E-Financial
AfDB Unveils Online Platform for Advancement of Gender Equality in Africa

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched the Gender in Practice Community of Practice (GiP COP), an online resource that seeks to promote information and knowledge sharing on gender equality.
The event took place on September 28, 2016 at the Bank’s headquarters in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.
The GiP CoP will operate as a “community of commitments”, as it formed around shared commitments to advance gender equality within the Bank and across Africa.
It will serve as a virtual learning platform, a convener and an integrator of knowledge among Gender Focal Points and gender experts. In addition, it will provide space for members to meet and exchange ideas on how to effectively integrate gender mainstreaming in their work, and promote gender equality in their professional and personal lives.
Unveiling the platform, Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi, AfDB’s Special Envoy on Gender emphasised the importance of information and knowledge sharing, noting that “the road to knowledge is via people, conversations, connections and relationships.”
She added: “It is critical to innovate and become knowledge seeking especially at this time when the Bank is rolling out its High Five strategies and new ways of doing business.” Fraser-Moleketi called on members of the community to enliven it through active participation.
The GiP CoP aims to become a One-Stop-Shop that enables all its members to access information that will make them more effective in delivering on their functions, whilst at the same time facilitating linkages and networking, virtual information sharing, and face to face events specifically tailored for members. The experiences and lessons gathered from the forum will be codified and published into short knowledge pieces for dissemination.
The Community is hosted on http://genderinpractice.afdb.org/ and has various features including e-discussions, webinars, a bulletin board, and a query system. The Platform also features community news, announcements and resources on gender for ease of reference by members. Through the query system for instance, members can post questions or request ideas on projects/documents that they are working on, and receive inputs from other members. The online discussions enable members to contribute ideas on specific challenges which are of relevance to the Bank and the continent.
The first online discussion will be launched in October 2016, and will address the issue of gender and energy.
E-Financial
CBN Suspends Dividend, Bonus Payments for Banks under Forbearance

Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has suspended dividend payments to shareholders and bonuses to directors and senior management staff of banks currently benefiting from regulatory forbearance.
Forbearance refers to the temporary reduction or postponement of payments, such as for loans or mortgages, usually introduced to give temporary relief to individuals, and corporations, including financial institutions encumbered by financial straits.
The directive was contained in a circular dated June 13, signed by Olubukola Akinwunmi, director of Banking Supervision, CBN.
According to the CBN, the move is part of efforts to strengthen capital buffers, enhance balance sheet resilience and promote prudent internal capital retention within the banking sector during what it described as a transitional period.
The regulatory forbearance arrangement, which allows banks some relief in meeting credit exposure and Single Obligor Limit (SOL) requirements, is currently being reviewed by the central bank in terms of capital positions and provisioning adequacy.
As part of this review, the CBN directed affected banks to suspend dividend payments, defer bonuses, and refrain from making investments in foreign subsidiaries or launching new offshore ventures.
“This temporary suspension is until such a time as the regulatory forbearance is fully exited and the banks’ capital adequacy and provisioning levels are independently verified to be fully compliant with prevailing standards,” the CBN said.
The bank added that the measure is to ensure that internal resources are retained to meet existing and future obligations and support “the orderly restoration of sound prudential positions.”
The CBN also said it will continue to monitor developments and engage with institutions as necessary.
The move comes amid efforts to tighten supervision across the financial system following recent banking sector reforms and recapitalisation directives.
E-Financial
Fidelity Bank ED, Kevin Ugwuoke takes over as President of Risk Managers Association

Kevin Ugwuoke, Executive Director and Chief Risk Officer of Fidelity Bank Plc, has formally assumed office as President of the Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI).

L-R: Registrar/Chief Executive, Chartered Risk Management Institute of Nigeria (CRMI), Victor Olannye; Divisional Head, Risk Management Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Grace Abioye; Immediate Past President, CRMI, Ezekiel Oseni; President, CRMI and Executive Director/Chief Risk Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Kevin Ugwuoke; Director, Enterprise Risk Management, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Amal Haruna; and Rep. Keynote speaker, Deputy Group Management Director, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Chukwuma Nweke; at the CRMI Conferment Handover/Sent-Forth ceremony, held in Lagos recently.
His leadership promises a reform-focused era anchored on policy advocacy, ethical standards, and digital innovation to deepen risk governance across sectors in the country.
Speaking during the presidential handover ceremony in Lagos over the weekend, Ugwuoke — who also doubles as acting President of the Federation of African Risk Management Associations (FARMA) — described his election as “a call to action.”
He pledged to reposition CRMI as a thought leader and institutional partner in shaping the future of risk management in Nigeria’s national development.
“Our mission is more than just certification; it’s about strengthening the culture of risk governance across sectors. We will collaborate with regulators, raise awareness, and provide practical tools to help organizations embed risk discipline at all levels.”
Ugwuoke outlined a five-pronged strategy to guide his administration: strengthening professional education and certification; deepening policy and regulatory engagement; accelerating digital transformation; integrating ESG and climate risk into corporate strategies; and mentoring the next generation of risk practitioners.
He explained that CRMI will align its initiatives with key policy institutions — including the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, the National Assembly, and sub-national governments — to help embed robust risk frameworks into economic development plans.
“We must integrate risk thinking into how we plan, govern, and invest. We will advocate for more inclusive regulations to empower small and medium enterprises, improve macroeconomic stability, and foster institutional resilience.”
Ugwuoke also announced plans to revise the Institute’s curriculum, introduce specialized certifications to reflect emerging risks, and implement a new National Risk Observatory to provide real-time risk data to both the public and private sectors.
“Digital innovation will be central to how CRMI operates going forward. We are automating our backend, delivering more virtual training, and employing technology to scale our impact across the country and beyond.”
In his remarks, the outgoing President of CRMI, Ezekiel Oseni, challenged the new leadership to consolidate on the achievements made under his tenure — from securing chartered status and strengthening partnerships to gaining greater international recognition — and take the Institute to the next level.
Also speaking on the occasion, Chukwuma Nweke, deputy managing director of United Bank for Africa (UBA), delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Group Managing Director, Oliver Alawuba, described Ugwuoke as a worthy successor.
“As Professor Oseni hands over the baton to Kevin Ugwuoke — a well-respected leader in the risk management ecosystem — we are assured CRMI is poised for greater achievements under his watch.”
Nweke stressed that growing economic uncertainties — from inflation and exchange rate volatility to growing debt — underscore the need for a more strategic view of risk. “Risk must be recognized not as a compliance obligation or a cost center but as a key enabler of resiliency and growth. Institutions that embed risk into their strategies will absorb shocks more effectively, unlock value, and inspire investor confidence.”
As part of the day’s ceremonies, 11 distinguished practitioners were conferred with the Fellow of Chartered Risk Manager (FCRMI) award, while 21 new members were formally inducted as Chartered Risk Managers (CRM). Furthermore, a new Governing Council was inaugurated to oversee the affairs of the Institute for the 2025–2027 term, marking a decisive step forward in institutional renewal and policy direction.
E-Financial
Sterling Bank Pledges ₦2bn to Fully Fund University Scholarships

Sterling Bank has launched a ₦2 billion scholarship initiative to support Nigerian students in private universities. The program, Beyond Education, was unveiled on Democracy Day and aims to remove financial barriers to higher learning.
The bank will fully sponsor 600 students from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT to study Technology, Finance, Sales, and Public Health at Miva University, founded by Sim Shagaya. The selection process is merit-based, with candidates nominated by themselves or others, and final selection determined through public voting open to Sterling account holders.
Sterling Bank’s CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, described the initiative as an investment in Nigeria’s future, aligning with the bank’s commitment to Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. The bank has already deployed over half a trillion naira in financing across these sectors.
According to Obinna Ukachukwu, Growth Executive at Sterling Bank, the program is about creating opportunities beyond education. The bank is shifting from short-term philanthropy to long-term ecosystem development, with investments in digitized healthcare, school financing, agricultural cooperatives, solar energy, and transport systems.
“Nigeria’s progress requires action,” Suleiman said. “We are funding the future architects of the country—those who will build the businesses, institutions, and innovations needed for national prosperity.”
Nominations for the Beyond Education scholarships are now open at www.sterling.ng/FUTURE. The initiative sets a precedent for private-sector-driven education investment, where success is measured not just in profit, but in people empowered.
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