E-Financial
Ecobank Appoints Lawal Managing Director of Nigeria Subsidiary
The Ecobank Group has announced the appointment of Jubril Mobolaji Lawal as its Regional Executive and Managing Director designate of Ecobank Nigeria.
The appointment was announced ahead of the upcoming retirement of the current Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Patrick Akinwuntan.
Akinwuntan is due to attain retirement age in January 2022. However, the appointment is subject to the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
According to a statement, Lawal joined Ecobank having been a versatile senior banking executive and digital transformation specialist for over 28 years with Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
He has deep involvement and experience in digital and retail banking, corporate and commercial banking, credit risk management and corporate finance, the statement revealed.
His previous experience included being an Executive Director at GTBank Plc Nigeria, and Non-Executive Director at both GTBank Ghana Limited and Nigeria Interbank Settlement Systems Plc.
“Mobolaji led the team that envisioned and implemented GTBank Plc’s retail and digital banking strategy to achieve industry-wide leadership over a ten-year period and he introduced new products and solutions that have helped to deepen payments and access to digital financial services in Nigeria.
“Mobolaji was selected and appointed as Managing Director designate following a keenly contested selection process, which included both internal and external candidates,” it added.
The incoming bank chief holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria; B.L. from the Nigerian Law School and a Master of Business Administration from Oxford University, United Kingdom.
He has also attended several executive management and banking specific developmental programmes at leading educational institutions including Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business and Institute Européen d’Administration des Affaires (INSEAD).
Commenting on the appointment, Ade Ayeyemi, the CEO, Ecobank Group, was quoted to have said: “We welcome Mobolaji Lawal to the Ecobank Group and we stand to benefit from the extensive experience that he has acquired in various fields across banking, which will play a major role in continuing to rebuild our franchise in Nigeria.
“Nigeria is a key market for us, in which we have seen significant improvement over the past three years as we reposition and leverage upon our pan-African strengths in digital products and services, payments and as the go-to-bank for businesses seeking to grasp the growth opportunities being created by the AfCFTA, across all our markets on the continent. I wish Mobolaji the best and assure him of both my support and that of the entire Ecobank Group.”
On her part, the Chairman of the Board of Ecobank Nigeria, Mrs. Bola Adesola, said: “We look forward to working with Mobolaji and assure him of the full support of the board, management and all the staff of Ecobank Nigeria. The business in Nigeria is on the path of transformation and we are confident that Mobolaji will have significant impact in advancing our positive trajectory.“
Also Akinwuntan was quoted to have said: “It has been a rare privilege to have had the honour of serving for over a quarter of a century at Africa’s most exciting and unrivalled Pan-African Banking Champion, Ecobank.
“I am exceedingly thankful to God, my family, friends, all Ecobankers, our founders, shareholders, regulators and all our customers and stakeholders for the support and help that they have given on this journey.”
Akinwuntan started his career with Ecobank in 1996. He has held various senior and executive management positions in the over 25 years he has spent with the Ecobank Group, during which he has been based in Ghana, Togo and Nigeria.
Before his appointment as Regional Executive and Managing Director, Ecobank Nigeria, Akinwuntan was the Group Executive, Consumer Banking, where he was responsible for leading the Consumer Banking business across Ecobank’s global network of 39 countries, 35 of which are in Africa.
He managed the Group’s digital transformation journey and has been instrumental in the development of the world class digital products and services that Ecobank provides today.
Mastercard and TeamApt Ltd., a subsidiary of Moniepoint Inc. and a provider of financial infrastructure and payment solutions, have entered a strategic collaboration to strengthen digital payment capabilities for businesses and financial institutions across Africa.
As part of this collaboration, TeamApt will operate directly on Mastercard’s global payments network as a non-bank acquirer, enhancing its ability to onboard credible and licensed entities to deliver seamless payment acceptance, transaction processing and acquiring services. This will further expand its card acceptance infrastructure, allowing more merchants to accept Mastercard payments across in-store, online and mobile channels.
The collaboration integrates TeamApt’s switching infrastructure with Mastercard’s network to facilitate secure, high-volume transactions across online and in-store channels. With Nigeria being home to more than 40 million micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), and small businesses identifying digital solutions as vital to scaling, according to Mastercard’s 2026 SME Confidence Index, expanding payment acceptance remains an important opportunity for growth.
By combining TeamApt’s deep local market expertise with Mastercard’s global scale, businesses and individuals will benefit from more reliable transactions, stronger security and faster, safer and more accessible digital payment experiences.
“Expanding digital payment acceptance is one of the fastest ways to support small businesses across Africa to compete, grow, and reach more customers. By working with TeamApt, we are equipping MSMEs and informal sector businesses in Nigeria with robust, secure infrastructure to seamlessly process transactions across multiple channels. This collaboration brings more businesses into the digital economy, unlocking vital new opportunities for growth, credit access, and cross-border trade,” said Folasade Femi-Lawal, country manager, West Africa at Mastercard
“This collaboration with Mastercard represents an important step forward in our commitment to removing barriers within the payments ecosystem. For years, TeamApt has focused on building infrastructure that helps financial institutions and businesses grow with confidence. By working closely with Mastercard, we are extending those capabilities, enabling businesses to accept payments more seamlessly and giving users the freedom to transact securely both locally and internationally,” said Dennis Ajalie, Chief Executive Officer of TeamApt.
The collaboration also delivers international value, enabling Mastercard cards supported by TeamApt’s infrastructure to be used across millions of merchant locations worldwide. Customers gain the convenience of secure global payments, while merchants can more easily serve both local and international customers.
A Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)-licensed switching and processing company, TeamApt has, for over a decade, built and operated critical financial infrastructure that powers banks, fintechs and other institutions. The company’s technology supports secure and reliable transaction processing across multiple payment channels, enabling businesses and consumers to participate more easily in the digital economy.
This collaboration further underscores the strength of Moniepoint’s ecosystem. With operations and agent coverage across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria, Moniepoint has established one of the nation’s most extensive financial services networks, positioning the group to drive meaningful scale and adoption of digital payment solutions.
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has issued an urgent directive requiring all capital market-regulated entities (CMREs) to immediately subscribe to Nigeria’s Sanctions (NigSac) Alerts system.
Effective immediately, failure to comply with this, or other AML/CFT regulations, may result in severe fines, suspension of operations, or revocation of registration.
This follows fresh designations by both local and international authorities of individuals and Bureau de Change operators for alleged direct involvement in terrorism financing and material support to the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP).
The directive, according to three circulars issued by the apex capital market regulator, requires a mandatory compliance measure with threats of fines, operational suspension, or outright registration revocation for non-compliance.
The directive, pursuant to the implementation of Financial Action Task Force (FATF) statements on high-risk jurisdictions, signals an escalation in Nigeria’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime.
The SEC’s broader circular implementing FATF high-risk jurisdiction statements reflects Nigeria’s heightened exposure to international scrutiny. SEC, in line with directives from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), now requires CMREs to terminate all correspondent banking relationships with listed high-risk jurisdictions, business entities and individuals.
“In line with the provisions of the Terrorism Prevention and Prohibition Act (TPPA), 2022, the Nigeria Sanctions Committee (NSC) has designated six (6) Individuals and three (3) Entities as terrorist financiers and subsequently added them to the Nigeria Sanctions List,” SEC stated in circular to all market operators.
The circular mandated all capital market regulated entities and individuals to do the following:
“Immediately, identify and freeze, without prior notice, all funds, assets, and any other economic resources belonging to the designated persons and entities in their possession and report same to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee;
“Report to the Secretariat of the Nigeria Sanctions Committee any assets frozen or actions taken in compliance with the designation, including attempted transactions;
“Immediately file a suspicious transactions report to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for further analysis on the financial activities;
“Report as a suspicious transactions report to the NFIU, all cases of name matching in financial transactions prior to or after receipt of this Sanctions List;
“Subsequently prohibit dealings with the designated persons and entities; and continue to check for transactions relating to the designated persons and entities and report findings to the Nigeria Sanctions Committee through [email protected]”, SEC stated.
“Take Note that at all times, any unusual or suspicious transactions shall be promptly reported to the NFIU,” SEC warned.
According to the capital market apex regulator, the circular takes immediate effect and failure to comply with the directives constitutes a violation of the Investments and Securities Act, 2025, and the SEC AML/CFT Rules and Regulations and such failure would attract appropriate regulatory sanctions, including fines, suspension of operations, or revocation of registration.
The directive implies that capital market operators should immediately audit their AML/CFT technology stacks to ensure NigSac Alerts subscription and automated flagging capability.
CMREs are required to file suspicious transactions reports with the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) for any name matching with designated individuals and entities, whether such matches occur pre- or post-transaction.
The obligation extends to reporting all funds frozen and actions taken in compliance with designations to the NSC Secretariat via [email protected].
The designations also create secondary compliance obligations: CMREs must now maintain watchlists that incorporate designations from both the NSC and US Treasury, as regulatory expectations implicitly track international sanctions coordination.
For institutional investors and fund managers, this translates to enhanced due diligence on counterparty relationships, particularly where transactions flow through informal financial infrastructure or jurisdictions flagged under FATF increased monitoring status.
The Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) has raised CHF350 million, about $430 million, through a five-year digital bond, marking a major step in the use of regulated digital financial infrastructure by an African institution.
The transaction is the first time an African institution has issued a digital bond that is listed, traded and settled on a regulated digital exchange. It is also the largest digital bond ever issued in the Swiss franc market, according to AFC.
The deal strengthens AFC’s access to international investors as the Lagos based development finance institution seeks to diversify its sources of funding and raise more long-term capital for infrastructure and industrial projects across Africa.
The bond carries a coupon of 1.4925 percent and forms part of AFC’s wider $500 million benchmark funding programme issued in June 2026. Despite a difficult global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, the transaction attracted strong investor demand.
AFC is rated A with a positive outlook by S&P Global Ratings and A3 with a stable outlook by Moody’s Ratings, giving the institution an investment grade profile in international debt markets.
Swiss investors accounted for about 90 percent of demand, while international investors made up the remaining 10 percent. Banks and other financial institutions accounted for 57 percent of the order book, followed by asset managers at 37 percent and hedge funds at 6 percent.
“This transaction is about far more than achieving competitive pricing. It marks another significant milestone in AFC’s funding journey and underscores the confidence global investors continue to place in our strategy, credit strength, and development impact,” Samaila Zubairu, President and Chief Executive Officer of AFC, said.
Zubairu said continued diversification and innovation in AFC’s funding strategy would be important to mobilising the long term capital needed to support Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation.
The transaction is AFC’s fourth and largest Swiss franc denominated issuance. It follows a CHF150 million green bond issued in 2020, which was the corporation’s first green bond transaction.
Banji Fehintola, Executive Board Member and Head of Financial Services at AFC, described the latest issuance as an important milestone for the corporation’s funding programme.
“Pricing the largest digital bond ever issued in the Swiss Franc market reflects not only the strength of AFC’s credit but the depth of trust that Swiss and international investors have placed in our strategy over time,” Fehintola said.
The bond was issued under AFC’s $5 billion Global Medium Term Note Programme and is structured as a tokenised security using distributed ledger technology. Ownership is recorded on a regulated digital register, while settlement takes place through regulated digital market infrastructure.
The notes are listed and admitted for trading on the SIX Swiss Exchange and deposited with SIX Digital Exchange. Clearing and settlement are handled through SIX SIS AG.
The structure gives AFC access to an alternative form of capital markets infrastructure while showing how distributed ledger technology can be used in institutional debt markets under established regulatory standards.
The proceeds will be used for AFC’s general funding needs, supporting its capacity to finance infrastructure and industrial projects across Africa.
Commerzbank AG acted as technical lead for the transaction, while Deutsche Bank AG London Branch, through its Zurich branch, also participated in arranging the deal.
For AFC, the issuance adds to a series of capital markets transactions designed to broaden its funding base and reduce dependence on a narrow group of financing sources.
The strong demand also points to continued investor appetite for African development finance institutions with established credit profiles, particularly those capable of accessing international markets while using new financial technology within regulated frameworks.
Airtel Nigeria Adds Over 1,000Cell Sites in Nationwide Expansion to Surpasses 17,000
MacOS Users Report More Cyber Threats than Windows Users – Survey Reveals
Mastercard, TeamApt Collaborate to Expand Digital Payments Across Africa
Access Holdings Sets New Benchmark in Nigeria’s Finance Talent Pipeline
Anambra Seeks Digital Inclusion in Rural Communities
EFCC Busts NIS Visa Overstay Racket, Uncovers N700m in an Account
Fact-Check: Elon Musk’s “Tesla Pi Phone” is Internet Rumor
NBC Tasks Broadcasting Stations over 2028 DSO Global Deadline
NBC Scraps Annual Digital Access Fee on DSO
Glo Sponsored African Voices to Feature Netflix’s “The Polygamist” Stars
Telecom2 days agoipNX Joins Calls for Innovation-Friendly Ecosystem and Stronger Local Opportunities at Regenesys AI Summit
E-Business2 days agoNDPC Probes UNILAG, Lotus Bank, Hackerbella over Alleged Students’ Data Misuse
E-Financial2 days agoKudiWave Asks for Clarification over N750m Transfer from PalmPay Account
News2 days agoPalmPay Reinforces Commitment to Youth Empowerment on International Youth Day
Telecom2 days agoNCC Reports over 5,000 Fibre Cuts in 6 Months
Telecom2 days agoGoogle Selects Six Nigerian News Creators for Emerging Voices Growth Lab
E-Financial2 days agoNigerians Borrow More to Buy Homes as Mortgage Demand Climbs – CBN
General News2 days agoNUPRC Warns of Counterfeit, AI-Generated Appointment Letters