Sulaiman Aledeh has formally tendered his resignation as Managing Director of the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), effective 30 May 2026.

The decision, he said, was taken to enable him devote full attention to the next phase of his professional journey as a media practitioner and to pursue other endeavours as a private citizen.

In his letter to the Governor of Edo State, Aledeh expressed profound gratitude for the confidence reposed in him and for the privilege of serving the people of Edo State. “It has been a singular honour to lead this historic institution and contribute, however modestly, to its repositioning within an increasingly dynamic and competitive media environment,” he stated.

He also extended appreciation to the people of Edo State at home and in the diaspora for their support, engagement, and encouragement throughout his tenure. He described the opportunity to serve the public through broadcasting and strengthen the connection between government and the citizenry as deeply fulfilling.

Aledeh commended the dedication, resilience, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to excellence of his colleagues and the entire EBS workforce. He noted that their efforts made collective achievements possible as they pursued a shared vision of transforming EBS into a modern, credible, and forward-looking public broadcasting institution.

As he departs, Aledeh expressed confidence that the organisation will continue to grow from strength to strength and fulfil its vital mandate in service to the people of Edo State.

He concluded by wishing His Excellency, the administration, the people of Edo State, and the entire EBS family continued success in all future endeavours.

Zenith Bank Plc has reported an impressive 189% growth in Gross Earnings for Q1 2024, reaching ₦781 billion, a major leap from ₦270 billion in Q1 2023. This growth is significant given the challenging economic environment and monetary policy tightening.

According to its unaudited statement submitted to the Nigerian Exchange (NGX), the bank’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) surged by 270%, reaching ₦320 billion, while Profit After Tax (PAT) grew 291% to ₦258 billion.

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Key drivers of this performance include a substantial rise in interest and non-interest income, with interest income alone climbing 155% to ₦489 billion.

This increase is attributed to asset repricing in response to the Central Bank’s elevated Monetary Policy Rate, currently at 24.75%. Interest expenses grew by 157% to ₦182 billion, yet the bank’s Net Interest Margin (NIM) expanded by 20% year-on-year to 8.3%.

Customer trust in Zenith Bank’s stability is evident as deposits increased by 11% to ₦16.8 trillion, supporting a 30% rise in gross loans to ₦9.2 trillion. The bank’s total assets now stand at ₦24 trillion, up by 19% from December 2023. Zenith Bank has consistently maintained a Capital Adequacy Ratio of 20% and a Liquidity Ratio of 67%, comfortably surpassing regulatory benchmarks.

Looking ahead, Zenith Bank plans to strengthen its market position by transitioning to a holding company structure and raising capital to meet regulatory requirements. These initiatives underscore the bank’s commitment to maximizing value for stakeholders.

Ecobank’s MySME Growth Series Champions AI Innovation for Business Excellence

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the country have been advised to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to grow their businesses. Founder AI Nigeria, Ehia Erhabor, made this submission in his presentation titled “ Using AI for business innovation” delivered at the Ecobank MySME Growth Series webinar. He emphasied that AI is a gamechanger particularly for small businesses.

According to him, AI is rapidly transforming industries by automating processes, enhancing analytics, and enabling personalized customer experience, stressing that the future of AI is its democratization where companies of all sizes including SMEs can harness its power to drive innovation and gain competitive edge.

Specifically, Erhabor pointed out that “AI technology holds the key to the future. It is quite pervasive. It is part of our existence and will impact businesses the way we can ever imagine. It can help SMEs develop new products and services by analysing data and identifying customers’ needs. AI can also be used to automate repetitive tasks, streamline workflows, and improve efficiency by reducing operational costs.”

He listed the challenges and risks of AI as bias, explainability, privacy, transparency and misuse, debunking claims in some quarters that AI will lead to the end of the world but rather a tool for development.

Also speaking, former Chief Operating Officer, Flutterwave, Bode Abifari said AI technology holds the key to the future, explaining that it simulates human intelligence to perform complex tasks like research, decision making, pattern recognition and problem solving.

She submitted that AI was capable of improving customers’ experience and engagements for the SMEs, adding that the technology can personalize interactions, provide personalized recommendations and enhance customer service leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty for small businesses.

Ecobank MySME Growth Series which started in February this year is designed to empower SME operators across the country. It is part of the bank’s commitment to train over 1 million SME operators in various sectors of the economy in 2024. The training will provide resources for starting a business, registration processes, industry statistics, and essential considerations for running a business. The series cover key areas such as accounting, credit, sales & marketing, taxation, and inventory management.

#Ecobank’s MySME Growth Series Champions #AI Innovation for $Business Excellence

Additionally, articles on important topics like increasing sales, advertising ideas, business management practices, case studies, and leveraging technology will be provided. Ecobank also plans to launch an SME Mentorship program to collaborate with successful entrepreneurs. Taken together, the MySME Growth Series reflects Ecobank’s dedication to fostering growth and success within the SME community.