L-R: Public Relations Officer, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH), Amarachi Amusi; Team Member, Optimizers Inductees Class of 2025, Precious Uchechi-Uneke; Class Governor, Optimizers Inductees Class of 2025, Chinedu Hilary-Elijah (both of Fidelity Bank Plc); Matron, Children’s Ward ESUTH, Esther Nnaji; and Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; during the Fidelity Helping Hands Program (FHHP) outreach to ESUTH recently.

Fidelity Bank Plc has brought relief to indigent patients at the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) Parklane, by offsetting medical bills and providing financial support to children battling chronic health conditions alongside donations of ante-natal kits to pregnant women.

The intervention, which was carried out under the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative known as Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), was funded and executed by newly inducted employees of the bank, the Optimisers Inductees Class, as their community impact project, with matching financial support from the bank.

Commenting on the outreach, Divisional Head, Brand and Communications Division, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr. Meksley Nwagboh, highlighted that the initiative underscores the bank’s commitment to improving lives through targeted social interventions across its four CSR pillars.

“This project reflects the spirit of who we are as a bank. Beyond providing financial services, we are committed to touching lives within the communities where we operate. Today, we are donating ante-natal kits to pregnant women and also supporting indigent patients who have remained in the hospital due to unpaid bills. Some of the children also require long-term medical care, so we have given additional financial support to aid their continued treatment,” Dr. Nwagboh said.

Whilst wishing the beneficiaries quick recovery and good health, Nwagboh described the intervention as both significant and timely, enabling many families to reunite and celebrate the festive season without the burden of outstanding hospital debts.

Receiving the donation, the Chief Matron of the Children’s Ward, Esther Nnaji, commended Fidelity Bank for the timely intervention, describing it as a lifeline for families grappling with rising healthcare costs.

“There are so many families here in desperate need. Some of the children are battling cancer, sickle cell disease and other chronic conditions. Fidelity Bank’s support will go a long way in relieving their pain. Because of what you have done, some of these children will now be able to see their siblings again,” she said.

Several beneficiaries expressed deep gratitude to Fidelity Bank for easing their financial burdens. Mrs. Adaeze Ilo, whose baby’s bill was cleared, said the support came at a moment of despair.

“After spending months in the hospital, we had no idea how to raise the money,” she said. “Fidelity Bank came through for us when we needed it the most. We are deeply grateful.”

Another relieved parent, Jane Anthony, whose son’s bill was cleared, said her family had already accepted that they would spend Christmas in the hospital.

“God used Fidelity Bank to send us home to enjoy Christmas. My heart is full.” she said.

The recent outreach to Enugu State University Teaching Hospital further highlights Fidelity Bank’s continued commitment to supporting vulnerable groups and strengthening community well-being across Nigeria through community-driven CSR efforts.

Abot Fidelity Bank Plc

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.

Polaris Bank has continued its commitment to empowering the Nigerian girl-child through health education and essential support, with the successful distribution of female hygiene essentials to female students of Kuramo and Victoria Island Junior and Senior Secondary Schools, Lagos.

This initiative stems from Polaris Bank’s 2025 International Women’s Day celebration and forms part of our ongoing Adolescent Health and Hygiene Support Programme.

Through the Bank’s Girl-Child Support and Hygiene Education Initiative, the outreach aims to improve menstrual hygiene education, build confidence and dignity among young girls, and reduce school absenteeism resulting from lack of access to sanitary products.

Speaking at the event, Group Head, Customer Experience & Value Management, Polaris Bank, Mrs. Bukola Oluyadi, delivered a practical health talk to the girls, emphasizing the importance of maintaining proper hygiene during their menstrual cycle and in their daily lives.

She advised the students on essential personal care practices including the appropriate use of sanitary pads, the importance of daily use of clean underwear, and maintaining good body hygiene with deodorants and regular washing, especially during puberty when their bodies are developing.

“Your body is precious, and how you take care of it determines your confidence and wellbeing,” Mrs. Oluyadi told the students. “Good hygiene is not just about looking clean; it is about staying healthy, feeling comfortable, and showing up confidently in school and everywhere you go.”

She also encouraged the girls to cultivate life-long healthy habits, be informed about their bodies, and speak confidently about their health needs.

Also present at the distribution was the Non-Executive Director of Polaris Bank, Mrs. Subulade Giwa-Amu, who delivered a powerful motivational session on self-care, confidence, and self-presentation.

In her address, she reminded the girls that taking care of their appearance and hygiene contributes significantly to building a successful future.

“A clean girl equals a successful woman,” Mrs. Giwa-Amu affirmed. “Success is not only about your academic performance; it is also about how you present yourself. People see you before they know you, and first impressions always last. Loving yourself and caring for yourself should be a daily habit.”

She further encouraged the students to build confidence from within, stay self-assured, and always be conscious of their personal hygiene as young girls stepping into womanhood.

“Confidence starts with knowing who you are and being proud of yourself,” she added.

“When you take care of your body, you build respect for yourself, and others see that confidence reflected in how you speak, walk, and show up in the world.”

Polaris Bank’s support for the girl-child aligns with the Bank’s broader Sustainability and CSR strategy, which includes empowering young girls through education, access to essential learning materials, and social support systems that improve their health and academic performance.

The Bank believes that sustained investment in girls’ wellbeing ensures equal opportunity, reduces school dropout rates, and helps drive long-term social and economic development.

The female hygiene essentials distribution initiative directly addresses barriers that affect school attendance among adolescent girls, especially those who lack access to basic hygiene products.

By equipping students with knowledge and materials, Polaris Bank is helping to normalize conversations around menstruation, reduce stigma, and support healthier outcomes for young girls.

L-R: Mr. Ayo Ademilua, President, Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria; Dr. Jekwu Ozoemene, Group Executive, The Alternative Bank; Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, The Honourable Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources; Mr. Dele Faseemo, Group Executive, Corporate and Investment Banking, Sterling Bank; Engr. Bem Samuel Anyangeuor, Representative, Honorable Minister of Power and Mr. Oluwaseyi Okunnuga, Group Head, Renewable Energy & Sustainability Finance, Sterling Bank at the just concluded Renewable Energy Colloquium held in Lagos recently.

Sterling Bank Limited has brought together stakeholders in the renewable energy industry to explore ways to accelerate action in the sector.

The premier colloquium, held in Lagos on Monday, aimed to identify priority areas for action to increase energy access and drive economic growth in the quest to attain a one trillion-dollar economy.

Managing Director and CEO of Sterling Bank Limited, Mr. Abubakar Suleiman, gave the charge in his address at the colloquium organised with the theme: Beyond The Grid; Unlocking New Frontiers in Renewable Energy.

The   CEO, who   was   represented   by   Dele   Faseemo, Group   Executive, Corporate & Investment Banking, explained that Sterling Bank will be paying closer attention to policy actions in two or three key priority areas, especially regulation and financing.

He noted that by focusing on these areas, the Bank can do more to drive progress and expand access to energy, which he described   as   essential   for   supporting   economic   growth   and   overall development.

In a keynote address titled Scaling Electrification in Nigeria, The REA Impact, Managing Director and CEO of The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Dr. Abba Aliyu, spoke on the vision, mission and mandate of the agency.

He noted that Nigeria requires about $26 billion to address its energy deficit. He said the energy transition in Nigeria is a strategic shift towards achieving universal, reliable and sustainable energy access by integrating the grid, mini-grid and off grid technologies while aligning with national development and climate goals.

The CEO who was represented by Mr. Abba Hayatudden, Senior Advisor to the   MD, said “REA is  strategically expanding and optimising channels to accelerate the adoption and sustainable growth of renewable energy across the country   in   the   areas   of   value   chain development, regulation enhancement, funding   windows, alternative   resources   and   technical standardisation.”

Minister   of   Power, Adebayo Adelabu, commended   Sterling   Bank   for convening the conversation on renewable energy.

He stated that the Federal Government has placed renewable energy and rural electrification at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

The minister who was represented by Engineer Samuel Ayangeaor said, “The Federal   Ministry   of   Power   has   continued   to   expand   electricity   access   to underserved communities in a bid to drive economic growth, foster industrial activity and create jobs across the nation.”

In his goodwill message, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, Lagos State Commissioner for Energy   and   Mineral   Resources, noted   that   the   current   administration   is implementing the most ambitious energy transformation ever undertaken.

He highlighted the state’s efforts in renewable energy and sustainability, including the two-gigawatt Lagos grid scale solar project.

The CEO of Sterling One Foundation, Mrs. Olapeju Ibekwe, emphasised the need for collective action. She urged participants not to allow the day’s deliberations   to   end   as   mere   conversations   or   points   documented   in   a communiqué.

Instead, she encouraged everyone to leverage the strength of their   networks, act with intention, and   remain   focused   on   delivering meaningful impact.

The colloquium featured two panel sessions on financing and scaling green energy solutions in Africa, among others.

About Sterling Bank

Sterling Bank Limited is a full-service national commercial bank in Nigeria and a member of Sterling Financial Holdings Group.

With a heritage of more than 60 years, the bank has evolved from Nigeria’s pre-eminent investment banking institution to a trusted provider of retail, commercial, and corporate banking services.

Sterling is a forward-thinking financial institution committed to   transforming lives through innovative solutions, exceptional service, unwavering integrity, and a steadfast focus on its HEART strategy, which centers on Health, Education, Agriculture, Renewable Energy, and Transportation. As pioneers in digital banking and financial inclusion, Sterling continues to lead by example, showing   how   purpose-driven   leadership   can   deliver   transformative  outcomes for individuals, businesses, and society at large.

Guided by a culture of innovation and a passion for excellence, Sterling Bank remains dedicated to redefining the banking experience for millions of customers across Nigeria.

As part of its efforts to re-position the mortgage sub-sector and promote a culture of compliance with relevant laws and regulations, the Central Bank of Nigeria, in exercise of the powers conferred on it under Section 12 of BOFIA 2020, and Section 7.3 of the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria has revoked the licenses of Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc.

The affected institutions had violated various Sections of BOFIA 2020 and the Revised Guidelines for Mortgage Banks in Nigeria, including:

(a) Failure to meet the minimum paid-up share capital requirement for the category of the bank licence granted to them by the CBN.

(b) Having insufficient assets to meet their liabilities;

(c) Being critically under-capitalised with a capital adequacy ratio below the prudential minimum ratio as prescribed by the CBN;

and (d) Failure to comply with several directives and obligations imposed upon them by the CBN.

The CBN remains committed to its core mandate of ensuring financial system stability.

The Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) Plc are set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at ensuring a more efficient process of reimbursement of depositors in the event of bank failure.

This development was disclosed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the NDIC, Mr. Thompson Oludare Sunday, during a courtesy visit to the Corporation’s Head Office in Abuja by the NIBSS Executive Management team led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Premier Oiwoh.

Sunday commended NIBSS for its longstanding partnership and invaluable contributions to strengthening the Corporation’s mandate of protecting depositors and enhancing public confidence in the banking system.

He highlighted the pivotal role played by the NIBSS in driving digital verification processes, particularly through the deployment of the Bank Verification Number (BVN) platform, which enabled seamless payment to the alternate bank accounts of depositors of failed Heritage Bank Limited.

“You have been a reliable partner and NDIC remains committed to that partnership. Without NIBSS’s support, it would have been difficult to achieve the milestone we attained with the closure of failed Heritage Bank despite the impromptu nature of the arrangement. That is why it is important for us to concretise our partnership through this MoU”, the NDIC MD/CE stressed.

Mr. Sunday highlighted key areas to be covered by the MoU such as real-time synchronization of NDIC’s deposit registers and electronic records to allow for swift verification of eligible accounts during bank resolution; expansion of disbursement channels for depositor claims to include Mobile Money Operators (MMOs) and possible NDIC-branded mobile interface; and investment in Single Customer View (SCV) and interoperability infrastructure for instant validation in the event of bank failure.

The NDIC Boss commended NIBSS for reforming the payments system in Nigeria and putting it ahead of its peers in most part of the world, adding that efforts of the NIBBS platform in mitigating frauds in the financial system are laudable.

In his response, the NIBSS MD/CE, Mr. Premier Oiwoh, expressed appreciation to the NDIC leadership for the sustained partnership that is geared towards a safer and smooth payment system in Nigeria over the years.

He reaffirmed NIBSS’s full commitment to supporting the Corporation in the delivery of its mandate of depositor protection, emphasizing that NIBSS exists to serve Nigerians and stands ready to provide the technological backbone required to enhance financial system stability.

Oiwoh emphasized the critical importance of prompt and efficient reimbursement during bank failures, noting that the NDIC’s efforts in this regard directly contribute to public trust and financial inclusion.

He assured that his organisation is working closely with law-enforcement agencies to proactively reinforce the safety of the nation’s payment system, as well as strengthen its infrastructure to lower the cost of transactions on its platforms.

The MoU between both institutions is expected to usher in a new era of digitized, responsive, and technology-driven depositor reimbursement process, ultimately reinforcing confidence in Nigeria’s financial safety-net framework.

Following the revocation of the licenses of Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on December 15, 2025, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) was appointed as the liquidator of the defunct banks in line with the provisions of Section 12(2) of the Banks and Other Financial Institutions Act (BOFIA) 2020. It is in this regard that the NDIC announces the following to the banks’ depositors and the general public:

Commencement of Liquidation:

In line with Section 55, subsections 1 & 2 of the NDIC Act 2023, the Corporation has commenced the liquidation process for Aso Savings and Loans Plc and Union Homes Savings and Loans Plc. Accordingly, the verification and payment of insured deposits to depositors of the closed banks have begun as outlined below:

Verification and Payment of Depositors

Depositors will be paid their insured deposits up to the maximum amount of ₦2,000,000 (Two Million Naira) per depositor, using the Bank Verification Number (BVN) as a unique identifier to locate their alternate bank accounts, into which the insured sums will be automatically credited.

Depositors with balances in excess of ₦2,000,000 will be paid the initial insured amount, while their outstanding balances will be settled as liquidation dividends upon the realisation of the assets and recovery of debts owed to (of) the failed banks.

To this end, the Corporation will commence the sale of the banks’ assets and continue recovery of outstanding loans in order to expedite payment of uninsured sums.

Submission of Claims

Verification and processing of depositors’ claims may be carried out online or physically, as follows:

Online Submission of Claims:

Depositors are advised to submit their claims online by visiting the NDIC claims portal at https://ndic.gov.ng/claims-verification-forms/  completing the digital claims form with all required information, and clicking the “Submit” button.

Physical Submission of Claims:

Depositors who prefer physical verification are advised to visit the nearest branch of the closed banks between Tuesday, December 16, 2025 and Thursday, December 30, 2025, where NDIC officials will be available to attend to them.

For verification of deposits and subsequent payment of insured sums, depositors are required to present:

• Proof of account ownership;
• A verifiable means of identification (Driver’s License, Permanent Voter’s Card, or National Identity Card); and
• Details of their alternate bank account and Bank Verification Number (BVN).

Activate Transaction Alerts

Depositors are advised to ensure that transaction alerts are activated for their alternate bank accounts in order to receive notifications of payments. Where alerts are not active, depositors may check their account balances using their banks USSD codes or by visiting their bank branches.

Verification and Payment to Creditors

Creditors of the closed banks are advised to submit their claims online or by visiting the nearest branch of the banks between Tuesday, December 16, 2025 and Thursday, December 30, 2025.

In accordance with the provisions of the law, payment of liquidation dividends to creditors will commence after all depositors have been fully paid.

Payment to Bank Staff

After the full payment to all depositors, payment of deposit of staff of the defunct banks will be made from the proceeds of the sale of the banks’ assets, as liquidation dividends.

Payments to Shareholders

Following the full payment to Depositors and Creditors, Shareholders shall subsequently be paid from further realisation of the banks’ assets and the recovery of outstanding debts, as liquidation dividends.

Debtors’ Repayment of Outstanding Loans

Debtors of the defunct banks are advised to visit the Corporation’s Asset Management Department to ensure the settlement of their indebtedness in full.

Enquiries and Further Information

For further information or clarification on claims verification and payments, depositors and other stakeholders may contact the Corporation through the following channels:

The NDIC wishes to assure the entire banking public of its commitment to the continued safety of depositors’ funds in all licensed banks. As such, depositors are encouraged to continue their banking businesses without fear as banks whose licenses have not been revoked remain safe and sound.