E-Financial
Standard Chartered Launches Sustainable Supply Chain Benchmarking Tool

Standard Chartered has developed a new sustainable supply chain benchmarking tool that enables companies benchmark the resilience and sustainability of their supply chains, based on comparisons with peers across regions and sectors.
The Supply Chain Performance Indicator allows companies to do a “health check” on their operations and highlights which areas they need to focus on to achieve their aspirations.
The assessment is based on five indicators: environmental soundness and transparency of direct suppliers and of indirect or deep-tier suppliers; financial robustness; flexibility and adaptability; and collaboration and connectedness throughout the ecosystem.
According to a statement, clients can use the results to identify their areas of weakness and seek advice and solutions from the bank to help achieve their goals.
“The issues exposed by COVID-19 have prompted companies to rethink their supply chains, as the world looks to build back a more sustainable global economy.
“The tool is developed based on insights from Critical indicators of sustainable supply chains, the bank’s report which surveyed close to 1,000 global companies, and looked at the resilience and sustainability of supply chains across regions and sectors based on the same five indicators – it also offers actionable insights for companies.
“While 90 per cent of the respondents said sustainability and resilience are strategic imperatives, the survey revealed a significant gap: nearly two thirds of companies said their actual performance lags the importance they place on meeting each of the indicators,” it added.
Other key highlights include: environmental and social practices in the supply chain may potentially be a major source of risk.
It noted that only 40 per cent of those surveyed indicated confidence that they perform highly when understanding and monitoring environmental standards and labour practices.
Others include indirect or deep-tier suppliers appear to be the weakest link, which showed that only 43 per cent of companies view environmental soundness and transparency of indirect suppliers as highly important.
“Financial resilience of supply chains is uncertain – only two in five companies view providing finance to indirect suppliers as highly important.
“Around 80 per cent of companies are deploying technology solutions to address supply chain challenges.
“While the findings show that there is much to be done, the report also highlighted a strong willingness among respondents to work with their financial institutions to address the gaps.
“They will need to expand their approach to supply chain management beyond operational efficiency, to improve their flexibility and financial robustness, while also managing ESG-related risks.
“This includes enhancing access to finance for more financially resilient supply chains, particularly for lower tier suppliers who often do not get adequate financing; by making trade finance transactions more transparent and secure for better supply chain visibility; and by driving the adoption of sustainable practices across entire supply chains,” it added.
Commenting on the new initiative, the CEO of Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking & CEO, Europe & Americas, Standard Chartered, Simon Cooper, said: “As we try to build back to a more sustainable economy, we can help our clients with tools and solutions to make their supply chains more sustainable, more resilient and future-proof.
“Sustainable trade finance products are one way to ensure that complex supply chains adhere to sustainable best practices, and help companies achieve their sustainability goals as they grow their businesses.”
The new tool followed the launch of Standard Chartered’s Sustainable Trade Finance proposition in March, strengthening its ability to help companies implement more sustainable practices and build more resilient supply chains.
E-Financial
FG, World Bank Seek Capital Market Solutions for Infrastructure Funding

The World Bank has said that it is planning to introduce its joint capital markets programme (J-CAP) in Nigeria.
The J-Cap, a World Bank initiative, helps developing economies strengthen their capital markets, aiming to increase funding for strategic sectors like infrastructure, housing, and agriculture
Patricia Canziani, global head of capital markets and housing, financial institutions at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), spoke when she led a World Bank Group delegation to a meeting with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in Abuja.
The IFC is a subsidiary of the World Bank Group.
According to a statement on Sunday by Ifeanyi Nwoko, acting head of media and publicity at the ICRC, the meeting focused on how to develop and unlock the capital market in Nigeria.
Speaking during the meeting, Canziani said the essence of the meeting was to gather information that would enable the global bank to introduce its the J-CAP in Nigeria.
She said there are a number of untapped interests from potential international investors.
“The purpose of our visit is to introduce the J-CAP programme which we have introduced to 20 countries Worldwide and the purpose of the programme is to work together with the stakeholders in Nigeria and identify ways to support the development and roles of the capital market in Nigeria,” Canziani said.
“The capital market holds many opportunities for funding PPP. The Nigerian capital market already has different products, but we can support the development of newer products in the country.”
Canziani also commended the ICRC for its role in regulating public-private partnerships (PPPs), urging it to work with other players to develop new products and build investor confidence.
On his part, Jobson Ewalefoh, director-general of the ICRC, said the visit of the team was important as it could redefine the space of infrastructure development in Nigeria.
He said alternative finance options like the capital market to fund PPPs are at the heart of his innovative financing policy agenda.
Ewalefoh also said funding is at the core of infrastructure development, hence, unlocking the capital market would be a milestone.
“The World Bank and IFC were here to see what we can do in unlocking the potentials of the capital market in funding infrastructure development,” ICRC DG said.
“We deliberated on the opportunities, the challenges and the importance of having access to the huge funds available in the capital market to fund infrastructure.
“In my deliberation, I focused more on the potential for investors to invest in Nigeria based on the viability and bankability of projects in Nigeria.
“At the end of the day, we agreed that viability is not a problem but there are other risks that investors were weary of and also the lack of information about the opportunities that abound in Nigeria as a key investment destination.”
He, however, urged the global bank to do more in supporting Nigerian government agencies with funds and capacity development to come up with more eligible pipelines of projects.
Ewalefoh said the ICRC would do more to communicate the investment potential of Nigeria, adding that there is a nexus between the investment opportunities in Nigeria and the role the capital market can play in tapping into those potentials.
E-Financial
SEC Plans Meeting with Governors on Investment Opportunities in Capital Market

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is to embark on investor education for State Governments across the Federation as part of strategies to harness the potentials inherent within the various states for wealth creation.
Dr. Emomotimi Agama, director General, Securities and Exchange Commission, disclosed this during a meeting with a team from the World Bank Group and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Abuja, weekend.
Agama stated that the Commission would approach the state governments to help them understand the many opportunities in the capital market, and strive to enhance their understanding of financial markets, investment strategies, and regulatory frameworks.
According to him, “Imagine setting up factories that will produce goods that can be exported and earning foreign exchange. A lot of Nigerians would be employed and that would lead to wealth creation and economic development.
“That is why the Commission will continue to emphasize education, because if they do not know, there is little they can do until they know. Sometimes it is not because they don’t want to do it, it is just because they don’t know and it is our responsibility to give this vital knowledge for wealth creation.There are some states in the country that are so rich but nothing is happening there. All of their wealth is in the ground”.
The Director-General added that the strategic approach will commence soon with the Executive Council of a state in northern Nigeria, to speak to them about the opportunities in the capital market.
“We will create guides, reports, and policy briefs that explain capital market opportunities for state governments, we will translate complex financial concepts into simple, actionable insights and we will use case studies from Nigerian states that have successfully raised capital through bonds or attracted investments in the capital market.
“We believe strongly that if we go out and speak to these people, get them into understanding exactly the benefits and how it is important, get them to manage their own assets meaningfully well, and harness them for greater economic growth for the states, things will begin to change, it is our responsibility to change the narratives and we will keep at it”.
Speaking earlier, Mr. Tom Ceusters, director, Treasury Market Operation IFC, said the delegation of the World Bank Group and IFC were on a two weeks mission to Nigeria to have deep conversations with regulators and organisations in the financial sector with a view to coming up with plans to help their endeavours.
E-Financial
Fidelity Bank Raises ₦232Bn in First Phase of Capital Raising

Fidelity Bank Plc, Leading financial institution, has announced the successful conclusion of the first tranche of its equity capital raise through its Public Offer and Rights Issue (the Combined Offer) following the completion of the capital verification exercise conducted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and approval of the Basis of Allotment by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
A total of 108,046 applications for 23,791,687,463 Ordinary Shares totaling ₦231,968,952,764.25 were received on the Public Offer. Out of these, 107,588 applications for 23,768,724,000 Ordinary Shares totaling ₦231,745,059,000.00 were found to be valid based on the terms of the Offer and the CBN’s verification. However, 458 invalid applications for 22,765,143 Ordinary Shares totaling ₦221,960,144.25 were rejected, while 548 applications which included odd lots amounting to 198,320 Ordinary Shares (i.e. ₦1,933,620.00) were also rejected. The Public Offer was 237% subscribed and 150% allotted.
With respect to the Rights Issue, 7,559 applications for 4,430,290,237 Ordinary Shares totaling ₦40,980,184,692.25 were received of which 656 applications for 23,037,442 Ordinary Shares totaling ₦213,096,338.50 were invalid based on the terms of the Rights Issue. The Rights Issue was 137.73% subscribed and 100% allotted.
“We are delighted to announce the successful completion of the first phase of our capital raising initiatives through a Public Offer and Rights Issue. The positive result recorded in our Combined Offer is a testament to the strength of the Fidelity Bank franchise in the capital market. It is both gratifying and humbling to note this level of investor confidence in our Bank.
“We extend sincere gratitude to our investors for their continued confidence in the Bank, as evidenced by the 237.92% and 137.73% oversubscription of our Public Offer and Rights Issue respectively. As we go into the next phase of our capital raising drive, we reaffirm our commitment to providing cutting-edge financial solutions to our customers and sustainable returns to our stakeholders”, commented Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, OON, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc.
The funds realised from this initial phase of capital raising will be deployed to local and international business expansion, enhancement of technology infrastructure and deepening customer service initiatives.
With the successful conclusion of the first phase of capital raising, the Board of Directors recently obtained the approval of shareholders to commence the second phase and is confident of meeting the new regulatory capital for banks with international authorisation before the CBN’s deadline of March 31, 2026.
Following the CBN’s publication of the revised minimum capital requirement for banks in March 2024, Fidelity Bank with its combined offer of June 2024, became the first financial institution undertake a public offer on the Nigerian Exchange Group.
From an offer price of N9.75 per share for the Public Offer and N9.25 per share for the Rights Issue in June 2024, the Bank’s shares traded at a high of N21.15 on February 7, 2025, a growth rate of over 116%, the highest for any financial institution in the banking industry.
Ranked among the best banks in Nigeria, Fidelity Bank Plc is a full-fledged Commercial Deposit Money Bank serving over 8.5 million customers through digital banking channels, its 251 business offices in Nigeria and United Kingdom subsidiary, FidBank UK Limited.
The Bank is the recipient of multiple local and international Awards, including the Export Finance Bank of the Year at the 2023 BusinessDay Awards; the Banks and Other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards; Best Payment Solution Provider Nigeria 2023; and Best SME Bank Nigeria 2022 by the Global Banking and Finance Awards. It was also recognized as the Best Bank for SMEs in Nigeria by the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023 and the Best Domestic Private Bank in Nigeria by the Euromoney Global Private Banking Awards 2023.
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