Confab’22: Delta, Lagos, NIMASA, Chevron, NDDC, Access Bank, Unity Bank, Glo join GOCOP partners

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The momentum has continued to rise for the sixth annual conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) as more corporate partners have lent their support for the event scheduled for Thursday, October 6 at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja-Lagos.

The chairman, 2022 Conference Committee, Mr. Ken Ugbechie revealed on Monday that the latest partners comprised Delta State and Lagos State, in addition to the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Chevron Nigeria Limited, and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Access Bank accelerates startup empowerment with Africa FinTech foundry - ITREALMS

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Access Bank Plc is accelerating startups empowerment with its Africa FinTech Foundry (AFF) initiative, reports ITREALMS.

The initiative, ITREALMS gathered is set to empower emerging startups, with mentorship programmes, advisory and has committed N10 million in cash to the top three finalists.

PaySend, Access Bank enter deal to extend African FinTech frontier

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Reputed card-to-card payments disrupter, PaySend has entered a new partnership with Access Bank Nigeria Plc in furtherance of its new generation mode of money transfers to the African markets, reports ITRealms.

PaySend, ITRealms gathered is rapidly expanding business with footprint in over 60 countries and is boosting presence across Africa with the latest.

Affirming this, the Chief Executive Officer, PaySend, Ronald Millar, expressed delight over the partnership with Access Bank Nigeria.

“To have reached over 60 countries in such a short time is excellent and we look forward to a long and fruitful partnership. Nigeria is one of our first African partners, and we definitely see great potential in the region,” Millar said.

ITRealms gathered that Access Bank, which has over 368 branches and service outlets across Nigeria, sub Saharan Africa, the United Kingdom and Dubai, promises to deliver sustainable economic growth that is profitable, environmentally responsible and socially relevant.

Responding, the Executive Director at Access Bank Nigeria, Victor Etuokwu noted that accessibility is important in “our business and we see this partnership as vital to connecting our customers to their increasingly globalised network, whether they be business contacts, friends or family.”

At present, he said, PaySend’s technology works for all Visa, Mastercard and Verve cards issued by Access Bank in Nigeria, but the company wants to go further.

“We are working together with Access Bank to expand our coverage across the country, and into other African countries to develop a broader offering in the region” Millar further said.

The company has big plans for 2018, and is keen to build partnerships with local banks in all major African destinations.

ITRealms recalls that PaySend made its debut as a next generation money transfers company 12 months ago and has created a global network through the major card schemes, comprising Visa, Mastercard, UnionPay, local domestic payment systems; thus allowing its customers to send money from card-to-card.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Unfreezed account: Firm slams N200m suit against Access Bank

ITRealms:

An Abuja-based media firm, the Image Merchants Promotion Limited and its promoter, Mallam Yushau Shuaib have slammed a N200m suit against the Access Bank Plc over an alleged unlawful freezing of their four different accounts with the bank in the past two years, reports ITRealms.

The bank was dragged before a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja by the two plaintiffs who had jointly claimed the N200m as damages for the hardships inflicted on them by the Bank with the freezing.

In the suit with No. FCT/HC/CV/0657/2018 filed on their behalf by Yunus Abdulsalam, the plaintiffs are praying the Court to declare that freezing of their account by the bank as unlawful and a clear breach of the duty of care owed them by the bank.

They are also praying for an order of the Court directing the bank to unfreeze their Private, Salary, Operational and Domiciliary Accounts of the Company and its Promoter with Access Bank Plc.

The global award-winning media outfit and its promoter are the publishers of Economic Confidential Magazine and PRNigeria, a public relations firm.

They claimed that they have tried to no avail with the bank to unfreeze their accounts which met brick walls each time and later metamorphosed to their solicitors writing the final letter to the bank.

In the suit, Shuaib says that the inexplicable freezing of his account has kept him struggling to meet up with his responsibilities as the breadwinner of his family thereby putting his four children, wife and aged parents into a state of avoidable hardship.

Also due to the inexplicable freezing of the accounts, the company claims that its businesses have suffered the following catastrophic developments: Over 20 employees and volunteers in the payroll resigned their employment because of the inability of the company to access its salary account for the purpose of paying monthly salary; The company has also lost patronage as it can no longer advise clients to pay into the operational accounts knowing fully well no withdrawal could be made to execute the job of its clients.

In addition, the media outfit says that the freezing of its Domiciliary Account prevented its financial obligations to foreign partners, subscriptions to products, services and professional membership fees. It also added that for the first time since inception, the company’s monthly print edition of the Economic Confidential Magazine could not see the light of the day.

Their solicitors had written a letter dated 21st December 2017 and addressed to the Branch Manager, Access Bank Plc,  Plot 1244, Samuel Ladoke Akintola Boulevard, Garki 2, Abuja, and received same day, the bank was informed that failure to unfreeze their accounts will resort to court action as there has been no official explanation by the bank.

The plaintiffs further claimed that since “the absence of their clients from the public service, Mallam Yushau Shuaib has been the alter ego of Image Merchants Promotions Ltd- the publisher of the widely read Economic Confidential Magazine and whose subsidiary is a leading and multi-international award-winning PR firm, PRNigeria.

They claimed that from the record of accounts in question, it was clear that the firm has been carrying out legitimate business of PR consultancy with a vast clientele base especially from the security and financial sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Plaintiffs claimed that they asked for an explanation from their mutual account officer as to the lawful justification upon which their accounts were frozen by the bank and that the response was rather evasive, opaque and vague.

Therefore, the Plaintiffs applied for an order of the Court in directing the defendant to unfreeze the four accounts and also sought for an order of the Court in awarding the sum of N200m only being general and exemplary damages against the bank for unlawful freezing of their account and breach of duty of care owed to them by the bank.

In addition, the plaintiffs demanded another sum of N1m against the bank being the cost of the suit. They also sought payment of 10% of the judgment sum from the date of delivery of judgment until the entire sum is liquidated.

No date has yet been fixed for the hearing.

Correspondent/GEE

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Ekeh tips Access Bank for digital disruption

ITRealms:

The acclaimed serial digital entrepreneur and Chairman, Zinox Group, Dr. Leo-Stan Ekeh, has tipped the foremost financial institution, Access Bank Plc, is exceedingly equipped to take advantage of the impending disruption aided by the rise of financial technologies (FinTech), reports ITRealms.

Ekeh made this assertion Thursday, December 14th, 2017 on the sidelines of the inaugural edition of Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech (AFFDisrupt2017) conference at Eko Convention Centre, insisting that bank has been exceptionally ready to align the expected unleash in an era of innovative change in the financial services sector.

Zinox chairman who featured as one of the guest speakers at the event, noted that Access Bank’s establishment of Africa FinTech Foundry (AFF), a new financial industry that applies technology to improve financial activities, is a bold move that has further demonstrated the bank’s readiness to take the lead in the race to leverage financial technologies (FinTech) in the sector.

“I can now see why the young men at Access bank exude so much confidence to lead in the financial sector in the near future at a time the Nigeria banking sector is almost ready for a certified leader.

“I commend Access Bank on the launch of the Africa FinTech Foundry which will not only boost technological innovations in the financial services sector, but will also offer young African tech start-ups and entrepreneurs access to much-needed capital, capacity-building, world class partnership opportunities and a useful platform to launch innovative products and solutions on a global scale. We all expect the Nigeria government to use platforms like this to build a new generation of Nigerians who can defend their wealth.

“This is an era in which you either disrupt or stand the risk of being disrupted. This reality is much more pronounced in the banking and financial services sector, hence the growing popularity of financial technologies or FinTech, as it is widely known.

“The landmark step taken by Access Bank shows the bank’s readiness for the future of disruption in the sector which is already here with us,” he said.

The Zinox Chairman – who featured as a panelist in one of the discussions: From growth to sustainability- How FinTech can survive and thrive – also gave attendees a plethora of insights and useful tips drawn from his over 35 years’ journey as arguably Africa’s biggest technology entrepreneur during a Fireside chat moderated by Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu, Managing Partner at Grand Central, Nigeria.

The inaugural edition of the Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF) Fintech conference had in attendance the best startups building products and solutions in the Financial Technology (FinTech) space, alongside investors, financial and technology partners, and a global audience of delegates from disparate industries to showcase next generation technologies and innovative solutions relevant to the financial services industry. Sessions on the day included a keynote address, fireside chats, masterclasses, partner exhibitions and panel discussions.

Other speakers at the event included former Minister of Communication Technology and Senior Partner at TLcom Capital, Mrs. Omobola Johnson; CEO, SystemLogic Group, South Africa, Audrey Mothupi; Founder, SASWARE Nigeria, Collins Onuegbu; Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Nigeria, Hakeem Adeniji-Adele; Investment Officer, West Africa at Accion Nigeria, Ashley Lewis; Co-Founder/Managing Partner, Trans-Sahara Investment Corporation Nigeria, Kyari Bukar; Managing Director, SystemSpecs Nigeria, John Obaro; Managing Director/CEO, InfoGraphics Nigeria, Chinenye Mba-Uzoukwu; Chief Investment Officer, Coronation Capital, Ahovi Kponou; Managing Director, Accenture Financial Services, Toluwaleke Adenmosun, among many others.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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Access Bank asserts industry leadership with ‘Bank of the Year’ award

ITRealms:

Access Bank has asserted its leadership of the Nigerian banking industry with the recent recognition as the ‘Bank of the Year’ at the 17th annual Bank of the Year awards black-tie dinner in London, reports ITRealms.

The award, ITRealms gathered corroborates other nine international honors earned by the Bank over the past 10 months for operational excellence, responsible business practices and innovation.

Presenting the award, Michael Buerk, BBC News journalist, noted that the award is unarguably one of the most coveted prizes in the banking sector globally, stressing that in spite of the challenging operating environment and rapid changes in the industry, Access Bank has remained a formidable institution. 

“Specifically, the Bank has been a purveyor of innovation in the Nigerian banking space and consistently outperformed industry forecast.  It is firmly believed that its operational model, risk management and governance framework, which enable sustained superlative financial performance need commendation” he said.

ITRealms also gathered that this view is consistent with Analysts’ opinion on the Bank in the past one year, but its Group Managing Director, Herbert Wigwe who received the award for the Bank said, “While innovation, excellent risk and corporate governance framework might be the advantage we have over our competitors, the Bank is propelled by a vision of becoming the world’s most respected African Bank, and this requires us to do things differently to standout. He thanked the bank’s stakeholders for their support and assured them of improved performance in the years ahead”.

Over the years, he said, Access Bank has established a reputation as one of the most formidable financial institutions in Nigeria. This is unconnected with its impressive growth trajectory and contributions to the development of the Nigerian economy through empowerment initiatives and practical SME schemes.  As an acclaimed innovative industry pioneer, the Bank has remained the choice of international financial organizations and multilateral agencies seeking partnership in Nigeria.

For some of its pioneering initiatives and outstanding performance, the bank has earned a number of recognitions in the past months. The recognitions include the ‘Karlsrushe Outstanding Business Sustainability Award’, ‘ BusinessDay Banking Award – CEO of the Year’, ‘BusinessDay Banking Award – Best Bank of the Year’, ‘EMEA Finance Best Bank in Nigeria Award’, ‘EMEA Finance Corporate Responsibility Award (Pan-African)’, ‘EMEA Finance CEO of the Year (Pan-African’ and World Finance Most Sustainable Bank of the Year Award’.

The bank is particularly excited about its emergence at the ‘2016 Bank of the Year’ because the award is renowned as a valuable reward for banking excellence, and recognition for achievements of outstanding individuals and exceptional institutions in the global banking landscape.

The Banker Awards is an annual event of the Banker Magazine, a publication of the Financial Times of London and world’s leading monthly journal of records for the global banking industry, with expertise in publishing developments in the African banking industry and beyond for more than 90 years.

Oyi Midele/GEE

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Pix 1: L-R: Editor, The Banker Magazine, Michael Buerk; Group Managing Director/CEO, Access Bank Plc, Herbert Wigwe with the plaque for the  Bank of the Year Award which the Bank won at The Banker Awards 2016 by The Banker Magazine in London

2 L-R : Dapo Olagunju, Group Treasurer;  Rooselvelt Ogbonna, Executive Director- Commercial Banking Division; Group Managing Director/CEO, Herbert Wigwe; Chief Financial Officer, Seyi Kumapayi at The Banker Awards 2016 where Access Bank won “Bank of the Year’’ Award.

Access Bank’s PayWithCapture 5.0 debuts

ITRealms:

Leading Nigeria's technology-driven financial institution, the Access Bank Plc, has made a debut of its PaywithCapture 5.0 with resolve to change the way of banking in the country, reports ITRealms.

Unveiling the PaywithCapture 5.0 in Lagos at Civic Centre, Victoria Island on Tuesday, the Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Herbert Wigwe said the upgrade of the banking application, PaywithCapture to 5.0 became expedient due to the velocity of changes in technologies.

He also said that with Internet of Things (IoT), PaywithCapture will change the way banking activities are done in Nigeria for good, stressing that it answers tomorrow’s questions thereby creating an illimitable answers.

Wigwe revealed that initially, when PaywithCapture was launched it garnered some 1 million downloads within the first three months, and pointed out that the bank’s current mantra centres on three core areas namely security, privacy and data encryption.

Nowadays, he said, “Your phone is your power,” adding that the era of “I don't have my purse or bag is over” just as he declared “With the PaywithCapture, the opportunity is illimitable.”

He also explained that the latest version, PayWithCapture 5.0 comes with additional features that enable customers to transfer funds from any bank account (one or more) to any bank account or phone number and email addresses.

“PayWithCapture 5.0 has also expanded to the web for users to experience the many benefits on larger screens,” he said, and also offers a ‘USSD’ (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) on a Global System for Mobile (GSM) communication technology that is used to send text between mobile phone service.

He said that by dialling *901# allows users to carry out most of the listed functions without the need to access the internet.

The Access Bank boss said that PayWithCapture 5.0, users could still enjoy the success of QR code scanning for payments but with the added ability to make transfers to bank accounts, phone numbers and email addresses.

Users can also set up a savings club through PayWithCapture. Savings Clubs, commonly known as Ajo or Esusu enable them save jointly with friends towards a common goal as the funds can be pooled and rotated among all members of the group or pooled and given to one person.

Responding to questions by ITRealms, the Head, Digital Banking at Access Bank, Adeleke Adekoya explained that as a listening bank, they heard about the issues and complaints customers had on the old app, hence, with this new version, “we’ve tried to resolve them all.”

According to Adekoya, the latest version has extended beyond simply scanning QR-Codes to pay for transactions to allowing customers experience banking in a way that feels as personal as they want it to be.

Another key feature of the upgrade, he pointed out, is the introduction of the PayWithCapture Titanium Card.

“Simply request for the card on PayWithCapture, then transfer funds from payment methods linked to your account and you can use your PayWithCapture debit card anywhere around the world you see the MasterCard sign,” Adekoya said.

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops 

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Pix: L-R: Executive Director, Personal Banking Division, Mr. Victor Etuokwu; Executive Director, Commercial Banking Division, Mr. Roosevelt Ogbonna; Group Managing Director, Mr. Herbert Wigwe and Head, Digital Factory and Innovation, Mr. Olugbenga Agboola all of  Access Bank Plc, at the launch of the bank’s upgraded lifestyle solution, PayWIthCapture 5.0 at the Civic Center on Tuesday.

Yudala's Gyming with the Stars goes to Ikeja

ITRealms:

The innovative scheme for healthy living tagged ‘Gyming with the Stars’ by Yudala, and supported by Access Bank and Airtel Nigeria, would this Saturday go to Ikeja, the capital of centre of excellence, reports ITRealms.
 

The second edition of Gyming with the Stars, according to the Chief Executive Officer, Yudala Nigeria, Mr. Dave Ibelegbu, would feature celebrities such as renowned comedian Akpororo, superstar artistes Naeto C, Iyanya, Ms. Uru Ekeh, among others at the Police College Field, Ikeja on Saturday November 7^th from 7am. 

He recalled that Yudala which launched the debut edition of Gyming with the Stars at the National Stadium, Surulere on October 17th saw thousands of Nigerians turning out in their numbers to work out with Iyanya, Naeto C and ace comedian Ali Baba, just as the event featured talks on healthy living and wealth creation. 

Ibelegbu affirmed that the event is a classic combination of fitness, wellness and entrepreneurship accompanied with great entertainment to improve the quality of life of Nigerians. 

He further disclosed that through the YUBOSS scheme which will be launched officially this month, Yudala plans to create millions of jobs for Nigerians at no cost to them. 

This event, he said, avails Yudala to promote a positive lifestyle that keeps diseases away by offering Nigerians from all walks of life a chance to work out with some of their favourite celebrities. 

“The message to Nigerians is – Live Healthier, Live Longer and Buy from Yudala. Most importantly, Yudala is passionate about supporting the Federal Government’s effort in generating creative employment for our youth through YUBOSS. Participants at the venue can sign up to join YUBOSS which offers a zero investment platform to create wealth,” he said.

ITRealms notes that YUBOSS by Yudala is an entrepreneurship scheme supported by Access Bank and Airtel Nigeria to build a league of emerging entrepreneurs and generate creative employment for millions of Nigerians.

In YUBOSS, Ibelegbu explained that members are entitled to attractive commissions and a wide range of benefits including business mentorship sessions, with exceptional performers progressing through the multi-levels to ultimately become part-owners of a Yudala franchise store.

“The YUBOSS scheme is targeted at smart Nigerians: undergraduates, post-graduate students, unemployed and under-employed individuals, housewives etc. who have the drive and ambition to earn money and be their own bosses,” he said.

He further explained that the work-out and fitness sessions with the celebrities, Saturday’s event at Ikeja would feature an auction sales on a wide range of genuine products from the biggest brands namely on smart phones, devices and gadgets, A-Z of IT Products, consumer electronics, lifestyle goods and much more.

He urged visitors to the Yudala’s website to sign up for the event and qualify for a raffle draw to win some mouth-watering gifts, courtesy of Yudala and Airtel. 

ITRealms recollects that Yudala with its headquarters in Nigeria, means best wishes, peace of mind and prosperity has carved a niche for itself by being the first organization to combine a real-time online shopping platform with offline stores located in major cities across the country, with further expansion into other major African capitals.

The company says its banking on its multi-pronged yet standardized business model, to dictate the pace and set new milestones for online and offline retail business, with the delivery of world class products and services in every Yudala store and on the online platform.

 

 +Remmy Nweke (ITRealms)
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