PRESIDENT TINUBU APPOINTS NIGERIA’S RENOWNED BANKER, JIM OVIA AS CHAIRMAN OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND

Sahara Weekly Reports That President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, CFR, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This was announced in a State House Press Release by the
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Chief Ajuri Ngelale on April 26,
2024.

According to the statement, ‘‘the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense
a wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important
the vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers in the consistent end to their pursuit of
higher education over a lack of funds and ensuring that Nigerian youths, irrespective
of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them
productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global
economy of this century.’’

Jim Ovia, CFR, is the Founder and Chairman of Zenith Bank Plc, one of Africa’s largest
banks with over $21.4 billion in assets and shareholders’ funds of over US$2.4 billion as
of December 2023. Zenith Bank is a global brand listed on the London Stock Exchange
and the Nigerian Stock Exchange. In addition to major operations in Nigeria and other
West African countries, the Bank has sizeable operations in London and Dubai.
Jim Ovia is the Founder and Chancellor of James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos which
was recently approved by the National Universities Commission (NUC) to offer
postgraduate degrees in business courses. James Hope University commenced
activities in September 2023.

Through his philanthropy – the Jim Ovia Foundation – he has shown the importance of
accords good education. In support of the Nigerian youth, the Jim Ovia Foundation offers
scholarships to needy students through the Mankind United to Support Total Education
(MUSTE) initiative. Most of the beneficiaries of the Jim Ovia Foundation scholarship are now
accountants, business administrators, lawyers, engineers, doctors, etc.

He is the author of “Africa Rise and Shine”, published by ForbesBooks. The book which
encapsulates Zenith Bank’s meteoric rise, details the secrets of success in doing
business in Africa. He is an alumnus of the Harvard Business School (OPM), University
of Louisiana (MBA), and Southern University, Louisiana, (B.Sc. Business Administration).  Jim Ovia is a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Community
of Chairpersons and a champion of the Forum’s EDISON Alliance.

In recognition of Jim Ovia’s contributions to the economic development of Nigeria, in
2022, the Federal Government of Nigeria honored him with Commander of the Federal
Republic, CFR. Also, in May 2022, Jim Ovia was conferred with the National Productivity
Order of Merit (NPOM) Award by the Federal Government of Nigeria. Earlier, he has
been conferred with the national award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic,
MFR, and Commander of the Order of the Niger, CON, in 2000 and 2011, respectively,
as a testament to his visionary leadership and contributions to Nigeria’s financial
services sector.

The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee
sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students
and youths. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this
innovation, demands excellence, and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.

Fidelity Bank: Improved Share Price as Growth Indicator

When the management of the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) in July 2023 announced that it was reclassifying Fidelity Bank Plc from small-price stock to medium-price stock, financial analysts concluded that the road to attaining Tier1 status by the bank is closer than ever imagined.

In full year 2022. Fidelity Bank briefly fell into the Tier 1 category and saw the highest gross earnings of N337.10 billion and profit before tax of N53.68 billion. The bank’s higher interest income relative to interest expense led to a net interest margin of 7.70 per cent, ahead of other similar banks.

Regarding its financial position, the bank had the highest total assets at N3.99 trillion in 2022. The bank’s relatively low-risk asset exposure kept non-performing loans (NPLs) at 2.90 per cent, the second lowest in the Tier 2 category ahead of Wema Bank.

Although the group has struggled with curtailing operating costs with CIR above 50 per cent, Fidelity earned the second lowest CIR among Tier 2 banks at 59.00 per cent, slightly behind FCMB at 53.90 per cent in FY 2022.

In 9M 2023, Fidelity Bank, according to Proshare analysts will rise to full Tier 1 status in its next Tier 1 Banking Sector Report review based on Proshare’s Banking Strength Index (PBSI)) led second-tier banks in gross earnings, profitability, total assets, customer deposits, and loans and advances.
However, its non-performing loan ratio (NPLR) rose to 3.54 per cent after Wema Bank’s 2.50 per cent, while its cost-to-income ratio (CIR) settled at 49.86 per cent, which was an improvement from the previous year’s ratio.

Significantly, in its full-year 2023 results, the bank’s total assets as of December 31, 2023 has risen to N6.2 trillion.

The bank closed 2023 as the fifth best banking stock on the floor of the NGX with a share price of N10.85 and a market capitalization of N347.3 billion, depicting an annual gain of 149.4 per cent, Fidelity Bank also showcased a commendable financial performance.
Notably, it achieved a net income of N91.8 billion in the nine months ending September 2023, reflecting a substantial 162.46% year-on-year growth from the corresponding period in 2022.

Furthermore, the bank registered an impressive return on equity of 28.48 per cent during the first nine months of 2023.

The 2023 performance of the bank was similar to that of 2022 as it was one of the three banks that led the list of the best-performing banks on the NGX. The other banks are FCMB and FBN Holdings.

The research pours into the performance of thirteen of Nigeria’s largest commercial banks analyzing improvement year on year over two quarters.

The analysis revealed that the thirteen banks raked in a sum of N298.84 billion as post-tax profit between July and September 2022, representing an increase of 29.9 per cent compared to N228.54 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2021.

The commercial banks remained resilient despite economic headwinds, which saw the nation’s aggregate GDP growth slowed to 2.25 per cent in Q3 2022 from 3.54 per cent recorded in the previous quarter and 4.03 per cent in the corresponding period of 2021.

Also, banks’ loans to customers grew by 5.5 per cent between June and September 2022 to stand at N23.76 trillion, representing a net new loan of N1.23 trillion in three months. However, this showed a slightly slower growth than the 6.81 per cent increase recorded in the comparable period of 2021.

NGX reclassification

The NGX said the reclassification became necessary because Fidelity Bank shares have been trading above the N5.00 mark since February 2023.
According to the NGX, rule 15.29 of the Rulebook of the Exchange, 2015 (Dealing Members’ Rules) notes that equities priced above N5 per share for at least four of the most recent six months of trading, or new security listings priced above N5 per share at the time of listing on NGX are classified as medium price stock.

“Fidelity Bank traded above the N5.00 mark on February 20, 2023 and has remained above the N5 mark up until close of business on 30 June 2023.
“This indicates that Fidelity Bank has been trading above N5 for at least four months in the last six months. Therefore, it should be reclassified from small price stock to medium price stock,” it pointed out.

The bank has continued to post commendable financial performance every quarter as it cements its position amongst tier-one banks in the country.
In the half-year 2023 results and for the second year running, the bank emerged as the company with the highest earnings per share on the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX).

According to a report, Fidelity Bank, Seplat Energy, Total Energies, Okomu Oil, Presco, Dangote Cement, MTN Nigeria, BUA Foods, First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and Geregu Power emerged as the companies with the highest earnings per share within that review period.
Earnings per share (EPS) is a company’s net profit divided by the number of common shares it has outstanding.
It also indicates how much money a company makes for each share of its stock and is a widely used metric for estimating corporate value.

A higher EPS indicates greater value because investors will pay more for a company’s shares if they think the company has higher profits relative to its share price.

Fidelity Bank recorded an earnings per share of N184 in the first half of 2023 from N79 in the first half of 2022.
The share price of the bank as of Thursday, April 25, 2024, stood at N9.00 per share as the bank traded 12.642 million shares valued at N112.071 billion in 246 deals.

Fidelity Bank’s share price movement has shown intense volatility in an upward direction over the past years. The stock price has risen from N2.52 on January 04, 2010, to N10.00 on March 15, 2023, generating a YTD return of 297 per cent.
The bank’s market capitalization as of Thursday, April 25, 2024, stood at N288.11 billion. Average volume stood at 11.76 million, share outstanding was 32.01 billion while free float was 31.72 billion

Stakeholders speak
Analysts believe the bank’s share price underlines its earnings growth and financial performance as higher dividend yields and future earnings forecasts have triggered demand in the money lender’s shares.

Over the last ten years, the bank’s share price has risen to a resistance (highest price) of N14.20 on March 05, 2024, and a support price (lowest price) of N0.76 on November 16, 2016.

According to a Lagos-based stockbroker, ‘Fidelity Bank demonstrates the classical admonition to prospective investors of entering low and selling high. Over the last eight years, Fidelity’s stock price has risen by 44.19 per cent on a compound annual basis; very few stocks could prove a better inflation hedge”.

Ambrose Omordion, Chief Research Officer at Investdata Consulting Limited, believes that this is the best time for Fidelity as the bank’s share price is doing well among its peers.

He said, “Fidelity is doing well and its share price is one of the best among its peers. This is so because the bank has recorded impressive results in its 2023 financial year. In June 2023, the bank shares rose by 32 per cent making it the nation’s best-performing bank share as of half year (June 30).

“I can only see a better bank now and in the future. The bank is a potential Tier 1 bank and the performance of the bank is a pointer to the fact that the bank will scale the recapitalisation hurdle of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)”.

Prince Anthony Omojola, National Coordinator, Independent Shareholders Association of Nigeria (ISAN), asserted that “Fidelity Bank is moving up in terms of performance. They have joined those paying interim dividends and they have also dipped their hand into big money tills for huge investment. They have borrowed big to be able to handle bigger contracts and be able to reap big. The reclassification is welcomed and I hope they will not disappoint us. If they can meet expectations, the benefit will be for Nigeria”.

On his part, Sam Ndata, Doyen of Nigerian Stockbrokers and non-executive director at UIDC Securities Limited commented, “This is a good development. If a company performs well, it will surely be rewarded to earn investors’ confidence”.

Mr Boniface Okezie, the National Coordinator, Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria, commented, “Fidelity Bank has paid its dues in the financial services sector. It has contributed immensely to the development of the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector yet pays dividends to the shareholders. Last year, it took the market by surprise by declaring a dividend of 50k per share which had not happened in previous years. The massive investment in ICT and effective branch network shows it is ready to serve the customers in a better way and make the shareholders happy.”

Revealed! How Detained Binance executive planned prison escape

The detained Binance Holdings Limited executive, Tigran Gambaryan, has attempted to escape from Kuje Correctional Facility accordign to a report by the PUNCH.

Investigations by their  correspondent revealed how Mr Gambaryan who is currently remanded in Kuje Correctional Facility, applied for a new United States of America passport, under the pretence that his seized passport was missing.

The Armenian-born Binance executive, Gambaryan who has both American and Armenian passports, told the US Embassy in Abuja that he lost his passport which is currently being held by the EFCC, impeccable anti-graft sources privy to the development but not authorised to speak, told The PUNCH on Wednesday.

Following the development, the EFCC has urged the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja to disregard Gambaryan’s bail application, while noting that the Armenian-American could flee from Nigeria like his Kenyan-British colleague, Nadeem Anjarwalla who fled to Kenya.

A source, who is privy to the investigations, revealed that “The second Binance executive, Tigran Gambaryan, who is currently remanded in Kuje prison, has planned to escape from the facility. He applied to the US embassy in Abuja to issue him a new Visa while lying that he lost his passport which was seized by the EFCC.”

Another source, who insisted on anonymity, noted that “Gambaryan could have escaped from Kuje if not for the fact that the US embassy flagged his request for a new passport. Fortunately, the US embassy immediately reached out to the EFFC, and the embassy was informed that he’s a criminal suspect whose case is currently in court for alleged money laundering – concealing the source of the $35,400, 000 generated as revenue by Binance in Nigeria knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.”

Meanwhile, the EFCC had on Tuesday, urged Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja to deny Gambaryan’s bail application.

The anti-graft agency said it was too risky to admit the foreigner to bail, noting the escape of his co-defendant, Nadeem Anjarwalla, from the custody of the National Security Adviser and his escape to Kenya.

Besides, the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Ekele Iheanacho, told the court that the anti-graft agency uncovered an alleged plot by Gambaryan to obtain a new passport to facilitate his escape from Nigeria after the EFCC had seized his passport.

Gambaryan, his fleeing colleague, Anjarwalla, and Binance Holdings Limited are being prosecuted by the EFCC on money laundering charges.

The anti-graft agency accused them of concealing the source of the $35,400, 000 generated as revenue by Binance in Nigeria knowing that the funds constituted proceeds of unlawful activity.

Opposing Gambaryan’s bail application on Tuesday, the EFCC prosecutor said, “There was an attempt by this defendant to procure another travelling document even when he was aware that his passport was in the custody of the state. He pretended as if the said passport was stolen.”

Iheanacho told the court that within the same period that Anjarwalla fled the custody, Gambaryan also allegedly made moves to escape from custody and flee the country but was intercepted by the operatives of the commission.

“This court will be taking a grave risk to grant the defendant bail. This is also because he has no attachment to any community in Nigeria.
“The experience we have had with the man who escaped to Kenya while his United Kingdom passport is in Nigeria will certainly repeat itself if this defendant is granted bail.

“The 1st defendant (Binance) is operating virtually. The only thing we have to hold on to is this defendant. So, we pray My Lord to refuse bail to the defendant.”

Iheanacho said with the intelligence information at the EFCC’s disposal it was not safe to release the foreigner on bail.