Business
Wema Bank Is Standing On Strong Financial Fundamentals – CEO, Ademola Adebise
Wema Bank, Nigeria’s leading innovative and digital-driven financial institution has
reassured its esteemed customers and shareholders that it remains standing on
strong financial fundamentals and reliable performance metrics, riding on the back
of seasoned and astute leadership.
The bank gave this reassurance, through its Managing Director/Chief Executive
Officer, Ademola Adebise, while reacting to a recent publication in the media
purportedly alleging a dip in its liquidity status following the unaudited report for
2020 with the MD/CEO saying the report is only a deliberate campaign to create
panic among its stakeholders using false news, and therefore should be
discountenanced,
He said, “The strength and viability of financial institutions are not measured on the isolated performance of one outlier year. The said report based a lot of its false
allegations on the unaudited 2020 financial year. But that was a year when COVID-
19 induced a lockdown and a disruption of such magnitude that negatively impacted
businesses, industries and economies the world over.
“Wema Bank has continually exhibited not just resilience, but admirable viability
over the years with a 30.95% increase in earnings recorded in just 2019. Then came
2020, and in spite of the difficulties, we succeeded in achieving impressive results in key areas such as net earnings from fees and commissions, while growing the
Bank’s asset base significantly.
“That’s not all, customer credibility in the bank was also accentuated with a massive
increase in customer deposits over the previous year. This is an audacious show of
confidence from the customers of Wema Bank
“These performance metrics amongst others, are testament to our smart balance
sheet optimization approach which will be affirmed by the time the audited and
official 2020 Financial Report is released in the coming weeks “
The CEO also referenced how well the Bank’s performance in the said 2020 makes it
one of the best performing financial institutions in the land.
“We won the BusinessDay award for the Best SME Bank of the Year for 2020. A
recognition of our unrivalled support for small and medium scale businesses
through loans, business advisory, and ease of payments and transactions.
“Also, the recently published 2020 KPMG Customer Experience Survey, showed
Wema Bank making significant growth in the retail category, climbing up ten (10)
places from the previous year to 2nd position, with an above industry average of
74.6% Customer Experience score. This achievement is a mark of dedication to
excellent customer service and refreshing support for all our customer categories.”
The KPMG Customer Experience Survey grades banks over six universal pillars of
Personalization, Integrity, Expectations, Resolution, Time & Effort and Empathy, and
Wema Bank has showed a mastery of these pillars and have been outstanding at all
of them.
Furthermore, in line with the bank’s sustainability goal of developing digital
solutions for societal impact, it successfully organized the second edition of
Hackaholics, a radical gathering of developers, web designers and creative thinkers
to develop solutions around key themes of Education, Health, Agriculture, Fintech,
Gaming & Betting.
These are intentional measures put in place to sustain an institution’s legacy of
economic evolution and social inclusion.
“We are a responsible corporate citizen with empathy as a core pillar of our
personality. Thus, we stood by the nation in the trying times of the COVID-19
pandemic with significant support for governments at both the federal and state
levels.
“Particularly to prevent severe food shortages and align with the SDG of Zero
Hunger, we supported State Governments with food palliatives donation which
alleviated the conditions of over 80,000 households of the most vulnerable
segments of the population.”
With all these financial and non-financial performance metrics, it is not in doubt that
Wema Bank is not only standing strong, it is also among the best performing
financial institutions in Nigeria, in 2020.
“I’ll take this opportunity to commend our customers for their sustained trust in us.
A support that has remained a critical pillar of our stability and growth over the
years, especially as we celebrate our 76th anniversary.
For us as a responsible and visionary organization, we are staying committed to our
corporate purpose of making life easier and better through innovation and digital-
driven lifestyle solutions for Nigerians and their businesses.” Adebise concluded.
Nigeria’s Inflation Drops to 15.10% as NBS Reports Deflationary Trend
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Nigeria’s headline inflation rate declined to 15.10 per cent in January 2026, marking a significant drop from 27.61 per cent recorded in January 2025, according to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report released by the National Bureau of Statistics.
The report also showed that month-on-month inflation recorded a deflationary trend of –2.88 per cent, representing a 3.42 percentage-point decrease compared to December 2025. Analysts say the development signals easing price pressures across key sectors of the economy.
Food inflation stood at 8.89 per cent year-on-year, down from 29.63 per cent in January 2025. On a month-on-month basis, food prices declined by 6.02 per cent, reflecting lower costs in several staple commodities.
The data suggests a sustained downward trajectory in inflation over the past 12 months, pointing to improving macroeconomic stability.
The administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has consistently attributed recent economic adjustments to ongoing fiscal and monetary reforms aimed at stabilising prices, boosting agricultural output, and strengthening domestic supply chains.
Economic analysts note that while the latest figures indicate progress, sustaining the downward trend will depend on continued policy discipline, exchange rate stability, and improvements in food production and distribution.
The January report provides one of the clearest indications yet that inflationary pressures, which surged in early 2025, may be moderating.
Alpha Morgan to Host 19th Economic Review Webinar
In an economy shaped by constant shifts, the edge often belongs to those with the right information.
On Wednesday, February 25, 2026, Alpha Morgan Bank will host the 19th edition of its Economic Review Webinar, a high-level thought leadership session designed to equip businesses, investors, and individuals with timely financial and economic insight.
The session, which will hold live on Zoom at 10:00am WAT and will feature economist Bismarck Rewane, who will examine the key signals influencing Nigeria’s economic direction in 2026, including policy trends, market movements, and global developments shaping the local landscape.
With a consistent track record of delivering clarity in uncertain times, the Alpha Morgan Economic Review continues to provide practical context for decision-making in a dynamic environment.
Registration for the 19th Alpha Morgan Economic Review is free and can be completed via https://bit.ly/registeramerseries19
It is a bi-monthly platform that is open to the public and is held virtually.
Visit www.alphamorganbank to know more.
GTBank Launches Quick Airtime Loan at 2.95%
Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd (GTBank), the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, Africa’s leading financial services group, today announced the launch of Quick Airtime Loan, an innovative digital solution that gives customers instant access to airtime when they run out of call credit and have limited funds in their bank accounts, ensuring customers can stay connected when it matters most.
In today’s always-on world, running out of airtime is more than a minor inconvenience. It can mean missed opportunities, disrupted plans, and lost connections, often at the very moment when funds are tight, and options are limited. Quick Airtime Loan was created to solve this problem, offering customers instant access to airtime on credit, directly from their bank. With Quick Airtime Loan, eligible GTBank customers can access from ₦100 and up to ₦10,000 by dialing *737*90#. Available across all major mobile networks in Nigeria, the service will soon expand to include data loans, further strengthening its proposition as a reliable on-demand platform.
For years, the airtime credit market has been dominated by Telcos, where charges for this service are at 15%. GTBank is now changing the narrative by offering a customer-centric, bank-led digital alternative priced at 2.95%. Built on transparency, convenience and affordability, Quick Airtime Loan has the potential to broaden access to airtime, deliver meaningful cost savings for millions of Nigerians, and redefine how financial services show up in everyday life, not just in banking moments.
Commenting on the product launch, Miriam Olusanya, Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ltd, said: “Quick Airtime Loan reflects GTBank’s continued focus on delivering digital solutions that are relevant, accessible, and built around real customer needs. The solution underscores the power of a connected financial ecosystem, combining GTBank’s digital reach and lending expertise with the capabilities of HabariPay to deliver a smooth, end-to-end experience. By leveraging unique strengths across the Group, we are able to accelerate innovation, strengthen execution, and deliver a more integrated customer experience across all our service channels.”
Importantly, Quick Airtime Loan highlights GTCO’s evolution as a fully diversified financial services group. Leveraging HabariPay’s Squad, the solution reinforces the Group’s ecosystem proposition by bringing together banking, payment technology, and digital channels to deliver intuitive, one-stop experiences for customers.
With this new product launch, Guaranty Trust Bank is extending its legacy of pioneering digital-first solutions that have redefined customer access to financial services across the industry, building on the proven strength of its widely adopted QuickCredit offering and the convenience of the Bank’s iconic *737# USSD Banking platform.
About Guaranty Trust Bank
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) is the flagship banking franchise of GTCO Plc, a leading financial services group with a strong presence across Africa and the United Kingdom. The Bank is widely recognized for its leadership in digital banking, customer experience, and innovative financial solutions that deliver value to individuals, businesses, and communities.
About HabariPay
HabariPay is the payments fintech subsidiary of GTCO Plc, focused on enabling fast, secure, and accessible digital payments for individuals and businesses. By integrating payments and digital technology, HabariPay supports innovative services that make everyday financial interactions simpler and more seamless.
Enquiries:
GTCO
Group Corporate Communication
[email protected]
+234-1-2715227
www.gtcoplc.com
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