ALIKO DANGOTE FOUNDATION’S FORGES PARTNERSHIP WITH ISLAMIC DEVELOPMENT BANK

Ms. Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director & CEO of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) in company with Mr. Ahmed Iya, Head of Community Engagement & Polio Eradication of ADF visited Dr. Rami Ahmad, Vice President (Operations) of the Islamic Development Bank at IsDB Headquarters in Jeddah.

The delegation used the occasion to highlight the activities of the Foundation so far which made great impact on people of all races by enhancing opportunities for social change through strategic investments that improve health and wellbeing, promote quality education, and broaden empowerment opportunities for individuals and communities.

Dr. Rami also expressed his expectation of a good and rewarding partnership between the two organisations, as many member countries of the IsDB face pressing debt challenges that constrain their investments in people and livelihoods.

*Top 10 Microfinance Banks in Nigeria: Nigeria’s Microfinance Banking Sector: Key Institutions Driving Financial Access, SME Growth, and Inclusion

Nigeria’s microfinance banking sector has evolved into one of the most critical components of the country’s financial ecosystem. What began primarily as community based lending structures has now grown into a more structured industry supporting millions of individuals, small businesses, and informal sector operators who remain outside traditional banking systems.

Today, microfinance banks are no longer viewed solely as lenders of last resort. They have become active enablers of financial inclusion, SME development, payroll support, and digital financial access, particularly in a country where access to credit continues to shape economic participation.

Across this expanding landscape, several institutions have consistently stood out based on operational scale, service delivery, innovation, and long term presence in the market.

Among them, Regent Microfinance Bank (Regent MFB) continues to maintain a strong position as one of the notable institutions contributing to the sector’s growth.
A sector shaped by scale, specialization, and evolving customer expectations
The Nigerian microfinance landscape is not uniform. It is a mix of legacy institutions with deep grassroots penetration, digitally driven players reshaping user experience, and hybrid banks balancing both models.

What is becoming increasingly clear is that competitiveness is now defined less by licensing status and more by execution; how effectively institutions are able to deliver credit, maintain trust, and adapt to changing customer behaviour. Within this environment, many microfinance banks continue to define different segments of the market.

*LAPO Microfinance Bank:*
With deep grassroots penetration and scale driven inclusion,
LAPO remains one of the most widely recognised microfinance institutions in Nigeria, largely due to its extensive reach across underserved communities. Its model has historically focused on micro lending and social impact financing, making it one of the most entrenched players in grassroots financial inclusion.

Its continued relevance is tied to its ability to maintain scale while serving a broad low-income customer base.

*AB Microfinance Bank Nigeria: Disciplined Credit Framework*
AB Microfinance Bank operates with a more structured credit approach, particularly in SME financing. Its operations are characterised by standardised lending frameworks and a strong emphasis on repayment discipline, making it a consistent player in urban and semi urban markets.

*Accion Microfinance Bank: Inclusion driven financial services*
Accion Microfinance Bank has maintained its focus on expanding access to financial services for underserved individuals and small businesses. Its model is largely centered on responsible lending and tailored financial products aimed at low to middle income segments.

*Moniepoint Microfinance Bank: The fintech driven disruptor*
Moniepoint represents a more recent evolution in the sector, where microfinance banking intersects with fintech infrastructure. Its strength lies in its agent network, payment systems, and digital rails that support real time transactions and business payments at scale.

Its growth reflects the increasing convergence between traditional financial services and technology led platforms.

*Kuda Microfinance Bank: Digital first banking model
Kuda operates almost entirely within the digital banking space, offering app based financial services that prioritize ease of use, low fees, and user experience. It has contributed significantly to shifting expectations around what banking should feel like for younger, tech savvy customers.

*Regent Microfinance Bank: Modern Microfinance Banking*

Regent Microfinance Bank has continued to position by serving SMEs, corproates and individuals with business support, working capital needs, and customer financial stability.

The bank has maintained a steady presence within Nigeria’s microfinance space through an approach shaped by operational structure, customer engagement, and an understanding of the practical challenges faced by SMEs and retail banking customers.

As financial expectations continue to evolve, Regent MFB remains focused on building a banking experience centered on accessibility, consistency, and solutions aligned with the pace and realities of modern enterprise.

*Addosser Microfinance Bank: Retail and SME hybrid positioning*
Addosser has gradually strengthened its position by serving both retail and SME segments. Its model combines traditional lending services with increasing digital adoption, allowing it to remain competitive in an evolving market.

*Boctrust Microfinance Bank: Salary backed lending specialisation*
Boctrust Microfinance Bank is widely known for its focus on payroll-based lending. By targeting salary earners and formal sector employees, it has carved out a niche in consumer credit, particularly for short-term financial needs.

*Fina Trust Microfinance Bank: Diversified Micro Lending & Retail Services*
Fina Trust maintains a stable presence in the sector with a mix of SME financing, retail banking services, and gradual expansion efforts. Its growth approach has remained measured, focusing on sustainability over rapid scaling.

*NIRSAL Microfinance Bank (NMFB): Development and intervention financing*
NIRSAL MFB operates within a more policy-driven framework, with strong emphasis on agricultural financing and government-backed credit schemes. Its role is closely tied to economic development initiatives aimed at boosting productivity in key sectors.

*Industry outlook:*
From access expansion to experience-driven banking
The microfinance sector in Nigeria is entering a more competitive phase, where growth is increasingly influenced by customer experience, digital capability, and trust rather than just geographic presence.

Institutions are now being evaluated on their ability to:
1. Deliver fast and reliable credit access
2. Maintain strong repayment and risk structures
3. Integrate digital and physical banking channels
4. Build long-term customer relationships

This shift is gradually redefining what leadership means in the sector.

*Conclusion*
Nigeria’s microfinance banking space continues to expand and diversify, with institutions playing different but complementary roles in driving financial inclusion and SME development.
From long-established players with deep community roots to digitally driven challengers reshaping customer expectations, the sector reflects a broad spectrum of financial innovation and service delivery models.

Within this evolving ecosystem, Regent Microfinance Bank’s decade-long operational presence and steady, structured approach to growth position it as one of the notable institutions contributing to the stability and progression of microfinance banking in Nigeria.

Fidelity Bank’s gross earnings rise by 45%, shareholders’ funds cross N1trn mark

Fidelity Bank Plc has reported a 45 percent increase in gross earnings for the 2025 financial year, as the lender’s shareholders’ funds crossed the N1 trillion mark following sustained balance sheet expansion and fresh capital injection.

Analysis from the audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, reveals that the bank delivered robust results across key financial metrics, including Gross Earnings, which stood at N1.5 trillion, up from N1,04 trillion reported in 2024.

Net Interest Income rose to N831.3 billion, compared to N629.7 billion in 2024, reflecting the bank’s stronger earnings capacity amid elevated interest rates and growth in interest-earning assets.

Interest and similar income calculated using the effective interest rate rose by 38.7 percent to N1.11 trillion in 2025 from N803.05 billion in 2024, while other interest and similar income increased by 25.1 percent to N184.51 billion.

Net interest income after credit loss also rose significantly by 41.2 percent to N809.74 billion from N573.33 billion. The bank also recorded an improvement in asset quality costs, as credit loss expense moderated to N21.61 billion from N56.44 billion, representing a 61.7 percent improvement year-on-year.

Fidelity Bank continued to expand its digital banking footprint, enhance customer experience, and support key sectors of the economy. Non-interest revenue performance remained strong during the period, with fee and commission income increasing by 44.7 percent to N113.36 billion from N78.36 billion. This was driven by letters of credit commissions and fees (N12.5 billion), ATM charges fees (N11.6 billion), commission on travellers’ cheques and foreign bills (N8.9 billion), accounts maintenance charge (N7.13 billion and commission on E-banking activities (N2.2 billion),

Other operating income rose by 200.5 percent to N8.24 billion, while foreign currency revaluation gains surged by 749.9 percent to N99.58 billion from N11.72 billion in 2024.

Fidelity Bank’s investment assets expanded significantly during the year, reflecting the bank’s stronger positioning in fixed income and other securities markets. Debt instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI) rose by 199 percent to N557.78 billion from N186.57 billion, while debt instruments at amortised cost increased by 27.2 percent to N1.97 trillion from N1.55 trillion. Equity instruments at FVOCI also rose by 26.2 percent to N87.85 billion.

The bank also recorded gains from financial assets measured at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL), which increased by 280.7 percent to N2.75 billion. A new gain of N988 million from derecognition activities was also recorded during the period.

On the balance sheet side, cash and cash equivalents increased sharply by 87 percent to N1.32 trillion from N707.45 billion, indicating stronger liquidity buffers. Restricted balances with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) also rose to N1.65 trillion from N1.59 trillion.

Other assets increased by 76.4 percent to N278.89 billion, while investments in property, plant, and equipment rose by 161.6 percent to N203.72 billion. Intangible assets climbed by 147.5 percent to N50.44 billion, indicating continued investment in technology and operational infrastructure. Deferred tax assets also increased significantly to N33.10 billion from N5.31 billion.

The bank further reduced debts issued and other borrowed funds to N888.95 billion from N929.60 billion, reflecting lower reliance on external borrowings. Deferred tax liabilities declined completely from N727 million in 2024 to zero in 2025.

The lender’s total assets grew by 18.6 percent to N10.46 trillion from N8.82 trillion, driven by growth in liquid assets and investment securities. Customer deposits rose by 16.1 percent to N6.89 trillion from N5.94 trillion, reflecting sustained customer confidence and expansion in the bank’s funding base.

Fidelity Bank also strengthened its capital position during the year as total equity increased by 21.1 percent to N1.09 trillion from N897.87 billion, pushing shareholders’ funds above the N1 trillion mark, reinforcing the lender’s capacity to support larger transactions, absorb shocks, and expand its regional and international banking ambitions.

The bank disclosed that it completed a private placement of 12.9 billion ordinary shares in December 2025, raising fresh capital that increased eligible capital to N532.6 billion, above the Central Bank of Nigeria’s N500 billion minimum requirement for banks with international authorisation.

The exercise increased total issued shares from 50.2 billion units to 63.17 billion units, significantly boosting shareholders’ funds beyond the N1 trillion threshold.

The stronger capital base is expected to improve the lender’s capacity to finance larger transactions, expand lending activities, and support future regional growth opportunities.