Business

ETI Deposits N45bn For Ecobank Rights Issue

Published

17 years ago

June 22, 2009

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.

Business

Boat Mishap Kills Pastor, Wife And Church Members In Brass Water

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

A boat accident in Bayelsa state has killed a serving Pastor, Wife and other church members along Brass waterways

The sad incident happened at Odioama in Brass local government area of Bayelsa State when the Pastor, wife and members of his church were in a programme.

?Tide confirmed that the lifeless body of the Pastor’s wife has been found and deposited in a mortuary while the remains of her husband ,the Pastor is yet to be recovered

as search party are still ongoing.

Although the real cause of the boat Mishap is not yet known as at the time of this report, our Correspondent gathered that the identities of the Pastor, wife and church members were not disclosed to the public.

The mishap, Tide gathered occurred on Friday morning when the church members were on a boat transit

The Bayelsa State government and the state police command are yet to issue official statement’s on the sad accident

By: CHINEDU WOSU

Business

Rivers Workers Seek Scrapping Of Contributory Pension Scheme

Published

5 days ago

May 18, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Council of Nigeria Civil Service Union has called on the State Government to urgently scrap the contributory pension scheme, describing it as unfavourable to long-serving civil servants in the state.

Chairman of the union, Chukwuka Osuma, said this in an interview with newsmen in Port Harcourt, recently.

Osuma said the current pension structure has continued to worsen post-retirement hardship for workers.

He noted that the contributory pension scheme had failed to provide adequate retirement security for workers who had spent many years in service, especially those approaching retirement age.

According to him, civil servants who had served for more than 20 years were among the worst affected under the scheme, insisting that many retirees could no longer cope with prevailing economic realities.

He also informed that the Union has made moves to showcase their concerns, pleading with Governor Siminalayi Fubara to abolish the pension policy and introduce a more favourable arrangement for affected workers.

“The union was not opposed to pension reforms, the contributory scheme should only apply to newly employed workers or those with fewer years in service”, he said.

Osuma explained that workers who had already spent decades in the civil service ought to remain under a more secure pension structure capable of guaranteeing stability after retirement.

The labour leader further noted that inflation and the rising cost of living had continued to erode the value of retirement savings, thereby increasing the suffering of pensioners across the country.

He also appealed to the state government to consider extending the years of service in the civil service from 35 to 40 years and the retirement age from 60 to 65 years.

Osuma argued that such adjustment had become necessary in view of present-day economic realities and changing conditions in the workplace.

The unionist also reviewed that similar policies had already been adopted in some sectors and jurisdictions, expressing optimism that the State could also implement the reforms for the benefit of workers.

He however, commended Governor Fubara for approving an N85,000 minimum wage for workers in the state, noting that the amount was above the national benchmark of N70,000.

Osuma also acknowledged the government’s efforts in the area of workers’ promotions and bonuses, but insisted that pension reforms and extension of years of service remained critical to the long-term welfare and stability of civil servants in Rivers State.

By: King Onunwor

Business

FG Begins South-West Tour To Promote New Cooperative Bank

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has launched the South-West zonal engagement and ministerial advocacy tour on the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria share capital mobilisation, sensitisation and cooperative sector digitalisation.

Reports say the initiative was launched through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.

According to reports, the advocacy tour, organised by the ministry’s Federal Department of Cooperatives, began on Monday in Lagos.

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security and Supervising Minister of Cooperative Affairs, Dr Aliyu Abdullahi, said the initiative was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Abdullahi described the exercise as a strategic effort to reposition the cooperative sector as a key driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity.

“Today represents a defining moment in our collective determination to reposition the cooperative sector as a major driver of inclusive economic growth, financial inclusion, enterprise development, food security and national prosperity,” he said.

The minister noted the modern cooperative movement in Nigeria originated in the South-West following the 1934 Strickland Report, which led to the enactment of the Cooperative Societies Ordinance of 1935.

According to him, the decision to commence the sensitisation and share capital mobilisation tour in the region is symbolic, as it marks a return to the roots of cooperative development in the country.

Abdullahi said the advocacy tour was a direct outcome of resolutions reached at the 8th Regular Meeting of the National Council on Cooperative Affairs held in Abuja in March 2026.

He said the council approved the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme, a comprehensive framework designed to strengthen the cooperative sector and align it with the administration’s goal of building a one-trillion-dollar economy.

“The reform programme focuses on seven strategic pillars, including governance reforms, cooperative financing and the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria, digitalisation, capacity building, value chain development, inclusion of youths, women and persons with disabilities, and strategic partnerships,” he said.

He said the establishment of the Cooperative Bank of Nigeria and the digitalisation of the cooperative sector were the two major transformational initiatives under the programme.

“The Cooperative Bank of Nigeria is aimed at rebuilding a strong cooperative financial system capable of supporting cooperators, farmers, artisans, traders, SMEs, youths, women and persons with disabilities with accessible and affordable financial services,” he said.

Abdullahi emphasised that the proposed bank would be government-enabled but not government-funded.

“Government is not establishing the bank as an owner, nor will it rely on Treasury Single Account funds.

“The role of government through the FMAFS is to provide policy support, stakeholder coordination, regulatory facilitation and an enabling environment under the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme,” he said.

Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Commerce, Cooperatives, Trade and Investment, Mrs Folashade Ambrose-Medebem, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to cooperative sector transformation.

She described cooperatives as critical tools for promoting inclusive growth, grassroots productivity, food security, financial inclusion and community wealth creation.

Ambrose-Medebem said Lagos State would continue to support reforms and collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the Renewed Hope Cooperative Reform and Revamp Programme (2025–2030).

“Together, let us build a cooperative ecosystem that is modern, transparent, digitally enabled, financially inclusive and globally competitive.

“Let us build cooperatives that not only mobilise savings, but also mobilise prosperity,” she said.