E-Financial
Sterling Bank Unveils Free Banking Services for NGOs

Sterling Bank Plc has unveiled Sterling CARES, a free banking service for non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to empower non-profit organisations across the country.

This was disclosed in a statement by the Chief Executive Officer of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs Olapeju Ibekwe, said in Lagos.
Ibekwe said the unveiling was in partnership between Sterling One Foundation and the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), to mark World International Day of Charity.
According to her, the new product will allow NGOs to operate their corporate accounts without transaction charges, except for SMS notification charges.
She said that the International Day of Charity provides an excellent opportunity to publicly support the social impact and philanthropic activities of charitable institutions via fee-free solution.
Ibekwe said: “Sterling CARES is open only to NGOs, legal entities operating for a social benefit.
” It is introduced to help them keep costs down at this challenging time when their work and support is needed now more than ever by people with a low socio-economic background.
“The product is exclusive to non-profit organisations who are the primary foot soldiers working to attain the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) for all.
“It is not open to religiously shaped institutions, cooperative societies, schools, and associations.
“We recognise that non-profits like us help lots of people who are struggling to make ends meet through donations and various interventions. However, funding is one of the leading challenges currently facing the NGOs,” she said.
Ibekwe, therefore, urged NGOs in the country to take advantage of the novel Sterling CARES account to keep costs low.
According to her, alternative sources of income, charitable contributions, and funding for thei, no thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Divisional Head, Retail and Consumer Banking, Mr Shina Atilola stressed that Sterling Bank had always prioritised enabling social impact in its business operations.
Atilola added that the solution was bespoke to bridge the funding gap for non-profits while helping to deliver a customer-centric solution to this unique customer base.
“They can now bring their banking cost down and do more with the savings from account maintenance fees and transactions related charges.
“Additional benefits include access to a full bouquet of online banking services and a donation link on the website of nonprofits for receiving local and international transfers,” he added.
The Executive Director, Nigeria Network of NGOs, Mr Oyebisi Oluseyi said the non-profit membership body was delighted to receive the news of the introduction of Sterling CARES and its benefits.
“This novel product is a declaration of support by the Bank and Foundation for those committed to social impact work and the attainment of the SDG in Nigeria.
“This will go a long way in further increasing both the social and economic impact of Nigerian nonprofits while contributing to the good work non-profit organisations do across the country in the areas of environment, human rights among others”, he stated.
E-Financial
Flutterwave Rises from Lagos Startup to Africa’s Fintech Powerhouse

Flutterwave has transformed from a modest Lagos venture into one of Africa’s most valuable fintech firms, processing billions in transactions yearly across 30+ countries and 150+ currencies.

Flutterwave
Founded in 2016 by Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, Olugbenga “GB” Agboola, and Adeleke Adekoya, it tackled Africa’s fragmented payments—siloed banks, mobile money gaps, and unreliable cross-border flows—with a unified API for seamless collections, payouts, and settlements.
Founding Vision
The trio spotted the pain: Aboyeji’s Andela faced border delays; Agboola drew from PayPal/Google; Adekoya handled compliance. Early wins included Uber Nigeria payouts from a Lekki co-working space, proving scalability amid lean ops.
Growth Milestones
2017–2020: $10M seed/Series A fueled West Africa push; Agboola took CEO helm post-Aboyeji; COVID boosted e-commerce volumes.
2021–2022: Unicorn at $1B+ (Series C, $170M); $3B+ valuation (Series D, $250M); partnerships with Microsoft, Uber; Send App for US diaspora.
2025–2026: Profitability focus yields better margins; 34 US licenses; Mono acquisition ($25–40M) bolsters open banking.
Challenges Overcome
Regulatory hurdles hit: Kenya 2022 freeze (cleared); Nigeria fraud claims (resolved, controls enhanced); culture probes led to reforms with ex-Mastercard/Stripe hires. These underscore multi-jurisdiction risks like FX curbs and cyber threats.
Nigeria’s Fintech Role
Flutterwave anchors alongside Paystack (Stripe-owned), Moniepoint, amid CBN cash curbs and AfCFTA trade boosts. Dual HQ in Lagos/SF eyes IPO post-profitability, cementing it as Africa’s payments backbone.
E-Financial
CIBN Pledges Full Support to New ACAMB Leadership, Backs Ambitious Roadmap

Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has pledged its full support to the Association of Corporate and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) following a high-level strategic meeting between the leadership of both bodies.

New ACAMB Leadership
The high profile meeting, which took place on Tuesday at the CIBN Building, Lagos, served as a formal introduction of the new ACAMB Executive Committee to the CIBN leadership and marked the beginning of a renewed collaborative alliance.
Leading a delegation of the newly inaugurated ACAMB EXCO and Board of Trustees, the President, Jide Sipe, described the visit as a crucial first step in his tenure, aimed at contributing significantly in giving flight to his vision and that of ACAMB.”
“When we assumed office, one of the first things we agreed on was the need to visit key stakeholders”
“However, before reaching out more broadly, we felt it was important to begin with our primary constituency and core stakeholders. We want them to understand the direction we are taking and to support the work we are doing, so that ACAMB can achieve greater success than it has in the past”
“We couldn’t have properly started our tenure without this very important meeting with the CIBN,” Sipe stated
Sipe introduced the newly constituted ACAMB Exco, which includes, the 2nd Vice President, Morolake Phillip-Ladipo; General Secretary, Olugbenga Owootomo, Assistant General Secretary, Ademola Adeshola; Publicity Secretary, Abiodun Coker, and Executive Secretary, Fadekemi Ajakaiye
During his address, Sipe unveiled an ambitious roadmap for the association, highlighting a new direction focused on youth engagement, professional development, and industry advocacy.
Responding, the CIBN President, Professor Pius Deji Olanrewaju, who warmly received the ACAMB team, commended their forward-thinking vision as he noted that, the association would be focusing on critical areas such as reputational management, sustainable corporate practices, and governance reforms
Olarenwaju also commended ACAMB’s collaboration with CIBN in information management, saying it had raised standards across Nigeria’s banking sector.
“ACAMB’s support has given CIBN and the banking sector brand equity,” he said, praising the association’s record in reputation management.
He recalled ACAMB’s role in addressing crises within the sector, describing the partnership as strategic and beneficial.
He further pledged support for ACAMB’s 30th anniversary in September 2026, its AGM, and other programmes, including fundraising initiatives.
Olarenwaju also promised backing for ACAMB’s capability development and undergraduate mentorship schemes.
“I want to assure you that everything you have presented today has been clearly noted and will be acted upon”
“We are fully committed to working closely with you so as to translate these discussions and vision into measurable progress. Our shared goal is to strengthen the sector, protect its reputation, and enhance its public image in a meaningful and lasting way”
“This meeting discussed various initiatives and reforms crucial for the future of our industry, including the need for continuous training and adaptation to new programs,” Prof. Olanrewaju said.
The meeting concluded on a high note, with both parties expressing gratitude and a firm commitment to deepening their collaboration for the advancement of the banking industry in Nigeria.
E-Financial
Kuda Bank Teams Up with Lovers & Frnds for Inclusive Valentine’s R&B Bash

Kuda Microfinance Bank partnered with Lovers & Frnds for a Valentine’s edition event on Sunday, February 15, at Space Hub Lekki, Lagos, redefining celebrations around love, friendship, and social connections beyond romance.

Kuda Bank
The R&B-themed gathering drew couples, friend groups, and solo attendees with music sets from DJs like TGarbs, games, gift exchanges, and colour-coded tags—red for relationships, yellow for mingling singles, orange for non-minglers—to spark easy interactions.
Kuda activated a branded photo booth, merchandise giveaways, prize activities, and complimentary drinks for Premium loyalty tier customers, while vendors used Kuda Business POS terminals for seamless cashless payments.
Senior Brand Manager Emmanuel Femi-Adejobi said: “We partner with experiences matching our customers’ lifestyles in music and entertainment, creating spaces they genuinely connect with—we’ll keep supporting how they live and celebrate.”
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