Business
GTCO Shareholders Endorse N91.24bn Total Dividend Payout for 2022

GTCO Shareholders Endorse N91.24bn Total Dividend Payout for 2022
Shareholders of Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc, have endorsed the payment of a total dividend of N91.236 billion, representing N3.10 per share for the financial year ended December 31, 2022.
This endorsement was made at the holding company’s second annual general meeting held on Thursday, virtually.
The Group proposed a final dividend of N2.80 per unit of ordinary share held by shareholders in addition to the interim dividend of 30 kobo interim dividend paid in June, bringing the total dividend for the 2022 financial year to N3.10 per unit of ordinary share.
Shareholders commended the board for the financial performance achieved during the period under review despite the operating environment.
Speaking on behalf of shareholders, the immediate past President of Nigeria Shareholders Solidarity Association, Cheif Timothy Adesiyan commended the management of GTCO for the impressive 2022 financial performance acheived and the consistent dividend policy of the Group.
He also noted the the Group has contributed to the growth of the economy in its lending to Agriculture, SMEs, Real Sector, among others as seen in the Award obtained by the Group in the year.
Speaking to shareholders, the Chairman of GTCO, Mr Hezekiah Oyinlola said “as I reflect on 2022, I recall the challenges we faced at every turn and the prospects that became significant milestones in our journey towards creating a robust yet agile institution.
“As we look across our burgeoning GTCO Universe, we take pride in the concrete outcomes of our diligent efforts and unyielding dedication towards expanding our influence and strengthening our position as a leading provider of financial services in Africa.”
He said “in 2022, our ambition was crystal clear, and we set out to achieve it with unwavering focus. We completed the setup of our holding company and acquired full ownership of Investment One Pension Managers and Investment One Fund Managers, now named Guaranty Trust Pension Managers and Guaranty Trust Fund Managers, respectively. Our payment subsidiary, HabariPay Limited, also launched in 2022 and almost immediately introduced its flagship product Squad to the market with outstanding reviews.
“The highlight for me is that these newly created businesses – in payments, fund managers, and pensions ran successfully and were profit before tax positive by the end of the year.”
On outlook, Oyinlola stated that, “the momentum we have built-up in recent years means that we are now in a position to leverage every opportunity to grow and sustain our superior financial performance.
“Our diversified business model and agile systems will enable us to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and turn economic tides in our favour. Our customer, centricity and focus on innovation and long-term value-creation, and will continue to be key drivers of our success in the years ahead.”
The Group Chief Executive Officer, GTCO, Mr Segun Agbaje, said in spite of the varying challenges and headwinds that weighed on growth in 2022, the Group delivered a decent performance posting a pre-tax profit of N214.2 billion representing a dip of 3.0 per cent from N221.5 billion posted in full year, 2022. PBT contribution from West Africa decreased from 21.0 per cent in December 2021 to 12.3 per cent in December 2022 due to the significant impairment sum of N35.6 billion recognised on the Ghanaian sovereign securities.
He also noted that during the same period, the size of the Nigerian Banking Subsidiary increased to 84.3 per cent from 79.5 per cent, while East Africa’s contribution to the Group grew marginally to 3.4 per cent from 3.0 per cent.
“The Group also benefited from a 0.9 per cent contribution from the Non-Banking Subsidiaries which compensated for the negative 0.8 per cent contribution from the United Kingdom in FY-2022.
“Gross earnings increased by 20.4 per cent to N539.2 billion in full year, 2022 from N447.8 billion in 2021.”
Agbaje explained, “2022 was a year that tested our resilience and our determination. As we face the future, we do so with the confidence that we will maximize all opportunities and deal with challenges as they come.
“I strongly believe that the new holding structure of our organisation will prove to be a propeller in our journey towards sustained growth and success.”
According to GTCO CEO, what we have as Guaranty Trust Holding Company is not a conglomerate but a structure of complementary businesses which helps us remain agile, innovative, and adaptable to changing market dynamics, whilst ensuring that we continue to deliver superior returns to our shareholders.
“We will also continue to dominate the financial services sector, not just because we will continue to pursue technological advancements and digital capabilities that keep us ahead of the curve, but because we will always stay true to the values of hard work, transparency, integrity and putting our customers at the heart of everything that we do.”
Since commencing operations in February 1991, Guaranty Trust has maintained an unbroken streak of year-on-year growth and a consistent lead in driving the digitization of financial services in Nigeria thanks to its strong service culture, efficient management, world-class corporate governance standards and bias for innovation.
In April 2021, the reorganization of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc to a financial holding company, Guaranty Trust Group Holding Company was completed as part of the company’s strategy to position for future growth and deliver benefits beyond banking to the people, communities and businesses who depend on the value we create to thrive.
Business
Fidelity Bank MD, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe Gets National Award

Fidelity Bank MD, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe Gets National Award
The Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Bank PLC, Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, has been listed amongst the recipients of the 2023 national awards.
NaijaNews reports that according to the 2023 national awards list released by the Federal Government last weekend, Onyeali-Ikpe would be conferred with the award of the Officer of the Order of the Niger, OON.
The list also includes prominent names such as Emeka Anyaoku, First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, Co-Founder of Tony Elumelu Foundation, Dr. Awele Elumelu; President of Transcorp Group, and Dr. Owen Omogiafo among others.
Also, former Governor of Osun, Bisi Akande; Olusegun Osoba; Mamman Daura, and Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele, among others received Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic.
The OON award comes to join a list of recognitions Onyeali-Ikpe has received recently. It would be recalled that she bagged the awards of the Banker of the Year 2022 at the Champion Newspapers’ Awards of the Year 2022 earlier in May, the Banker of the Year 2022 at the 14th Leadership Annual Conference and Awards in January 2023 as well as the Best Banking CEO Nigeria 2023 in the 2023 Global Banking & Finance Awards in April 2023.
She was also recognized as one of the top 10 female finalists in the Africa.com Definitive List of Women Chief Executive Officers (CEOs).
Onyeali-Ikpe joined Fidelity Bank as an Executive Director in 2015 and was appointed Managing Director/CEO of the Bank in January 2021.
Following her appointment, Onyeali-Ikpe became the first female MD/CEO in the history of the bank and one out of six other female CEOs in the industry.
Under Onyeali-Ikpe’s watch, Fidelity Bank grew its PBT from N25.22 billion in 2021 to N53.68 billion in 2022.
Furthermore, she guided the bank to obtain the approval of the Central Bank of Nigeria to expand its operations to the United Kingdom.
Business
Zenith Bank Wins ‘Best Corporate Governance Financial Services’ in Africa Award for the Fourth Consecutive Time

Zenith Bank Wins ‘Best Corporate Governance Financial Services’ in Africa Award for the Fourth Consecutive Time
For the fourth consecutive year, Zenith Bank Plc has been named the Best Corporate Governance ‘Financial Services’ Africa 2023 by the Ethical Boardroom. The award, which was published in the Spring 2023 edition of The Ethical Boardroom magazine, is in recognition of the bank’s adherence to global best practices and institutionalization of corporate governance, setting an industry-wide example of best practices in that field.
Speaking on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “I am extremely pleased that Zenith Bank has been awarded the Ethical Boardroom Corporate Governance award as a regional governance champion for the fourth year running. No doubt, the bank’s board has pioneered the exemplary governance culture for which we are now renowned.
“Indeed, this recognition reflects our steadfast commitment, discipline and high ethos in the conduct of our business and dedication to the principles of good corporate governance. This award will motivate us to strengthen this culture internally and advocate for good governance at every forum”.
He dedicated the award to the Founder and Group Chairman of the bank Jim Ovia, for providing the template for an enduring and very successful institution; the Board for their vision and outstanding leadership; the staff for their dedication and commitment; and the bank’s customers for their unwavering loyalty to the brand.
Ethical Boardroom is a trailblazing and leading international magazine that delivers in-depth coverage and critically-astute analysis of global corporate governance issues to help boards stay ahead of the governance curve.
Zenith Bank has been generally adjudged a Corporate Governance compliant bank by the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) hence it’s listing on the Premium Board of the Exchange. The bank continues to sustain this reputation and reappraise its processes to ensure that its business conforms to the highest global standards at all times.
The bank’s track record of excellent performances has continued to earn it numerous awards including being recognized as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1 Capital, for the 13th consecutive year, in the 2022 Top 1000 World Banks Ranking published by The Banker Magazine; Bank of the Year (Nigeria) in The Banker’s Bank of the Year awards 2020 and 2022.
State of the States: Lagos
Business
FirstBank Donates Modern Healthcare Centre To Lagos Community

FirstBank Donates Modern Healthcare Centre To Lagos Community
The commissioned Primary Healthcare Centre sponsored by FirstBank to the Ijeododo Community, Lagos.
…Over 10,000 residents to benefit from new primary healthcare centre

L-R: Hon. Ayodele Thomas, Vice Chairman, Iba Local Council Development Area; High Chief Jelili Ododo, Baale of Ijeododo land; Mrs. Tolani Oshodi, Permanent Secretary, Office of Secretary to the State Government/Cabinet Office; Mrs. Folasade Jaji, Secretary to the State Government and representative of the Governor of Lagos State; Mr. Seyi Oyefeso representing the CEO of FirstBank; Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board at the commissioning of the Primary Healthcare Centre sponsored by FirstBank to the Ijeododo Community, Lagos.
In a bid to boost healthcare delivery to thousands of residents, the Lagos State Government has built and unveiled a new Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in Ije-Ododo Community, Iba Local Council Development Area (LCDA), under the Ojo Council Area of the state.
The facility, which has been under construction since 2021 in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria Limited, was unveiled in the community in an opening ceremony attended by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, representatives of the state government, the state Primary Health Care Board, community leaders, as well as traditional rulers of Iba, Ije-Ododo and Ijagemo, among others.
In his welcome address, the governor, who was represented by Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mrs. Folashade Sherifat Jaji, said the opening of the health facility under the SSG’s One Community At A Time (OCAAT) initiative, formed part of activities to herald the inauguration of his second term in office on Monday, May 29, 2023.
Maintaining that the attention being paid to the healthcare sector was deliberate to ensure a healthier populace, he said the state government under his watch would deploy more resources to the health sector for easier access to health services, especially in underserved communities.
He enjoined members of the community to take full advantage of the health benefits that will be provided in the facility and charged them to take ownership and protect the assets and the facility at all times.
Speaking, Permanent Secretary, Primary Healthcare Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustapha, commended First Bank of Nigeria Limited and the contractor for completing the project within the stipulated time frame, but also requested more assistance to make the facility functional by providing equipment and other necessary medical gadgets.
On his part, Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, who was represented by Mr. Seyi Oyefeso, expressed satisfaction at the successful completion of the project, adding that it was gratifying to know that no fewer than 10,000 residents of Ije-Ododo and neighbouring communities will have access to primary healthcare services in the facility.
He said as a responsible corporate social organisation, the bank’s intervention in the primary healthcare sector aligned with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) approach anchored on citizenship, impact management, strategic education, as well as the health and welfare of the immediate and remote communities of Lagos State and other parts of the country.
In his words: “The completion and opening of the primary healthcare centre is to ensure that Ije-Ododo community will become healthier and wealthier since health is wealth.”
In his goodwill message, the Baale of Ije-Ododo, Dr. Abu Jelili Ododo, who spoke in company of the Oba of Iba and Baale of Ijagemo, applauded Governor Sanwo-Olu for the timely completion of the healthcare centre and appealed for the construction of the Ijegun-Ije-Ododo-Abule-Ado road to link the Badagry Expressway, adding that it was high time the Ije-Ododo Community was provided with a motorable road to ease the sufferings of residents.
Responding to the request for the road, Jaji assured that the Lagos State government under Sanwo-Olu was poised to build the road but that the project suffered some setback due to agitations by some members of the community over the location of the project, adding however, that as soon as the governor settles down for his second tenure, construction work will begin on the road.
By Edu Abade
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