Zenith Bank Plc has reported a 16% year-on-year growth in gross earnings to N3.4 trillion for the nine months ended September 30, 2025, up from N2.9 trillion in the same period of 2024.

The growth, according to the unaudited financial results presented to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), was driven largely by a sustained rise in interest income and disciplined execution amid a challenging macroeconomic environment.

Interest income surged by 41% to N2.7 trillion, supported by the high-yield interest rate environment and the expansion of the bank’s investment portfolio.

However, interest expenses also increased by 22% to N814 billion, reflecting the impact of tighter monetary policies and a growing funding base.

Despite this, Zenith Bank maintained a healthy net interest margin (NIM) of 12%, up from 10% recorded in September 2024.

Non-interest income declined by 38% to N535 billion, weighed down by a 60% fall in trading gains. Profit before tax fell by 8% to N917 billion from N1 trillion a year earlier, while profit after tax also dipped to N764 billion.

Earnings per share (EPS) stood at N18.60, compared to N26.34 in the same period last year, as the bank intensified efforts to improve its loan book quality.

Total assets grew by 4% to N31 trillion as of September 2025, from N30 trillion in December 2024.

The growth was largely underpinned by an eight percent increase in customer deposits to N23.7 trillion. Gross loans declined by nine percent to N10 trillion, reflecting the bank’s cautious approach to risk, while its non-performing loan (NPL) ratio improved to 3% following strategic write-offs of impaired assets.

Zenith Bank PLC maintained strong profitability ratios, with return on average equity (ROAE) at 23.3% and return on average assets (ROAA) at 3.3%.

The cost of funds rose to 4.5% in line with elevated market rates, while the cost-to-income ratio increased to 45%. The bank’s coverage ratio and liquidity ratio remained robust at 211.1% and 53%, respectively, well above regulatory thresholds.

Commenting on the results, Adaora Umeoji, Group Managing Director/CEO, attributed the performance to the bank’s resilience and adaptive strategy.

“The Bank’s robust performance is an attestation to the resilience of the Zenith brand, the result-driven strategy, and the adaptability of our people in an evolving operating environment.

“We have fortified our capital base, reset our asset quality, and are well-positioned for sustainable and profitable growth,” she said.

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, Umeoji expressed confidence in the bank’s growth trajectory.

“This result confirms the resilience of both our business model and our people. Our focus on innovation, digital transformation, and developing solutions that address our clients’ changing needs positions us to capitalise on emerging opportunities whilst maintaining our disciplined approach to growth,” she said.

Zenith Bank’s consistent performance and governance standards have continued to attract industry recognition.

The bank was ranked number one in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital for the 16th consecutive year in The Banker’s 2025 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking and named Nigeria’s Best Bank at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025.

It has also won multiple awards, including Bank of the Year (Nigeria) by The Banker in 2020, 2022, and 2024; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria, by World Finance for five consecutive years (2021–2025); and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria, by International Banker in 2023 and 2024.

Large investments in artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies could lead to the development of bubbles, according to Børge Brende, president, World Economic Forum (WEF).

Børge Brende, president, World Economic Forum

“There is definitely a geopolitical disorder … But even in the situation of geopolitical disorder, the global economy has been incredibly resilient – not necessarily in Europe but in India, China and the USA,” Brende said in Berlin.

He noted that this was being fuelled by investments in new technologies like AI.

“This year has seen $US500 billion ($A762 billion) of investments in AI alone. So, what we can be worried about is that there may be bubbles developing, be it a bubble on crypto or an AI bubble,” Brende said.

The WEF head said investors need to be patient with these investments.

But he also said that frontier technologies would be the new drivers of growth.

“We will also need to make sure that the new technologies and the benefits trickle down. We could even see productivity gains of 10 per cent in the coming decade. And productivity is prosperity,” Brende said.

He described the new technologies as “a big paradigm shift” and predicted breakthroughs in medicine, synthetical biology, space and energy.

“AI can accelerate processes so quickly,” he said.

The Norwegian has taken over from WEF founder Klaus Schwab.

The forum holds an annual conference in Davos in the Swiss Alps attended by world political and economic leaders.

The 56th conference is scheduled for January 19-23, 2026.

Brende also expressed concern about global crises and conflicts.

“There is definitely a geopolitical disorder: the world order we had is not there anymore. What is the next world order? Hopefully not the law of the jungle,” he said.

And, in a reference to current US tariff policy, he said that uncertainty was the highest tariff.

“One of my worries is that global investments are going down. We need to re-establish an environment for investments,” he said.

Brende said the current competition between the United States and China was “basically a competition for hegemony or dominance in technology. The country that leads in new technologies – be it quantum, superintelligence, AI, autonomous vehicles or synthetical biology – will also be the most powerful nation coming out of this century,” he predicted.

And he called for multilateral action to deal with “problems that don’t travel with a passport,” including pandemics and cybercrime.

The world is becoming more complicated with different groups forming, Brende said.

He pointed to a G4 of the US, China, Europe and India, followed by fast-growing economies like Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria and Brazil.

“It’s going to be a renaissance for mega-regional, so-called plurilateral, deals. But the world is going to be more complicated. There are going to be more suboptimal, not necessarily cost-effective solutions. There is going to be more friendshoring,” he said.

House of Representatives is considering a bill seeking to promote sustainable rural development, reduce poverty, and enhance the livelihoods of Nigerians living in agrarian communities.

Titled “The National Integrated Rural Development Bill, 2025,” the proposed legislation aims to provide wage employment opportunities for unskilled labourers in rural areas, guaranteeing a daily wage of N3,500 for every employed adult household member.

Sponsored by Hon. Marcus Onobun, member representing Esan Central/Esan West/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo State, the bill, which is awaiting its second reading on the floor of the Green Chamber, seeks to establish a legal and institutional framework to promote sustainable development across Nigeria’s rural regions.

The proposed law applies to all rural areas within Nigeria’s territorial boundaries as defined by relevant demographic and economic criteria.

Part III of the bill provides that every adult household in rural communities who volunteers for unskilled manual work through local development projects shall be guaranteed a minimum of 100 days of paid employment per fiscal year.

“The Agency shall ensure that every rural household, whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work through local development projects, is guaranteed a minimum of 100 days of wage employment per fiscal year,” the bill states.

“Every employed adult household shall be entitled to a daily wage of N3,500 for each day of work.”

The legislation also proposes the creation of the National Integrated Rural Development Agency, which will oversee and coordinate the implementation of rural development programmes across the country. The Agency’s responsibilities will include monitoring and evaluating projects, promoting innovation and technology adoption, and facilitating collaboration among relevant ministries and stakeholders.

In a bid to ensure inclusivity, one-third of the employment opportunities under the proposed scheme will be reserved for women in rural communities.

The bill further outlines objectives such as reducing rural poverty, improving agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and enhancing access to education, healthcare, and other essential social services.

The proposed law also recommends the establishment of a Governing Council for the Agency, with its Chairman to be appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

Additionally, all revenues generated by the Agency will be exempted from income tax, while contributions to its fund will be tax-deductible.

Speaking on the significance of the bill, Hon. Onobun said it seeks to tackle one of Nigeria’s most persistent socio-economic challenges rural poverty.

“This bill aims to promote sustainable rural development across the nation by reducing poverty, improving infrastructure, and enhancing livelihoods through integrated and coordinated efforts,” he said.

Despite Nigeria’s vast natural and human resources, the country continues to struggle with widespread rural underdevelopment.

According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), about 63% of Nigerians roughly 133 million people were classified as multidimensionally poor as of 2024, with the highest rates recorded in the northern regions and conflict-prone parts of the Middle Belt.