service to SME matters.

From inception in 1945, Wema Bank was built with a purpose to provide financing for the indigenous people of Nigeria. It wasn’t because banks didn’t exist during those years, it was because we identified the gaps in access to finance for our people.

This is why Wema Bank came to life; to provide tailored financial services and empower Nigerians to thrive on both individual and business levels”.

“Over the past 8 decades, Wema Bank has been driving this lifelong mission of empowering Nigerians with access to finance, constantly reinventing to develop more efficient ways of delivering value to the people. One cardinal thing that we haven’t deviated from is that we are fully committed to empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses in Nigeria.

The petty traders we provided for in the 1900s are the entrepreneurs and MSMEs that we continue to empower in the 2000s, and we will never relent in fulfilling this promise. So, MSME empowerment for us is not just a buzzword.

It is what we have always done, what we are doing through this partnership with SMEDAN and what we will continue to do beyond 80 years”.
Commending Wema Bank’s evident commitment and key role in empowering business and stimulating growth in the MSME Sector, Charles Odili, the Director General of SMEDAN expressed confidence in the success of this partnership with Wema Bank towards building a sustainably successful future for Nigerian MSMEs.

Closing out, he added, “I want to again, thank Wema Bank. This is a prime example of how collaboration and determination to create impact can make a positive difference. I thank you for their constant support to MSMEs and for not paying lip service to MSME Empowerment in Nigeria”.

Wema Bank has earned an admirable reputation as Nigeria’s SME Bank, going above and beyond in empowering businesses with access to finance, visibility, market access, tailored trainings, mentorship and various other forms of support.

Through this partnership with SMEDAN, Wema Bank is set to advance Nigeria’s MSME industry, building formidable Nigerian businesses and reinforcing Wema Bank’s position as the Bank that is committed to empowering MSMEs.

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Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Hosts Grand Reception for CP Ogunlowo, Pledges Support for Safer Ogun

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Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Hosts Grand Reception for CP Ogunlowo, Pledges Support for Safer Ogun

 

In a prestigious gathering of law enforcement officials, royal fathers, and community leaders, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the Golden Grand Patron of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) National, hosted a warm reception in honor of the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Olanrewaju Ogunlowo, PhD.

 

Held at his residence, the event underscored the importance of community policing and strong collaboration between security agencies and the public.

 

“Security is a collective responsibility. We must work together to tackle crime, especially emerging threats to our communities,” Aare Emmanuelking emphasized, pledging full support for CP Ogunlowo’s mission to ensure a safer Ogun State.

A highlight of the evening was the presentation of prestigious awards to distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions to community security and development. Honorees included top PCRC officials, royal fathers, and CP Ogunlowo himself.

In his remarks, CP Ogunlowo expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed his commitment to community-driven policing. “Engaging with the people is key to effective policing. We will strengthen partnerships to ensure the safety and security of all residents,” he assured.

The event stood as a testament to the unwavering partnership between law enforcement and community leaders in building a peaceful and secure Ogun State.

Aare Adetola Emmanuelking Hosts Grand Reception for CP Ogunlowo, Pledges Support for Safer Ogun

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Business Tycoon, Egungbohun Calls for Greater Investment in Technical Education to Combat Unemployment

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Business Tycoon, Egungbohun Calls for Greater Investment in Technical Education to Combat Unemployment*

Business Tycoon, Egungbohun Calls for Greater Investment in Technical Education to Combat Unemployment*

 

 

Nigeria foremost Businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Ibraheem Dende Egungbohun (IBD) has called on government at all levels to continue to make vocational and technical education more attractive to youths in order for the Country to meet up with the global industrial challenges.

 

Alhaji Egungbohun made the call while speaking to Journalists after he was conferred with the Ogun State Institute of Technology, OGITECH, Igbesa fellowship award.

Business Tycoon, Egungbohun Calls for Greater Investment in Technical Education to Combat Unemployment*

Represented by his spouse, Chief Egungbohun also challenged government to make technical and vocational education more enticing to the youths to solve the challenge of unemployment.

He noted that many developed countries now prioritize vocational and technical education as against issues that are not beneficial to the youths while also saying that the move would make the youth self-reliant.

His words, “It is only through vocational and technical education that the youth can get entrepreneurial knowledge to stand and work on their own. Government should then make it more enticing to the youth. It is the way forward for this country to end this youthful restfulness.”

He commended the Ogun State government for placing high premium on Education and the current revitalisation of technical colleges across the State through the rehabilitation among other interventions.

He further stressed the need for the government at all levels to place more emphasis on the establishment of skill acquisition centers for the school graduates to learn vocations in addition to their certificates.

According to him, the move will reduce the over dependence on white-collar jobs among the youths in the country.

Stressing the importance of technical and vocational education for the youths in the society, the business mogul explained that for a country to achieve technological advancement and economic development, there was urgent need for government to pay premium attention to Polytechnic education and make it more practical in approach

He appreciated the Rector and other management of Ogun State Institute of Technology Igbesa for bestowing on him the highest honour of the School while promising to do more in uplifting the less privilege in the society.

Alhaji Egungbohun said government alone cannot fund education, he challenged other well to do in the society to adopt a school in the State and make a meaningful impact in such school.

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