The Group Chairman, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Founder, Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF), Tony Elumelu, has passionately called for a change of long-standing workplace stereotypes that continue to hinder women’s professional growth and potential.

He said this while delivering a compelling address during a meeting with the Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB), at the UBA Head office in, Marina, Lagos on Monday.

Elumelu, who highlighted the exceptional abilities of women in business, addressed the additional obstacles women encounter, such as imposter syndrome and unfair stereotypes that portray them as “too emotional” or “sentimental” in professional settings.

“From my experience, women in our group are tenacious, hardworking, and deliver results. They don’t expect special treatment – they command respect,” Elumelu stated.

“My admiration for women comes from personal experience. My 97-year-old mother still goes to the market and cooks for us every Sunday. My wife, five daughters, and two sisters continue to inspire me daily, and the women I work with constantly surpass expectations.”

The chairman noted that his own organisations and those he has invested in stand as a testament to women’s leadership potential.

“At UBA Group for the longest time, our board has been predominantly female, and most of our CEOs are women. At Heirs Holdings Group, women head more group companies than men—not by design, but by merit,” He highlighted.

Elumelu cited examples of women’s leadership within his organizations, noting that Transcorp Group, valued at N4.5 trillion, and Transcorp Hotels Plc, valued at N1 trillion, are both led by women who are breaking barriers and redefining corporate leadership.

Drawing inspiration from the story of Mary Jane Patterson, the first Black woman graduate in America, Elumelu advised the female professionals to build confidence, ignore stereotypes, and focus on personal goals as these are the most prominent ways they could break glass ceilings and open paths for young girls.

“The story of the first Black woman graduate in America, Mary Jane Patterson, resonates deeply. She wasn’t allowed into classrooms, so she stood in hallways to learn. Decades later, this university apologised and awarded her an honorary doctorate. She paved the way for millions of successful Black women today.”

“To all women who are running businesses or climbing the corporate ladder: please note that confidence is key. Ignore stereotypes, focus on your goals, build expertise, and let your work speak for you. As I told the APWB, leadership is about showing what you can do, regardless of labels,” Elumelu concluded.

The Chairperson, Association of Professional Women Bankers (APWB), Funke Feyisitan Ladimeji, who commended Elumelu’s commitment towards female inclusivity and professional advancement,  emphasised that his advocacy went beyond rhetoric. She highlighted how his various business concerns continues to provide concrete opportunities for women to excel in leadership roles.

“The chairman’s approach serves as a powerful model for other corporate leaders, which shows that diverse, merit-based leadership is not just possible, but essential for organizational success and societal progress,” she said.

The female attendees at the event agreed that the session was highly enlightening and thought-provoking, as it helped to broaden their minds and gave them more clarity as to their purpose and how they could achieve more if they put their minds to it.

In a bold move that reinforces its position as the one-customer bank, Sterling Bank has unveiled Confam Jara 2.0; an extraordinary reward campaign that will see over ₦40 million in prizes awarded to customers nationwide.

The program marks a significant expansion of the bank’s customer appreciation initiatives, rewarding transactions across Sterling debit cards, OneBank, and *822# USSD platforms.

This is a sequel to its highly successful customer promotion campaign earlier this year, which ran from June to September and culminated in a grand prize giveaway of an iPhone 15.

The Confam Jara 2.0 introduces a comprehensive reward structure that will see weekly airtime rewards to 125 top transacting customers, while monthly draws will reward 51 customers with cash prizes – including a grand prize of ₦1,000,000 and fifty ₦50,000 rewards. Quarterly selections will award inverters to three customers, culminating in a special draw where 300 customers will receive ₦25,000 gift vouchers.

Speaking on the initiative, Edward Ogunmekan, Chief Growth Officer at Sterling Bank, said: “Confam Jara 2.0 transforms everyday banking into rewarding experiences for our customers. This program demonstrates our commitment to making banking more rewarding while ensuring accessibility through multiple transaction channels.”

“The scale of rewards and simplified participation requirements reflect our understanding of customer needs,” Ogunmekan added. “Whether through digital channels or USSD, every transaction brings our customers closer to these significant rewards.”

John Obichie, Group Head, Personal Banking at Sterling Bank, emphasised the bank’s commitment to customer appreciation: “The overwhelming success of our previous Confam Jara campaign showed us how much our customers value being recognised and rewarded for their loyalty. With Confam Jara 2.0, we’re not just continuing this tradition – we’re amplifying it significantly. Our customers can expect more frequent wins, bigger rewards, and an even more exciting banking experience. This campaign is our way of saying ‘thank you’ while encouraging the adoption of our convenient banking channels. Every transaction, no matter how small, is a step closer to winning something extraordinary.”

Participation requires only five monthly transactions through any of Sterling Bank’s platforms – debit cards, OneBank, or *822# USSD.

The campaign runs through December 2024 to May 2025, with draws conducted monthly and quarterly, and a final special selection. Customers can visit sterling.ng/rewards to learn more about the program and how to get rewarded.

About Sterling Bank:

Sterling Bank is a leading financial institution committed to driving innovation and progress in Nigeria. With a focus on fostering economic growth and development, Sterling Bank invests in cutting-edge technologies and strategic partnerships to propel Nigeria forward in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

As part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to France, the Chairman of UBA Group, Tony Elumelu in the presence of President Tinubu and the President of France, Emmanuel Macron signed a landmark business cooperation agreement with the French Finance Minister, Antoine Armand.

The agreement is a significant indication of support by the French Government for the development of UBA’s full banking operations in France.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Group commented:
”This partnership reinforces our commitment to seamless international banking services for our customers, not just across the 11 Francophone African countries we serve, but Africa as a whole; and French and European customers transacting with Africa. Expanding into France is a natural progression, with Paris serving as our European Union hub, as we continue to bring Africa and the world together, through innovative financial solutions. Paris will join London, New York and Dubai, as a critical component of our unique global network.”

United Bank for Africa is one of the largest employers in the financial sector on the African continent, with 25,000 employees group-wide and serving over 45 million customers globally.

Operating in twenty African countries and the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and the United Arab Emirates, UBA provides retail, commercial and institutional banking services, leading financial inclusion and implementing cutting edge technology.

To commemorate its 4^th year anniversary, 9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB), Nigeria’s foremost digital payment service provider, has donated 10,000 branded exercise books to various schools across several regions of Nigeria.

The schools include Crown Jewel College in Lagos, LEA Primary School in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Kano Capital School Kano and Shokwari Junior Secondary School, Maiduguri, Borno State.

The financial literacy session and donation of books is geared towards empowering students and invariably their parents by ensuring that they are well equipped with the necessary materials required to succeed in their educational pursuit. It further reflects the commitment of the bank to drive financial inclusion in Nigeria via promoting financial literacy and social development.

This significant donation is part of 9PSB’s broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, aimed at bridging the financial inclusion gap in underprivileged areas by providing financial literacy masterclasses to students as well as essential resources to aid their studies. The 10,000 books were donated to motivate and support both students and parents of the selected schools.

Speaking at the donation ceremony at Crown Jewel College in Lagos, Branka Mracajac, MD/CEO of 9PSB, expressed her pride in the initiative.

“This is our way of adding value to the society. We are confident that this educative session with the students, as well as the books donated to them, will immensely improve their knowledge of finance, their money management skills and their overall ability to prepare for their future at an early age. As we mark our 4th year anniversary, we are committed to playing a role in the CBN’s mission to promote financial literacy and education in schools across the country”, she said.

She further emphasised that financial literacy is a cornerstone of the bank’s commitment to driving financial inclusion in Nigeria.

“At 9PSB, we understand that financial literacy begins with education. We believe the books donated, and the sessions held, will play a pivotal role in the academic growth of the students and help pave the way for their future success. Our mission is not just to provide banking services but to empower Nigerians, especially youths with the tools and information they need to make informed financial decisions in today’s increasingly digital world,” she added.

The gesture by the bank was met with deep appreciation from the students and school authority. Mrs. Remilekun Segun Fadeyi, the Principal of Crown Jewel College, thanked 9PSB for its thoughtful donation.

“On behalf of the school management and students, we are sincerely grateful for this generous contribution. These books will be invaluable in enhancing the learning experience of our students, and we are committed to ensuring they are put to good use. The literacy session held has also broadened their financial management skills and deepened their knowledge of money management”, she said.

This donation is part of 9PSB’s ongoing commitment to drive financial inclusion and education in Nigeria. The bank continues to promote a variety of community engagement programs designed to support education, social welfare and financial literacy in Nigeria.

ABOUT 9 PAYMENT SERVICE BANK

9 Payment Service Bank (9PSB) is a registered Nigerian Payment Service Bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), to provide unique banking services to the unbanked, and underbanked. 9PSB operates as a fully digital bank and runs its own agency network, offering seamless online & offline banking experience for individuals and businesses.

Stanbic IBTC Asset Management has implemented strong measures to safeguard its customers from an alarming rise in scam attempts targeting mutual fund holders.

In response to this trend, the company has launched a strategic campaign to educate customers on protecting their investments and understanding the correct procedures for mutual fund subscriptions.

Recently, enquiries about the authenticity of mutual fund subscription messages have surged. Many of these messages contain differing and potentially incorrect account numbers, leading to confusion and concern among investors.

In response to these concerns, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management launched a campaign to educate customers by providing accurate information and security tips to reduce the likelihood of clients falling prey to scam attacks.

The campaign has established three main objectives: first, to educate customers about the mutual fund subscription process by providing precise and accurate information that empowers them to make informed decisions.

Second, it aims to ensure that customers verify the payment accounts for any Stanbic IBTC mutual fund investments, encouraging due diligence in confirming the legitimacy of financial communications.

Lastly, the campaign seeks to raise awareness of scam attempts that may mislead customers into using incorrect account details, highlighting the tactics used by scammers to keep customers informed and vigilant.

Busola Jejelowo, the Chief Executive of Stanbic IBTC Asset Management, recently addressed the importance of a new initiative to safeguard customers in an increasingly complex financial landscape.

“At Stanbic IBTC, our top priority is our customers’ financial safety, and we are fully committed to ensuring that our clients have the security they need while managing their investments. This campaign is designed to protect our customers and empower them with the knowledge necessary to recognise and verify the authenticity of any communications they receive. By doing so, we aim to foster a sense of confidence and security among our clients regarding their financial decisions,” she stated.

The initiative emphasises the need for awareness and vigilance, particularly concerning suspicious communications. Stanbic IBTC Asset Management strongly encouraged all customers to be cautious and verify any unexpected requests for fund transfers, especially if they send money to unlisted account numbers. This proactive approach is crucial in preventing potential fraud and protecting assets.

In addition, the company has made it clear that customers should not hesitate to contact the support team directly with any concerns, questions, or suspicions regarding communications or transactions.

Through this campaign, Stanbic IBTC Asset Management aims to build trust and reassurance, reinforcing their dedication to the financial safety of their clients.