Fidelity Bank Plc has reinforced its commitment to community safety and sustainable ecological practices through the donation of essential firefighting and preventive equipment including hoses and gasoline water pumps to the Ikoyi Fire Service Station in Lagos.

L-R: Lagos State Controller, Federal Fire Service, CF (Controller of Fire), Adebayo Funke; Tolulope Rojaiye, Marketing Business Partner, Fidelity Bank Plc; Assistant Superintendent of Fire, Ishola Folorunsho Olufemi; and Station Commander, Onikan Fire Station, Lagos, Okeke Ferdinand; during the donation of firefighting equipment to the Federal Fire Service at Ikoyi, Lagos, recently.

The donation was made under the Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP) by the True Serve team, reaffirming the Bank’s commitment to the environment and community safety. Through the FHHP, members of staff identify areas of critical community needs, raise funds, and then receive matching monetary support from the bank to execute the projects.

Commenting on the reason behind the donation, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Meksley Nwagboh, emphasized that the donation reflects the bank’s dedication to strengthening emergency response capabilities and promoting public safety within the communities it serves.

According to him, “Fidelity Bank remains committed to supporting initiatives that contribute to the protection of our environment, lives and property. We see community safety as a shared responsibility and continuously extend support to both corporate bodies and individuals.”

Dr Nwagboh further noted that, “We believe that preventive measures are far more effective than reactionary responses. This donation is part of our efforts to drive sustainable practices by providing the necessary tools. Our goal is to ensure that people live meaningful, safe, and empowered lives.”

In her comments, Lagos State Controller, Federal Fire Service and Controller of Fire (CF), Funke Adebayo commended Fidelity Bank for the timely support, while cautioning residents to exercise heightened vigilance during the festive period, especially with the dry weather conditions.

“We appreciate Fidelity Bank for this timely donation. We are in a harsh weather period where fire incidents can escalate quickly. Parents must educate and caution children against the use of fireworks during celebrations. Fire should never be treated carelessly,” Adebayo said.

She noted that the Fire Service has embarked on sensitization visits to various corporate organizations, warning against unsafe practices that could lead to preventable fire outbreaks.

On his part, Area Commander, Onikan Fire Station and Chief Superintendent of Fire (CSF)Oswere Michael expressed appreciation to Fidelity Bank for supporting their operations. He encouraged families, business owners, and community members to prioritize fire safety at all times.

“Everyone has a role to play in preventing fire incidents at home and in the workplace. This support from Fidelity Bank will go a long way in enhancing our capacity to protect the community,” CSF Oswere added.

Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 9.1 million customers through digital banking channels, its 255 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.

The Bank is a recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the 2024 Excellence in Digital Transformation & MSME Banking Award by BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; the 2024 Most Innovative Mobile Banking Application award for its Fidelity Mobile App by Global Business Outlook, and the 2024 Most Innovative Investment Banking Service Provider award by Global Brands Magazine. Additionally, the Bank was recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence and as the Export Financing Bank of the Year by the BusinessDay Banks and Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards.

NOVA Bank has opened its regional office in Owerri, Imo State, as part of its expansion drive across the South-East and South-South regions.

At the inauguration ceremony, recently, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Imo State Governor, announced that the state government would provide land for the development of the bank’s permanent regional headquarters for the South-East and South-South in Owerri.

The event was attended by government officials, business leaders from the two regions, and members of the Nigerian diaspora.

Governor Uzodinma stated that the bank’s entry into Imo State aligned with the government’s efforts to promote economic growth through infrastructure development, improved road networks, and market-driven initiatives.

He described NOVA Bank as an early investor in the region’s emerging economic opportunities.

He also commended the bank’s approach of combining physical banking infrastructure with digital platforms, noting that it aligns with the state’s emphasis on technology-driven governance and commerce.

“In recognition of NOVA Bank’s vision and long-term commitment to the region, the Imo State Government will allocate a suitable parcel of land in a prime location for the development of its permanent South-East/South-South Regional Headquarters,” the governor said.

Speaking at the event, Phillips Oduoza, chairman, NOVA Bank, thanked the Imo State Government and residents for their support, describing the Owerri office as a key part of the bank’s national expansion strategy.

“The opening of our regional office in Owerri marks a strategic milestone in NOVA Bank’s growth and underscores our commitment to the South-East and South-South,” Oduoza said, adding that the city would serve as a hub for the bank’s operations in the region.

He said the bank’s expansion is driven by a focus on sustainable growth, innovation and strong financial fundamentals, noting that NOVA Bank is investing in digital infrastructure and financial solutions to support small and medium-sized enterprises, corporates, public-sector institutions, high-net-worth individuals and the mass market.

According to him, the planned regional headquarters is expected to support job creation, improve access to credit, promote enterprise growth and deepen financial inclusion across the two regions.

Oduoza said the bank remains focused on building a resilient institution that delivers value to customers, partners and shareholders.

The opening of the Owerri regional office marks NOVA Bank’s latest step in expanding its presence in southern Nigeria.

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that Capital Market Operators (CMO’s) are to renew their registration from January 1 to 31, 2026.

In a bid to make the process seamless, the Commission says it will commence electronic receipt and processing of applications for registration and updates of registration information in the first quarter of 2026.

Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director general of the SEC,  stated this during an interview in Abuja.

According to Agama, “These initiatives reflect our commitment to leveraging technology for faster, more transparent, and efficient regulatory processes. The Commission is taking deliberate steps to make regulatory processes faster, more transparent, and technology-driven. We are investing in automation, databased supervision, and secure infrastructure to improve how we interact with the market.

The SEC Boss stated that through its Digital Transformation Portal, the Commission has automated registration and licensing end-to-end as operators can now submit applications, upload documents, and track approvals online, cutting down manual processing time and reducing the need for physical visits.

Commercial Paper Issuance Module 

He said the Commission has also rolled out the Commercial Paper issuance module, which allows operators to file documents, monitor progress, and receive approvals electronically while feedback from early users shows a clear improvement in turnaround time.

“Work is ongoing to automate quarterly and annual returns submissions, with structured templates and system checks to ensure accuracy. A returns analytics dashboard is also in development to support risk based supervision and exception reporting.

“To back these changes, we have started upgrading our IT infrastructure, servers, storage, networks, and security layers, to boost speed and reliability. Selective cloud migration is underway for platforms that need scalability and external access, while core internal systems remain on premisev5p for now as we assess security and cost implications.

“At the same time, we are strengthening data integrity and cybersecurity with vulnerability assessments and planned penetration testing once automation and migration phases are stable. These efforts show our commitment to building a modern, resilient regulatory environment that supports efficiency, investor confidence, and market stability.

Agama affirmed that the Nigerian Capital Market is clearly on a path toward digital transformation, therefore,  there is an urgent need for regulatory clarity on advanced technologies, targeted support for smaller firms, and capacity-building initiatives.

He said, “A phased and proportionate approach to regulating emerging technologies such as AI is essential, complemented by internal readiness through supervisory technology tools. Furthermore, investor education, particularly among younger demographics, will be critical to future-proof participation and drive fintech adoption.

“Innovation is vital, but it must be accompanied by responsibility. As operators embrace automation, artificial intelligence, and data-driven tools, they bear a duty to ensure ethical, secure, and compliant deployment. Safeguarding investor data, preventing market abuse, and maintaining operational resilience are non-negotiable.”

The SEC DG said that ultimately, responsible technology adoption is about building trust, the cornerstone of our markets saying that trust thrives on fairness, transparency, accountability, and regulatory compliance.

He therefore urged operators to uphold these principles adding that it would not only protect investors and systemic stability but also strengthen the long-term credibility and competitiveness of the Nigerian Capital Market.