E-Financial
AfDB Moves Towards Continental Integration

Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, president of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), received his copy of the African Passport in Abidjan yesterday hailing the occasion as a clear signal of Africa’s move toward integration.
“It is such a delight to be able to have an African Passport,” Adesina said, noting that it is a recognition of the critical role played by the AfDB and other African institutions that are linked to the African Union.
Noting that most Africans require visas to travel to at least 38 countries on the continent, Adesina says the move is an economic decision to break the walls that separate African peoples, making it impossible to carry out socio-economic activities. “It will reduce the cost of doing business on the continent,” he added.
Adesina, who recounted an incident in which he was detained overnight at an African airport for lack of visa, said, “Africa is home to Africans and when one is at home, one should be able to move around one’s home.” “This is an indication to me that all the walls that separate us will go down,” he said.
Until now, and contrary to the practice in other continents, non-Africans find it easier to move around the continent than Africans themselves do.
Speaking earlier after presenting the Passport on behalf of the African Union Chairperson, AfDB Secretary-General and former AU legal affairs Director, Vincent Nmhielle, said that the passport is part of the African Union’s 2063 agenda for “a continent with Seamless borders.”
He said the passport which comes in three versions – Diplomatic, (red), Administration (Blue) and Ordinary (green) is being issues to heads of state and staff of African institutions to enable them travel around the continent “on short notice.” “The travel document will eventually be issued to all Africans who apply for it,” he said.
So far, Seychelles, Mauritius and Rwanda have open visa policies.
The Africa Visa Openness Report 2016 published by the AfDB and the AU shows on average Africans need visas to travel to 55% of other African countries, can get visas on arrival in only 25% of other countries and don’t need a visa to travel to just 20% of other countries on the continent.
E-Financial
Kuda Microfinance Bank Releases ‘My Year on Kuda’ 2025 Financial Recap

Kuda Microfinance Bank has unveiled the 2025 edition of “My Year on Kuda,” its annual recap providing customers with personalised insights into their spending, saving, and money management habits from the previous year.

Kuda Microfinance Bank
The tool analyses transaction data across categories like transfers, card payments, online purchases, and bills, revealing patterns such as highest-spending months, biggest payments, saving frequency, and savings from Kuda’s 25 free monthly transfers. Customers can compare 2025 activity against 2024, including income versus expenditure.
In an era of inflation and economic uncertainty, the recap promotes financial literacy by highlighting responsible borrowing via Kuda Overdraft usage, including access frequency, amounts borrowed, and repayment patterns.
Customer-shared screenshots on X reflect national trends: Nigeria recorded over 2.2 billion electronic transactions worth ₦285 trillion in Q1 2025, up 20 percent year-on-year, with POS terminals driving the shift to cashless commerce.
Kuda Group CEO Babs Ogundeyi, in the recap’s opening video, urged users: “Before you carry on with January, this is the perfect time to see everything you did with your money on Kuda last year and learn something.”
The feature underscores Kuda’s focus on actionable insights to help Nigerians navigate evolving personal finance amid shifting earning and spending behaviours.
E-Financial
Wema Bank Launches SAW AI Voice Assistant for Seamless Banking on ALAT 2.0

Wema Bank has introduced SAW, a new AI voice assistant integrated into the ALAT 2.0 app, allowing customers to manage finances through natural voice commands similar to Siri, Bixby, or Alexa.

Wema Bank
SAW understands everyday language and delivers instant responses tailored to banking needs, such as checking account balances, transferring money, reviewing transactions, and accessing support.
This feature brings conversational banking to Nigerian users, eliminating complexity and enhancing accessibility.
The bank positions SAW as a pioneer in AI-powered financial services, aligning with global trends where millions interact daily with voice assistants for tasks like setting reminders or playing music.
ALAT 2.0 represents the next evolution in digital banking, making services more efficient, personal, and human-like for everyday Nigerians.
E-Financial
Ecobank Offsets Repayment of $300m Eurobond Notes

Ecobank Nigeria Limited has fully repaid bondholders who validly tendered their notes ahead of the February 2026 maturity date.

The bank announced the successful completion of its tender offer, under which it prepaid approximately $245 million of its $300 million Eurobond, representing more than 80 per cent of the total issuance.
According to a statement, the transaction relates to the 7.125 per cent Senior Note Participation Notes due February 2026.
Ecobank Nigeria Limited said it launched a tender offer to eligible noteholders in respect of the outstanding $150 million on the bond on November 27, 2025, providing them with an opportunity to redeem their holdings ahead of the original maturity date of 16 February 2026.
It stated that the early and late tender participation deadlines were 11 December 2025 and 29 December 2025, respectively.
According to the bank, holders of notes validly tendered and accepted received a cash consideration of $1,000 per $1,000 in principal amount, in addition to accrued interest from the last interest payment date up to, but excluding, the final settlement date of 31 December 2025.
Following completion of the offer, the bank said the outstanding principal amount of the notes has been reduced to approximately $55.092 million.
The bank also stated that the initiative reflects Ecobank Nigeria’s proactive approach to liability management and prudent balance sheet optimisation.
The tender offer was conducted with Renaissance Capital Africa (Renaissance Securities Nigeria Limited) acting as financial adviser and dealer manager, while Sodali & Co Limited served as tender agent.
The notes were originally issued by EBN Finance Company B.V., with limited recourse to the issuer, for the sole purpose of financing the purchase of the $300 million 7.125 per cent Senior Note due 2026 issued by Ecobank Nigeria Limited.
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