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Have What it Takes to Practice Universal Banking.

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The guideline went further to state the various other activities like market activities, such as underwriting/issuing house activities and insurance services. With particular respect to insurance activities, the guideline specified the insurance services as, agency services, brokerage services underwriting services, loss adjusting services, underwriting services and re-insurance services.
Banks may provide insurance marketing services while they may provide underwriting services and re-insurance services indirectly through a subsidiary or an associated company. Banks can therefore undertake insurance services as specified under the insurance guidelines.
According to Adejumo, the regulations issued for banks that may wish to engage in insurance business under universal banking varied.
The guideline stated that an insurance subsidiary of a bank shall comply with the capitalization requirements under the Insurance Decree 2 of 1997 and any subsequent amendments all insurance activities wherever they occur shall be licensed and regulated by the National Insurance Commission {NAICOM} and subject to the provisions of the Insurance Decree of 1997 or such other insurance laws as may be enacted.
An insurance policy should not be rejected solely because the policy has been issued or underwritten by a person not associated with the bank when such insurance is required in connection with a loan or extension of credit. A debtor, insurer, or insurance agent or broker must not pay a separate charge for the handling of insurance that is required in connection with a loan unless such is required when the bank’s affiliate is the licensed insurance agent or broker providing the insurance.
There should be no payment or receipt of any commission or brokerage fee for services rendered as a broker or agent unless such a person is properly licensed by NAICOM.
A bank shall not release any insurance information about a customer to any person other than an employee, agent, subsidiary, or affiliate of a bank for the purpose of soliciting or selling insurance without the consent of the customer. A bank shall not use health information obtained from the insurance records of customers for any purpose, without the customer’s consent except for activities as licensed insurance agent or brokers. A bank shall not insist, for extension of credit, on the condition that the customer obtains insurance from the bank’s affiliate/associate or a particular insurer, agent, or a broker, but must inform the customer or prospective customer that insurance is required in order to obtain a loan, and that approval of a loan is contingent upon the customer obtaining insurance, or that insurance is available from the institution.
The guideline added that banks shall not require that, when a customer’s application for a loan is pending and insurance is offered to the customer or it is required in connection with the loan that a written disclosure is provided to the customer. Such as indicating that his choice of an insurance provider will not affect the credit decision or credit terms except that the bank may impose reasonable requirements concerning the credit worthiness of the insurance provider and scope of coverage.
It stated further that the bank shall clearly and conspicuously disclose to the customer, prior to the sale of any insurance policy, that such policy is not a deposit, insured by the NDIC, guaranteed by the bank and an investment, credit and insurance transactions should be completed through separate documents when a customer obtains insurance and credit from a bank. An insurance company shall not transfer its funds to a bank which is either its holding or associated company without clearance from NAICOM except for the purpose of investment.
A bank shall not issue instructions to its insurance subsidiary or associate that will affect the insurance funds adversely or commit insurance funds to a purpose outside insurance, except dividends declared. A bank shall not include the expenses of insurance premiums in the primary credit transaction without the customer’s consent, where the customer obtains insurance and credit from a bank.
It added that banks shall be required to maintain separate and distinct records relating to insurance transactions and such records should be made available to the appropriate regulators. Also, banks should also disclose specifically among other things earnings from insurance activities in their published accounts. However the on- going reforms in the industry may further modify the current trend as banking specializations, as being proposed may lead to a narrower business horizon. But by and large banks and insurance are closely related and if insurance must deliver on set agenda, it should align with global economic trends.


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Pawnith Appoints Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director to Lead Strategic Launch into Nigeria’s Fintech Ecosystem

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The Board of Directors of Pawnith Limited has announced the appointment of Martina Ogbebor as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. The appointment coincides with the official launch of Pawnith as a sophisticated new entrant in Nigeria’s financial services and alternative investment landscape.

Pawnith Limited is a technology-enabled financial services platform established to address critical gaps in access to capital by delivering transparent, dignified, and scalable financing solutions.

The Board confirmed that Ms. Ogbebor’s appointment is central to a long-term strategy that combines the operational rigor of traditional finance with the speed, efficiency, and innovation of modern fintech.

Ms. Ogbebor brings over 15 years of senior leadership experience across the telecommunications and digital infrastructure sectors, where she has led brand transformations and nationwide revenue growth initiatives.

Her appointment signals Pawnith’s intent to build a high-trust financial institution anchored on strong governance, regulatory discipline, and long-term value creation.

“The Board is confident that Martina’s experience in building high-trust, regulated brands positions her uniquely to lead Pawnith at this critical stage,” said the Chairman of the Board.

“Her mandate is clear: to establish a disciplined capital platform that delivers rapid access to funding while upholding the highest standards of ethics, risk management, and corporate governance.”

Under Ms. Ogbebor’s leadership, Pawnith is launching a multi-segment capital model designed to evolve into a comprehensive financial services and alternative investment ecosystem.

The company’s initial portfolio spans personal credit solutions, offering short- to medium-term loans for salaried professionals with transparent pricing and rapid disbursement, alongside SME and business lending focused on working capital and growth financing to help entrepreneurs stabilise cash flow and scale operations.

The portfolio also includes asset-backed lending, providing secure, collateralised facilities that support fair valuations and flexible liquidity, as well as structured lending through a forthcoming private credit arm aimed at delivering institutional-grade financing to growing enterprises.

In addition, Pawnith offers private equity investment solutions, providing strategic growth capital to select businesses and partnering with founders to drive long-term value creation, stronger governance, and operational scale.

Pawnith’s digital infrastructure prioritises speed, security, and control. The platform features secure onboarding, automated Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, and structured repayment tracking to ensure a seamless and compliant experience for both individual and corporate clients.

“Pawnith is being built as a disciplined financial platform—one that customers, partners, and regulators can trust,” the Board added. “We are not a quick-win lender; we are building a cornerstone institution for Nigeria’s evolving credit and investment market.”

 


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PalmPay Deepens Its Long-Term Commitment in Nigeria with New Office @ Yaba

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PalmPay has opened a new office at 33 Old Yaba Road, Lagos, reinforcing its commitment to innovation, customer service, and operational growth in Nigeria.

The new office represents a continued investment in PalmPay’s people, operations, and infrastructure, supporting the company’s ability to deliver reliable financial services at scale. Designed to accommodate PalmPay’s growing team, the workspace enables closer cross-functional collaboration while strengthening service delivery nationwide. Located in Yaba, one of Lagos’s most established commercial and technology corridors, the office further anchors PalmPay within Nigeria’s innovation and financial ecosystem.

Speaking at the office launch, Managing Director Chika Nwosu highlighted that the new workspace reflects PalmPay’s long-term vision and dedication to excellence. “This new office represents an important step in our growth journey and our commitment to building secure, reliable, and inclusive financial solutions for our users,” he said.

The launch event was attended by PalmPay’s leadership team, employees and customers, who toured the facility and marked the company’s continued growth and progress.

With the opening of its office at 33 Old Yaba Road, PalmPay continues to strengthen its presence in Nigeria and reaffirm its mission to drive financial inclusion through innovative digital solutions.

PalmPay is a leading digital banking platform driving financial inclusion and economic empowerment in underserved emerging markets. Through its secure, user-friendly, and inclusive suite of financial services, PalmPay empowers individuals and businesses with tools to manage and grow their money.

PalmPay offers a comprehensive range of products, including mobile payments, savings, and micro-insurance via its app and mobile money agent network.

Since launching in Nigeria in 2019 under a Mobile Money Operator license, the platform has grown to over 35 million app users and processes up to 15 million transactions daily. PalmPay has operations in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Bangladesh.


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NAHCO Signs New Ground Handling Deals

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The Nigerian Aviation Handling Company Plc has announced the signing of a chain of contracts with major airlines for the provision of total handling solutions.

In a statement on Tuesday, the company announced the signing of contract renewals with Air France, KLM and Virgin Atlantic, as well as the African operator, RwandAir.

NAHCO also signed fresh contracts with United Nigeria – Regional, Bellagio and Malaikair.

According to the statement, the contracts with Air France and KLM are for three years and will run till 2028, respectively. The duration of the contract with Virgin Atlantic was also put at three years.

The duration for the RwandAir contract is for three years, effective 1 October 2025.

The statement read, “The new contract with United – Regional would be for a period of five years, effective from 1 August 2025. For Bellagio and Malaikair, the contracts are for three and five years, respectively.

“Bellagio Air, Nigeria’s rising star in aviation, is redefining air travel with a blend of luxury, efficiency, and reliability. Headquartered in the vibrant city of Ikeja, Lagos, Bellagio Air is committed to providing world-class service across key domestic and regional routes.”

The Group Executive Director, Commercial and Business Development, NAHCO Plc, Saheed Lasisi, who expressed his delight with the new contracts, said NAHCO is already ready to exceed customers’ expectations.

According to Lasisi, NAHCO’s more than 46 years of unblemished excellent service delivery puts it heads and shoulders above any other service provider in the industry.

“This is what we have been doing for almost half of a century. We will continue to delight our customers and make our stakeholders happy by exceeding expectations in all aspects of our service offerings. We are always willing and ready to do more,” Lasisi added.

The Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, NAHCO Plc, Olumuyiwa Olumekun, added that with the new fleet of equipment the company is deploying, service delivery will only be better.

 


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