ZENITH BANK MAINTAINS POSITION AS ‘BEST CORPORATE GOVERNANCE FINANCIAL SERVICES’ IN AFRICA FOR THE FOURTH CONSECUTIVE TIME

For the fourth consecutive year, Zenith Bank Plc has been named as the Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom. The award, which was published in the Spring 2023 edition of The Ethical Boardroom magazine, is in recognition of the bank’s adherence to global best practices and institutionalization of corporate governance, setting an industry-wide example of best practices in that field.

Speaking on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “I am extremely pleased that Zenith Bank has been awarded the Ethical Boardroom Corporate Governance Award as a regional governance champion for the fourth year running. No doubt, the bank’s board has pioneered the exemplary governance culture for which we are now renowned. Indeed, this recognition reflects our steadfast commitment, discipline and high ethos in the conduct of our business and dedication to the principles of good corporate governance. This award will motivate us to strengthen this culture internally and advocate for good governance at every forum”.

He dedicated the award to the Founder and Group Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for providing the template for an enduring and very successful institution; the Board for their vision and outstanding leadership; the staff for their dedication and commitment; and the bank’s customers for their unwavering loyalty to the brand.

Ethical Boardroom is a trailblazing and leading international magazine that delivers in-depth coverage and critically-astute analysis of global corporate governance issues to help boards stay ahead of the governance curve.

Zenith Bank has been generally adjudged a Corporate Governance compliant bank by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) hence its listing on the Premium Board of the Exchange. The bank continues to sustain this reputation and reappraise its processes to ensure that its business conforms to the highest global standards at all times.

The bank’s track record of excellent performances has continued to earn it numerous awards including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 13th consecutive year, in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year Awards 2020 and 2022; Best Bank in Nigeria, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, in the Global Finance World’s Best Banks Awards; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria 2021 and 2022 in the World Finance Banking Awards; Best Corporate Governance Bank, Nigeria in the World Finance Corporate Governance Awards 2022; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and Best Innovation In Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards. Also, the bank emerged as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria in the Banker Magazine Top 500 Banking Brands 2020 and 2021, and Retail Bank of the year, for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, at the BusinessDay Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Similarly, Zenith Bank was named as Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the ThisDay Awards 2020, Bank of the Year 2021 by Champion Newspaper, Bank of the Year 2022 by New Telegraph Newspaper, and Most Responsible Organisation in Africa 2021 by SERAS Awards.

UBA Revitalises Alumni Network, Ex-staff to Enjoy Debt Restructuring, Product Offerings, Airport Protocol, Other Benefits

Africa’s Global Bank, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, has relaunched the UBA Alumni Network Program, aimed at fostering stronger connections and providing exclusive benefits to its esteemed former employees.

Improving upon the services it promised when it was first launched two years ago, the revamped UBA Alumni Network will now offer a wide array of advantages designed to empower and engage ex-staff members throughout their journeys.

UBA’s Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, who welcomed the Ex-staff during the UBA Alumni relaunch in UBA House on Friday, expressed the bank’s commitment to reposition the alumni to do more to ensure that ex-staff remain comfortable ambassadors of the brand.

He said, “I understand that this very key network was launched in 2021, and we have come here today to assure all the members of our alumni that UBA, which is over 75 years old, will continue to play the role of becoming a beacon of hope to our Ex-staff.

Continuing Alawuba said, “As a bank that is interested in the welfare of both staff and ex-staff, we are going to roll-out products that are specifically tailored to suit the needs of all our alumni.”

At the event, which saw a lot of former staff attended both physically and virtually, UBA’s Deputy Managing Director, Muyiwa Akinyemi, noted that the bank is where it is today because of the sacrifices made by its ex-staff several years ago, as he added that this is the driving force behind the bank’s desire to support them.

“Today, we are here, but tomorrow, we might be somewhere else, and it is therefore essential for us to bond with our former employees who we recognise as ambassadors that have contributed to the bank’s legacy in various sectors over the years,” Akinyemi stated.

He explained that with 35 million customers and over 25,000 staff, the bank remains committed to fostering a vibrant alumni community, adding that “We will continue to rely on this all important network to help us to know how to serve you better, in the four continents and 24 countries that UBA currently operates in.”

UBA staff, Wale Esan and Nnenna Chikezie, were on ground at the event to reel off some of the new offerings and benefits to be enjoyed by members of the UBA alumni, which include: Debt restructuring and moratorium for staff who left while still servicing loans; top-up loans, CoT concessions, access to senior citizens loans; fast tracking of banking services.

Other benefits are assisted airport protocol services for international travels including check-in and departure services; end to end VIP travelling services for ex-staff. The bank will also assist any staff who has challenges with the airport authorities for quick and easy resolution.

The Chairperson of the UBA Alumni Network, Mosunmola Yusuf, who was a former staff with the Employee Experience unit, explained that UBA aims to harness the wealth of knowledge and experience of its former employees, creating a powerful network that extends far beyond the continent.

“We see this as an innovative effort to build a strong bond of human community; because we believe human connectivity is necessary to promote cordial living and will assist to achieve the individual and collective goals that we plan to attain,” she stated.

UBA alumni were encouraged to send their enquiries to the email: UBAAlumnicare@ubagroup.com for quick resolution.

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees’ group wide and serving over 35 million customers globally.

Operating in 20 African countries and in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

LAGOS GOVT, FIRST BANK PARTNER TO BOOST HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN IJE-ODODO COMMUNITY

…Over 10,000 residents to benefit from new primary healthcare centre

BY EDU ABADE

In a bid to boost healthcare delivery to thousands of residents, the Lagos State Government has built and unveiled a new Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Ije-Ododo Community, Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), under the Ojo Council Area of the state.

The facility, which has been under construction since 2021 in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited, was unveiled in the community in an opening ceremony attended by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, representatives of the state government, the state Primary Health Care Board, community leaders, as well as traditional rulers of Iba, Ije-Ododo and Ijagemo, among others.

In his welcome address, the governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Sherifat Jaji, said the opening of the health facility under the SSG’s One Community At A Time (OCAAT) initiative, formed part of activities to herald the inauguration of his second term in office on Monday, May 29, 2023.

Maintaining that the attention being paid to the healthcare sector was deliberate to ensure a healthier populace, he said the state government under his watch would deploy more resources to the health sector for easier access to health services, especially in underserved communities.
He enjoined members of the community to take full advantage of the health benefits that will be provided in the facility and charged them to take ownership and protect the assets and the facility at all times.

Speaking, Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, commended First Bank of Nigeria Limited and the contractor for completing the project within the stipulated time frame, but also requested more assistance to make the facility functional by providing equipment and other necessary medical gadgets.

On his part, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, who was represented by Mr. Seyi Oyefeso, expressed satisfaction at the successful completion of the project, adding that it was gratifying to know that no fewer than 10,000 residents of Ije-Ododo and neighbouring communities will have access to primary healthcare services in the facility.

He said as a responsible corporate social organisation, the bank’s intervention in the primary healthcare sector aligned with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach anchored on citizenship, impact management, strategic education, as well as the health and welfare of the immediate and remote communities of Lagos State and other parts of the country.

In his words: “The completion and opening of the primary healthcare centre is to ensure that Ije-Ododo community will become healthier and wealthier since health is wealth.”

In his goodwill message, the Baale of Ije-Ododo, Dr. Abu Jelili Ododo, who spoke in company of the Oba of Iba and Baale of Ijagemo, applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for the timely completion of the healthcare centre and appealed for the construction of the Ijegun-Ije-Ododo-Abule-Ado road to link the Badagry Expressway, adding that it was high time the Ije-Ododo Community was provided with a motorable road to ease the sufferings of residents.

Responding to the request for the road, Jaji assured that the Lagos State government under Sanwo-Olu was poised to build the road but that the project suffered some setback due to agitations by some members of the community over the location of the project, adding however, that as soon as the governor settles down for his second tenure, construction work will begin on the road.