Business
ETI Deposits N45bn For Ecobank Rights Issue
Ecobank Transnational Corporation (ETI) has deposited about N45 billion for Ecobank Nigeria Plc proposed rights issue.
Ecobank Nigeria confirmed receipt of the money at weekend.
The Nigerian bank in which ETI holds 71.30 per cent equity is planning to do rights issue later this year.
ETI had last year floated the first regional share offer with the aim to some N300 million to finance its expansion programme subsidiary among others.
But at the close of the offer, it was only N47 billion subscribed.
In a related development Ecobank Nigeria has recorded 30.86 per cent growth in gross earnings during the first quarter ended March 31, 2009.
The unaudited result of the company showed gross earnings of N14.8 billion as against N11.4 billion in the comparable of 30.86 per cent.
Profit after tax rose marginally by 5.29 per cent, from N1.75 billion in 2008 to N1.84 billion in 2009.
Dr John Odeyemi chairman of the bank said recently that the bank has migrated from the Globus Banking Software to the Flexcube Universal Banking System (FCUBS) in order to improve its service delivery by providing a more robust platform for banking transactions, adding that the company intends to further grow its capital base this year to enhance the expansion drive and fund other strategic business initiatives and developments.
Odeyemi noted that the company would continue with its growth plan by attaining its strategic objectives to build scale, consolidate on the enhancement of its information technology platform and build capacity amongst others.
He said that despite challenges at the banking sector, the company remains committed to achieving its mission of transforming into a world class African banking group
Odeyemi noted that the bank renewed its growth plan with the opening of new branches and purchase and assumption of branches of Hallmark Bank in Liquidation which increased the branch network to 197 in 2007 as against 131 in the previous year.
He said that in consistent with the bank’s commitment to investing in the youth in area of corporate social investment, the bank continued its expansion of youth friendly centres across the nation’s compuses.
Odeyemi explained that the centres, a collaborative initiative between Ecobank and National Action Committee on Acids (NACA) provide HIV/AIDS screening facilities and information through leaflets posters, booklets internet among others on HIV/AIDS education adding that guidance and counseling for the youths as well as recreational and educational facilities such as cyber café’ and library are also provided.
He noted that through community partnership, the bank is constructing a building for the Science Secondary school Ojapo-Okpokwu Local Government, Benue State, which according to him the building when completed is expected to provide decent and modern learning facilities for the community.
Odeyemi noted that the project would be replicated in more communities in order parts of the country, adding that the bank’s foundation, a corporate philanthropic arm of the Ecobank group had also continued to touch lives of the people and communities in Nigeria and across West, Central and East Africa.
He attributed the bank’s performance to more efficient operations and processes resulting in increased customer base, a more robust loan portfolio and a resounding commitment by all stakeholders, which according to him shareholders fund increased to N35 billion from N26.7 billion achieved at the close of the consolidation programme in 2005.
The bank recorded a significant growth in 2007 as its gross earnings appreciated by 90 per cent.
The bank’s gross earnings rose from N17 billion in 2006 to N33 billion in 2007, representing an increase of 90 per cent while profit after tax increased by 109 per cent, from N3.6 billion in 2006 to N7.4 billion for the year-ending 31 December 2007.
Non interest revenue improved significantly to N14 billion in 2007 representing 123 per cent growth over the 2006 figures of N6 billion.
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.
King Onunwor