The Group Executive Director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr Liadi Ayoku, has called for the overhaul of the training curriculum in financial institutions across Africa to reflect current technological realities, which according to him will reflect the modern business expectations and ensure the relevance of graduates to the continent’s economic growth and aspiration.
Ayoku, said this while delivering a keynote address during the annual lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences, Lagos State University (LASU) titled: “The Future of Finance – Technology at Play” on Wednesday. He explained that finance graduates and professionals must be aware that it was no longer business as usual following the fast-changing technological landscape.
He said, “I am not certain if the finance and accounting graduates of today are familiar with modern financial softwares packages, including global accounting and financial reporting standards.
“Have they been imbibed with the ready-to-market soft skills like leadership, communication, commercial acumen, flexibility/openness to change and strategic vision? “If not, I will like to propose an overhaul of the curriculum to accommodate these,” he noted.
Ayoku further explained that with technology replacing basic financing, the finance professional that would excel in the future must be quick to retool and adapt to changes.
“Traditional knowledge of finance is getting stale in today’s business world and indeed there is dire need for retooling our skills if we must remain relevant n tomorrow’s financial world. Technology is fast replacing the basics of finance,” he surmised.
According to Ayoku, financial reporting is increasingly being automated, just as data analytics is demystifying performance analysis. Tomorrow’s finance professionals must have capabilities for business intelligence and cognitive analysis. “We must apprise ourselves of the most recent technology and continue to retool our skills to remain relevant today and into the future,” Ayoku said.
The Chairman of the occasion, Dr Rotimi Oladele, the Executive Secretary, Institute of Entrepreneurship, commended Ayoku for delivering a profound paper worthy of equipping account graduates for a future driven by technology while also praising the Chairman of UBA, Mr Tony Elumelu for his contribution to entrepreneurship in Africa, describing him as a ‘global brand of the rarest value’. He said LASU would benefit from its collaboration with the entrepreneur.
“No doubt Tony Elumelu is not just a Nigerian of rare value to Nigeria but a Premium African of rarer value and of course a Global Brand of rarest value. Tony Elumelu today as an ultrapreneur is known all over for breeding entrepreneurs and start-ups in thousands and with millions of dollars ceaselessly in support for sustainability.
“We believe LASU partnering with Elumelu could be the best testimonial of a befitting support to the most multi-cultural and multi-tribal university in Nigeria. The profile of LASU Staff and studentship speak for this fact,” he said.
The LASU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lanre Fagbohun, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Oyedamola Oke, thanked UBA for its support and sponsorship noting that a bank that believes in the support of education is indeed a special institution.
Regional Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Ms Emem Usoro; Executive Director and Guest Lecturer, Mr. Liadi Ayoku; Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University(LASU), Prof. Oyedamola Oke; and Registrar, LASU, Mr. Yinka Asuni during the 2019 Annual Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) delivered by Mr Liadi titled: The Future of Finance; Technology at Play, held at the University campus in Ojo on Wednesday
Regional Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Ms Emem Usoro; Executive Director and Guest Lecturer, Mr. Liadi Ayoku; and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, (LASU), Prof. Oyedamola Oke, during the 2019 Annual Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) delivered by Mr Liadi titled: The Future of Finance; Technology at Play, held at the University campus in Ojo on Wednesday
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, (LASU), Prof. Oyedamola Oke; Executive Director and Guest Lecturer, Mr. Liadi Ayoku; Dean, Faculty of Management Science, LASU, Prof. Babatunde Yusuf; and Executive Secretary, Institute of Entrepreneurship and Chairman of the Occasion, Dr Rotimi Oladele, during the 2019 Annual Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) delivered by Mr Liadi titled: The Future of Finance; Technology at Play, held at the University campus in Ojo on Wednesday
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University, (LASU), Prof. Oyedamola Oke; Executive Director and Guest Lecturer, Mr. Liadi Ayoku; Regional Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Ms Emem Usoro; and Dean, Faculty of Management Science, Prof. Babatunde Yusuf, during the 2019 Annual Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) delivered by Mr Liadi titled: The Future of Finance; Technology at Play, held at the University campus in Ojo on Wednesday
Coordinator, Banking and Finance Department, Lagos State University(LASU), Dr. Mrs Oluitan; Deputy Vice Chancellor, LASU, Prof. Oyedamola Oke, Regional Director, United Bank for Africa(UBA) Plc, Ms Emem Usoro; and Dean, Faculty of Management Science, Professor Tunde Yusuf, during the 2019 Annual Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) delivered by Mr Liadi titled: The Future of Finance; Technology at Play, held at the University campus in Ojo on Wednesday
Pix 6: Coordinator, Banking and Finance Department, Lagos State University(LASU), Dr. Mrs Oluitan; Registrar, LASU, Mr Yinka Asuni; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyedamola Oke; Regional Director, UBA Plc, Ms Emem Usoro; Librarian, LASU, Mrs Aderonke Bello; Dean, Faculty of Management Science, LASU, Professor Tunde Yusuf; and Member Planning Committee, Faculty of Management Annual Lecture, Dr JK Obaro at the 2019 Annual Guest Lecture of the Faculty of Management Sciences (FMS) held yesterday held at the University campus in Ojo on Wednesday
Elite 18 global golfers honours Aare Adetola Emmanuelking with Nigeria’s first ever Noble Golfer award
In a landmark celebration of sportsmanship, leadership, and vision, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, the esteemed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Adron Homes and Properties, has been honored with Nigeria’s inaugural Noble Golfer Award. This prestigious accolade was conferred upon him by the renowned Elite 18 Global Golfers during a high-profile event that brought together key figures from the sports, real estate, and business sectors.
The Noble Golfer Award recognizes individuals who have shown steadfast dedication to advancing the game of golf and promoting sports culture in their communities. Aare Emmanuelking’s nomination exemplifies his exceptional commitment to enriching the golfing landscape in Nigeria, alongside his broader initiatives aimed at fostering sports development across the nation.
Aare Emmanuelking is not merely a business leader; he is a pioneer in integrating golf into modern lifestyle experiences. Currently, he is leading the ambitious development of a state-of-the-art golf course in Nigeria a monumental project that aspires to redefine leisure, tourism, and sporting excellence within the country. This golf course aims to provide a premier playing experience while also serving as a social hub for golfing enthusiasts and the community at large.
In a bid to make golf more inclusive and accessible, Aare Emmanuelking has also initiated the construction of advanced golf driving ranges in all Adron Homes Estates across Nigeria. This visionary project is designed to encourage participation in the sport among Nigerians of all ages and backgrounds, fostering wellness, recreation, and community engagement as integral parts of Adron’s residential developments.
At the award presentation, Aare Emmanuelking conveyed his heartfelt gratitude for the recognition, emphasizing his belief in the transformative power of sports as a vehicle for national development and youth empowerment. He remarked, “Golf is not just a game; it exemplifies discipline, a distinct lifestyle, and a pursuit of excellence. Through Adron Homes, we are not merely constructing houses—we are nurturing communities built on the foundations of wellness, unity, and opportunity.”
The Elite 18 Global Golfers commended Aare Emmanuelking’s innovative approach, highlighting how he effectively merges real estate advancements with world-class sports infrastructure. They acknowledged that his efforts have the potential to inspire a new generation of golfers and to position Nigeria as a premier destination for international golfing events.
As Aare Adetola Emmanuelking continues to break new ground in both the real estate and sports development arenas, receiving this award serves as a testament to his lasting influence—not only in the realms of business but also in cultivating a legacy of excellence, one fairway at a time. His contributions are poised to create lasting change, inspiring future generations and fostering a vibrant culture of sport and community in Nigeria.
Leading up to the recent superlative annual reports showcasing one of the most significant growth experienced by a Nigeria Financial Institution in recent years I was forced to ask “what is Fidelity Bank” doing right?
My banking and financial sector experience got me digging deeper into the statistics of the report-Fidelity Bank recorded a substantial 210.0% growth in PBT, reaching N385.2 billion in FY 2024. Deposits increased by 47.9%, from N4.0 trillion in 2023FY to N5.9 trillion in 2024FY, Gross earnings shooting by 87.7% to N1,043.4 billion which was primarily caused by a 106.9% increase in interest and similar income. Was I impressed? Absolutely
Now to the scary part, they opened the year with a bang implying that 2025 year end results was going to be nothing but spectacular; check this out-Fidelity reported a whooping 167.8% increase in PBT (Profit Before Tax)to N105.8 billion in Q1 2025, compared to N39.5 billion in Q1 2024. Gross earnings from January to April had reached some N315.421 billion signaling a 64.21% increase year-on-year.
These results were nothing short of astonishing and with great hope I sat my team to review our Investment Strategy to accommodate taking up equities in Fidelity and advising our portfolio investors to do same.
We quickly appraised the fundamentals and Key Success Factors to include their focus on the strategic youth economy that the Creative and Digital Transformation sector promises, the banks bullish inroads in MSME promotion and financing, their glowing penchant for Gender inclusion without abandoning the core sectors of Mining, Renewables and other key industries
Then came the dissecting of Leadership, my team of analysts mostly female went on about Fidelity MD being one of the most experienced and affable Amazons in the industry; done this, achieved that and all the entreaties you’d expect from smart ladies who feel mentored from a distance. I didn’t hesitate to draw their attention to the experience of the menfolk within the organization like I had any measurable data to establish that mix…truth remains you can’t but admire the Banks Leadership and strides
A deeper look at the banks expansion globally could reveal a strategic and noiseless acquisition of Union Bank,London and their planned incursion into African and other European financial markets, you just can see that such daring strides and impact would give competition and detractors sleepless nights. Not in an era where sleeping pills are sold strictly by prescription and no thanks to the high cost of medication for peddlers of cheap propaganda
Within barely 30days of announcing such magnificent results little wonder how pundits would cook or spin a narrative to suggest a bank that has announced herself as First Tier with shoulders leveled up with other Banking giants would shudder over a judgement against her customer G.Cappa or even the contribution they would be required to cough out over that said Sagecom saga. With that judgement not going the way of pundits a contemptuous attempt at calculating interest at unclassified rates from an initial N14b to cause an unnecessary scare or negative press on the bank speaks volumes of how we unrepentantly strive to destroy value in our economy.
One would think that interpretation of the judgment and computation of due figures which will understandably come with a payment plan be awaited instead of the usual bad blood generated and envisaged by toddler media characters.
It is not in doubt that the discerning public sees through the cruise and flat falling attempt of dramatic clout chasers ever ready to stain Fidelity’s white apparel which savvy Investors and analysts are filled with bridal admiration
Like Joseph Campbell hinted in his famous quote “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” We cast our treasures and bets on Fidelity Bank as the Nigerian treasure house to beat in the years ahead!
*Udeme Etukeyen is an Abuja based Pan African Investment Advisory Expert*
Jemras Homes Unveils Treasure Mall in Lekki with a Star-Studded Grand Opening Ceremony
Jemras Homes, one of Lagos’ fastest-growing real estate firms, held a vibrant and star-studded grand opening of its debut commercial property, Treasure Mall, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Abijo GRA, Lekki-Ajah.
The colourful ceremony brought together top political figures, industry leaders, celebrities, and business stakeholders to celebrate the launch of this landmark development.
The event was graced by notable personalities, including Hon. Moshood Aro, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly; Hon. Fatiu Salisu, the immediate past Chairman of Ijede LCDA; and veteran actor and brand ambassador of Jemras Homes, Alhaji Taiwo Hassan, popularly known as Ogogo.
While addressing the press, Ogogo shared his deep connection with the brand “My relationship with Jemras Homes goes beyond mere brand representation — it’s a partnership rooted in trust, shared values, and a commitment to excellence. I believe in what the company stands for and the vision it’s bringing to life in the Nigerian real estate space.”
The Founder of Jemras Homes, Mr. Tayo Razaq, also delivered a heartfelt speech during the event, describing the company’s mission and the long-term value Treasure Mall offers “Treasure Mall is more than a building — it is a statement of our dedication to quality, innovation, and strategic investment. We are creating not just spaces, but opportunities that empower businesses and elevate communities.”
The grand opening was a lively affair, complete with music, entertainment, and testimonials from satisfied clients and partners who praised the transparency, quality, and professionalism of Jemras Homes. The atmosphere reflected the company’s growing reputation for delivering smart and stylish real estate developments.
Treasure Mall is a 1,350-square-meter, three-floor commercial complex offering business spaces ranging from 25 to 110 square meters. Located in the heart of Lekki’s flourishing Abijo GRA, it features ample parking, 24/7 security, and cutting-edge infrastructure — ideal for retail outlets, cafés, restaurants, and office spaces.
Strategically positioned near landmarks such as Lagos Business School, Novare Mall, and over 15 private estates, Treasure Mall also shares a boundary with the soon-to-be-completed Treasure 2 Residence — adding significant residential appeal to the area.
With this successful launch, Jemras Homes has not only unveiled a premium commercial destination but also reinforced its position as a visionary leader in Nigeria’s real estate sector.
[5/16, 8:41 AM] Peace: Pix
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