FirstBank Set to Launch Tailored Financial Services for Blind and Physically Challenged Customers

Lagos, 23 September 2025 – FirstBank, the premier West African bank and a leading financial inclusion service provider, is set to introduce tailored financial services for blind, partially sighted, and physically challenged customers across its operations.

This initiative is part of FirstBank’s broader continuous commitment to promoting Financial Inclusion and Diversity, which is shown in its policies, partnerships and initiatives such as its employees’ ratio of female to male (about 41%:59%; and 37% women in management roles) as well as the FirstBank Women Network, an initiative that seeks to address the gender gap and increase the participation of women at all levels within the organisation.  In addition, the Bank’s membership of the UN Women is an affirmation of a deliberate policy that is consistent with UN Women’s Women Empowerment’s Principles (WEPs) ─ Equal Opportunity, Inclusion, and Nondiscrimination.

Commenting on the proposed launch, the Chief Risk Officer and Chairman of the FirstBank Sustainability Committee, Patrick Akhidenor, said, “Everyone deserves access to financial services whether physically or digitally. We recognise this, and we are providing financial services that are both accessible and affordable to visually impaired and physically challenged customers at all our touchpoints. We are making it possible for them to manage their accounts independently and securely.”

The initiative will be implemented in phases across all subsidiaries and locations of the FirstBank Group. Transaction documents will be made available in braille, audio, large print, and digital formats. ATMs will be upgraded with high-contrast screens and voice-prompt commands, while cards issued will feature tactile motifs and braille inscriptions for easy recognition. Already existing soft PINs and tokens would be enhanced to boost secure access to banking channels. Product brochures will also be made available in braille and audio formats to support customer understanding and engagement.

FirstBank’s efforts align with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s financial inclusion strategy and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which advocate equal access to financial services.

With this initiative, FirstBank is shaping a future where every individual, regardless of physical ability, can manage their financial affairs without third-party assistance. By embedding accessibility into its core operations, the Bank is setting a new standard for ethical, inclusive, and impactful banking.

The African Policy and Research Consortium mourns the lives lost in the Afriland Towers tragedy and calls for safer and more resilient communities.

The African Policy and Research Consortium (APRC), a continental alliance of distinguished think tanks, research institutions, diaspora research centers, and policy leaders dedicated to shaping evidence-based governance, sustainable development, and social equity, mourns with profound sorrow the tragic fire that engulfed Afriland Towers on Lagos Island. This devastating incident, which claimed the lives of ten cherished individuals, including employees of Heirs Holdings and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is a poignant reminder of the fragility of human life and the urgent need to safeguard public spaces. Beyond institutional and structural concerns, this tragedy underscores the irreplaceable value of human contribution, the connections we forge, and the hopes we nurture. In this moment of grief, the APRC reaffirms its commitment to advancing policies that prioritize human dignity, safety, and resilience, ensuring that the promise of Africa’s future is never dimmed by preventable loss.

We stand in heartfelt solidarity with the families, colleagues, and communities now bearing the immense weight of grief. The individuals we mourn were far more than professionals at their desks; they were mothers and fathers, daughters and sons, mentors and friends whose skill, dedication, and spirit enlivened the institutions they served. Their absence leaves a void that no ceremony or memorial can ever fill, yet their legacies endure, etched in the collective memory of Nigeria’s civic and economic community. This tragedy compels us not only to reflect but to act, to ensure that measures are put in place to protect lives, fortify safety protocols, and cultivate a culture where human life is honored as the most precious resource.

This tragedy at Afriland Towers painfully echoes similar incidents across Africa: the 2019 fire at Onitsha’s Ochanja Market that ravaged lives and livelihoods, the Twin Tower blaze in Nairobi (2018) that exposed infrastructure fragility, and the 1994 Asafo Market inferno in Kumasi, which remains etched in Ghana’s history. Each of these catastrophes revealed recurring gaps in emergency response, fire prevention infrastructure, and occupational safety standards. The Afriland Towers disaster is therefore not an isolated event, it is another alarm bell demanding systemic reform.

We commend the courage of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, first responders, and ordinary citizens who braved chaos and smoke to save lives. Yet we must be candid: Africa cannot continue to mourn preventable deaths from infrastructure fires. The rapid spread of smoke from the basement inverter room to multiple floors underscores both the vulnerability of high-rise buildings and the insufficiency of current safety protocols.

We therefore call upon governments at every level – federal, state, and municipal to:

1. Strengthen emergency response infrastructure, ensuring that fire stations, hydrants, and safety equipment are strategically located, fully functional, and properly maintained.
2. Mandate rigorous compliance with occupational and building safety codes, particularly in commercial high-rises where thousands of lives are at stake daily.
3. Invest in training and drills so that employees, visitors, and first responders are adequately prepared for crisis scenarios.
4. Create collaborative frameworks with the private sector, where institutions like Heirs Holdings and UBA can co-lead in setting exemplary safety standards across the continent.

Afriland Towers was more than a building; it was a hub of enterprise, a symbol of modern Nigeria, and a testament to the possibilities of African-led development. That it has become the site of such grief must awaken in us a collective resolve: never again should avoidable tragedy diminish the value of African lives.

Once again, on behalf of the African Policy and Research Consortium, we stand in solidarity with all affected families and institutions. We honor the memory of those who perished, and we commit ourselves to advancing policies that place human safety, dignity, and life at the very center of Africa’s development agenda.

May the departed rest in peace, and may their sacrifice become the seed of reforms that safeguard future generations.

Signed,
Professor Steve Azaiki, OON
Chief Executive Coordinator
African Policy and Research Consortium

GTCO Plc Releases 2025 Half-Year Audited Results… Sustains Strong Performance on Core Earning Lines Growth

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (“GTCO” or the “Group”) has released its Audited Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements for the period ended June 30, 2025, to the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) and London Stock Exchange (LSE).

The Group recorded profit before tax of ₦600.9billion on the back of strong performance on core earning lines of interest income and fee income, which grew y-o-y by 31.5% and 33.0%, respectively. The strong core-earning performance doused the impact of the ₦493.01bn fair value gains recognised in H1-2024 which did not recur in H1-2025, thereby narrowing y-o-y dip in PBT to 40%.

The Group recorded growth across all its asset lines and continues to maintain a well-structured, de-risked, and diversified balance sheet in all the jurisdictions wherein it operates a Banking franchise, as well as across its Payments, Pension and Funds Management business verticals. Total assets and shareholders’ funds closed at ₦16.7trillion and ₦3.0trillion, respectively. Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) remained very robust and strong, closing at 36.2%. Asset quality also improved as evidenced by IFRS 9 Stage 3 Loans which closed at 3.2% at Bank level and 4.5% % at Group in H1-2025 (Bank -3.5% (Group- 5.2% in December 2024) and Cost of Risk (COR) improved to 1.7% from 4.9% in December 2024.

In specific term, the Group’s loan book (net) grew by 20.5% from ₦2.79trillion position of December 2024 to ₦3.36trillion in June 2025. Similarly, deposit liabilities grew by 16.6% from ₦10.40trillion to ₦12.13trillion during the same period. The Board approved an interim dividend of ₦1.00 per share for H1-2025.

Commenting on the results, the Group Chief Executive Officer of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc, Mr. Segun Agbaje, said: “Our half year performance reflects the strength of our core business and the progress we are making in building a truly diversified financial services ecosystem. Beyond the extraordinary one-off gains of last year, we are now driving sustainable growth with recurring earnings that highlight the resilience and scalability of our model. A key driver of this momentum is our continued investment in technology, particularly the comprehensive upgrade of our core banking systems, which is already delivering stronger uptime, greater efficiency, and increased capacity to scale as our customer base grows.”

He added: “Across Banking, Funds Management, Pension, and Payments, we are leveraging a fully de-risked balance sheet to reinforce our market position while maintaining strategic flexibility for growth. This foundation positions us to take advantage of emerging opportunities and deliver lasting value for all stakeholders.”

Overall, the Group continues to post one of the best metrics in the Nigerian Financial Services industry in terms of key financial ratios i.e., Pre-Tax Return on Equity (ROAE) of 60.4%, Pre-Tax Return on Assets (ROAA) of 10.6%, Capital Adequacy Ratio (CAR) of 36.2% and Cost to Income ratio of 30.1%.

Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO Plc) is a leading financial services group with operations across Africa and the United Kingdom. Renowned for its strong corporate governance, innovative financial solutions, and customer-centric approach, GTCO Plc provides a wide range of banking and non-banking services including payments, funds management, and pension fund administration. The Group is committed to delivering long-term value to stakeholders while driving growth and development across its markets.