E-Financial
BoI Strategises to Increase SMEs’ Access to Loans

Worried by inability of SMEs to access its loans as a result of badly presented applications, the Bank of Industry (BoI), at the weekend unfolded plans to partner Business Support firms (BSFs) to drive its intervention agenda in the small and medium enterprises sector.
Besides, the bank also expressed its resolve to explore new funding alternatives in a bid to realise its mandates, following the pressure, which has continued to mount on government’s resources in terms of financing.
The bank noted that it was seeking new funds to make impactful contributions to Federal Government’s National Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) as well as serve the underserved, particularly the small and medium enterprises.
Addressing journalists in Lagos, Rasheed Olaoluwa, managing director, BoI, noted that the bank was developing strategies to improve stakeholders’ access to funds.
“BoI is trying to achieve a balance in its functions as a development finance institution in terms of delivering social impact and maintaining a sustainable loan infrastructure.
“We have met with Business Support Firms to address the large percentage of substandard loan applications as we have discovered that a good way out is to engage with BSFs who will receive the applications and help review them as they better understand how a bankable proposal should look like,” he said.
He added that the SME sector would receive adequate attention from the development bank and their funding challenges addressed through concrete and visible steps.
“Although we are confident that key shareholders in the NIRP initiative like the Ministry of Finance Incorporated and the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, will continue to support the bank with some equity injection, but considering the fact that there is a lot of demand on government’s resources, we are exploring alternative modes of funding such as continuation of sector specific intervention funds by the CBN, Ministry of Agriculture, Solid Minerals and others; managed funds from various state governments and foundations; long-term loans at very low interest rates from multi-lateral/international development institutions,” he said.
He added that BoI would also explore domestic and international bond issuance and other sustainable annuity sources that may become statutorily imperative in the medium to long term.
He disclosed that in pursuance of the success of President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda, a major focal point of the bank was to help promote employment generation and wealth creation through access to development funds.
“We have met with Business Support Firms BSFs to address the large percentage of substandard loan applications as we have discovered that a good way out is to engage with BSFs who will receive the applications and help review them as they better understand how a bankable proposal should look like,” he said.
“As you are aware, our Honourable Minister in the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga, is leading the efforts to industrialise Nigeria and to create millions of jobs in the process. At BoI, we’re passionate about these objectives,” he said.
He said that he had also met and discussed with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina on issues relating to the various agricultural development funds managed by BoI as part of the minister’s efforts to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
“We are in agreement that there is room for wider collaboration between his ministry and BoI, especially in the area of financing the agricultural value chain,” he said.
He unfolded the bank’s agenda to pursue good corporate governance; sharp focus on its core mandate; sound risk management and compliance; venture capital investments; partnerships and collaborations; customer service responsiveness and create linkages between innovation and industry.
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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