General News
Zenith Bank Shareholders Approve N11.3 Billion Dividend, Lauds Ovia
Shareholders of Zenith Bank have lauded Jim Ovia, its outgoing chief executive, who midwifed it from inception 20 years ago to today’s enviable height, and is scheduled to leave office at the end of June this year.
The gathering also approved the bank’s proposal to distribute N11.3 billion as dividend, translating to 45 kobo per share for the 15-month to December 31, 2009, from earnings per share 82 kobo, which they considered impressive. This is particularly so, according to them, at a time some of its peers are offering as little as 10 kobo per share. The bank, they noted, has also offered a bonus of one-for-four for the same period.
Gross earnings income for the period rose by N65.661 billion or 31.025 per cent to N277.3 billion from N211.639 billion in the previous full year, out which interest and similar income stood at N193.545 billion, compared with N138.737 billion previously, while net interest expenses grew to N83.957 billion, up from N53.294 billion. This brought net interest income to N109.588 billion, as against the previous N85.443 billion, just as there was “other income” of about N78.65 billion, up from N68.799 billion.
Profit before tax was however depressed N35.085 billion, representing a decline of about N21.027 billion or 37.47 per cent, while profit attributable to shareholders stood at N20.603 billion, from the previous N51.993 billion. This translates to earnings per share of 82 kobo
Ovia, used the occasion to restate his faith in the ability of Godwin Emefiele, his successor and pioneer staff of the bank and his deputy for the past nine years to guide, the Zenith Group to even greater heights.
“Godwin is a seasoned banker of high integrity with a clear strategic focus and enduring commitment to Zenith Bank,” he assured the meeting in what is his last annual CEO Letter to shareholders, while expressing confidence that the in-coming chief executive “will offer excellent leadership and guide the Group successfully to greater heights.”
“I am confident that under the leadership of Godwin Emefiele, the bank will continue to draw upon its superior people, excellent service culture and continuous deployment of state of the art technology to elevate the Group to greater heights,” he added
The meeting also noted the fact that the bank could offer much more at the end of current year, judging from the equally remarkable first quarter result, indicating a N55.03 billion gross earnings. The result also showed a 12 per cent increase in profit before tax from N11.8bn in March 2009 to 13.2 billion in March 2010, and N9.509 billion net profit.
Reacting to the un-audited first quarter result submitted to the NSE on Monday, market watchers noted that it is a good start for the group and an opportunity to sustain investor confidence.
A breakdown of the first quarter result showed 9 per cent growth in total asset to N1.8 trillion, over the December 2009 level, while capital adequacy stood at 28 per cent (while the bank had 34 per cent), representing almost three times more than the 10 per cent regulatory minimum requirement. Liquidity ratio for the period stood at 48 per cent (while the bank had 59 per cent), almost two times the 25 per cent minimum required by regulation.
Analysts believe that Zenith’s balance sheet is strong enough to propel its planned expansionary activities and also to withstand any adverse event.
General News
Cellulant Taps Freddie Oduro to Lead Enterprise Payments Expansion in Ghana

Cellulant, a leading Pan-African payments company enabling seamless digital transactions across Africa, has appointed Mr. Freddie Oduro as its new Country Manager for Ghana.

Mr. Freddie Oduro, New Country Manager for Ghana.
Freddie’s appointment is a key step in Cellulant’s broader strategy to deepen its presence in priority markets by accelerating the acquisition of in-country enterprise businesses and strengthening its position as the payments partner of choice in Africa.
Freddie brings over a decade of commercial and strategic leadership experience in the telecommunications and financial services sectors, with expertise in sales, business operations, and market expansion.
In his new role, he will drive merchant acquisition, strengthening partnerships, oversee collections and payout operations, while ensuring strong internal controls and regulatory compliance.
He joins Cellulant from Payaza and previously served as Sales Director at Cellulant, where he helped significantly expand the company’s footprint in Ghana.
Cellulant has been powering payments in Ghana for leading brands in sectors like e-commerce, utilities, oil and gas and retail, helping them offer their customers a wide range of secure digital payment options.
“We are happy to welcome Freddie back to the Cellulant family,” says Richard Gesimba, Chief Revenue Officer at Cellulant. “Ghana remains a critical market for us, with immense potential driven by rising digital payments adoption.
“As we sharpen our focus on in-country enterprise customers, Freddie’s leadership and industry insight make him the ideal person to steer our Ghana operations.”
The appointment comes at a transformative time for the company. Following a strategic shift between late 2023 and early 2024, focused on streamlining operations, doubling down on enterprise payments, and strengthening customer intimacy, Cellulant achieved profitability in 2024 and continues to build on this momentum.
The company now processes close to 4.5 million transactions daily for businesses across Africa, reinforcing its position as a fintech leader.
“I am honoured to return to Cellulant and lead the Ghana team at such a defining moment,” says Freddie, Country Manager for Cellulant Ghana. “Ghana presents a tremendous opportunity.
“We will ramp up our efforts to sign on more local merchants, strengthen our compliance and control frameworks, and introduce innovative solutions like Tingg Edupay, our automated school fee management solution that eliminates reconciliation delays by validating payments in real time and instantly updating student accounts.
“We will build on Cellulant’s strong foundation to deliver real value, reliability, and economic impact.”
Ghana’s digital payments sector continues to grow steadily, supported by increased mobile money usage and a progressive regulatory environment. Between January and October 2025, the value of mobile money transactions hit about GH¢ 3.6 trillion, up sharply from GH¢ 2.37 trillion in the same period of 2024.
Registered mobile money accounts now exceed 79 million, demonstrating strong consumer and business confidence in digital financial services and in turn creating many opportunities for payment innovation.
This leadership appointment underscores Cellulant’s commitment to building a resilient, high-performance organisation geared towards playing a pivotal role in the next era of Africa’s digital economy.
Looking ahead to 2026, Cellulant plans to further enhance the user experience on its payment platform, Tingg, and expand its footprint across Ghana.
General News
Top Nigerian Startups Secure Funding Boost @ iHatch Demo Day Awards

Nigeria’s startup ecosystem received a fresh injection of momentum as top emerging ventures secured funding and investor attention at the iHatch National Demo Day, where Interface Africa clinched the highest prize of $15,000.

The 4th cohort of the NITDA–JICA-backed accelerator brought together founders, policymakers, and venture stakeholders in Abuja, showcasing innovations ranging from clean-energy financing and digital food marketplaces to next-gen fintech tools.
The startups went rounds of running through state-level selections and regional competition. iHatch was established in 2021 as a strategic partnership to create an enabling environment for young Nigerians to develop and scale their innovative solutions.
The iHatch National Demo Day (4th Cohort), is an initiative by NITDA and JICA which provides a clear pathway for homegrown talent to contribute significantly to economic diversification and digital transformation.
After rigorous selection processes, the top founders converged to pitch their innovations, recognised the standout performers, which are:
Interface Africa with $15,000, the firm is driving Nigeria’s clean energy transition by enabling structured and affordable solar financing.
Ahioma with $12,000, the firm enhances food accessibility with a digital marketplace connecting consumers directly to trusted vendors.
Linia Finance with $10,000, the firm is helping Nigerians take control of their finances with tools for budgeting, tracking, and smart money planning.
Chapta got a laptop reward. They delivering an offline-capable school application ensuring consistent, accessible learning for students everywhere.
Softdrop also got a laptop reward, they solve logistics challenges through a modern delivery platform designed for speed, convenience, and efficiency.
General News
Fidelity Bank to Host Virtual Masterclass on New Tax Law

Fidelity Bank Plc, a leading financial institution, will host a free virtual training on the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 (NTA) as part of its commitment to helping small businesses prepare for the upcoming legislation.

Fidelity Bank
The masterclass is scheduled for 10:00 AM (Nigerian time) on Friday, 12 December 2025. It will provide participants with clear insights into changes in the tax framework, the impact on income and business operations, and practical steps to avoid penalties in 2026.
Attendees will also learn strategies to stay ahead in an evolving regulatory environment.
The Nigerian government enacted major tax reforms on 26 June 2025 when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed four tax bills into law.
These Acts will take effect on 1 January 2026 and represent a significant overhaul of the country’s tax system.
The reforms aim to modernize and harmonize Nigeria’s tax framework, improve revenue generation, broaden the tax base, and create clearer rules for individuals, businesses, and government agencies.
“Our decision to host this masterclass reflects our commitment to empowering businesses with the right information ahead of the commencement of the new tax regime.
“Information is money and a well-informed business owner is already steps ahead in the race to success.
“This is why we are bringing experts to provide accurate details and demystify the tax act,” said Osita Ede, Divisional Head, Product Development, Fidelity Bank Plc.
Interested participants can register via https://bit.ly/2026TaxLawMasterclass .
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