Tag: Ecobank

Ecobank Nigeria says it understands challenges faced by Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria and will continue to support their operations.

The bank made the commitment at the second edition of Oja Oge by Ecobank, which officially kicked off at the weekend with all participating exhibitors present and ready for business.

Speaking at the opening, Ecobank Nigeria’s Head of SME, Partnerships and Collaborations, Omoboye Odu, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and overall ambiance.

 “We’re thrilled that all our exhibitors are on ground and fully activated,” Odu said. “The response has been overwhelming, and the energy at the venue is exactly what we hoped for. This is not just a pop-up, it is a full-blown fashion, culture, and lifestyle experience.”

The 3-day event  is already generating buzz as visitors began streaming in from early morning to take advantage of the jaw-dropping discounts offered by top brands.

Discounts ranging from 10 per cent to 50 per cent are on display, creating a vibrant and competitive shopping environment.

Among the notable exhibitors present are Adidas, House of Tara, Winston Leather, Ava and George Children’s Clothing, Chenche Clothing, and Lush Hair, alongside dozens of other local and international brands eager to showcase their latest collections and offerings.

Odu explained that the barriers being faced SMEs are understood even as their contributions to the Nigeria’s economy growth in terms of job creation and boosting of the Gross Domestic Product, and emphasizing that the bank, Ecobank, is an SME solution.

In addition to shopping, attendees are enjoying a dynamic blend of live music, fashion runway shows featuring designers like Oshobor, Jon Pelumi, and Y’wandelag, as well as beauty makeovers, games, and family-friendly activities.

Read Also: Soto Gallery partners Ecobank, AFC, Craneburg for second +234 Art Fair

Dedicated zones like Gameland for adults, Kid Zone and Books by Omolara for children, and a buzzing Beauty Parlour for women are already crowd favorites. The event also includes raffle draws and giveaways sponsored by corporate partners such as Airtel Nigeria, Flutterwave, Qatar Airways, and Maltina.

Odu emphasised that the marketplace is designed to uplift small businesses and creatives, offering them exposure to wider markets in line with Ecobank’s Pan-African mission.

“Oja Oge is a celebration of entrepreneurship, creativity, and community. We invite everyone to come and experience it,” she added.

Ecobank Nigeria is taking steps to position Nigeria and local artists to explore opportunities in the global arts market worth $62 billion in revenue.

Speaking yesterday at the commencement of the second edition of the +234 Art Fair, in Lagos, Head of the bank’s SME, Partnerships and Collaboration, Omoboye Odu said aside the revenue benefits for the country and artists, investment in arts will promote Nigeria culture.

She explained that the event was curated by Soto Gallery, in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria Limited and Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

He said the fair is aimed at pushing local artists on the global scene, noting that the partnership on the art fair which started last year had been a success.

Odu said that the global art market is estimated to be around $62 billion the bulk of that comes from America.

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“As a pan African Bank, Ecobank Nigeria is focused on solving financial inclusion challenge in Africa and we are working to ensure that Africa has a key place in the global art market. We are looking at how do we ensure that Nigerian artists who are the most popular in Africa are well represented,” she said.

While noting that the bank is a financial institution, she said its role in promoting art “is to give financial and corporate governance guidance to ensure that they become big on the global scene.”

On her part, Founder of +234 Art Fair and Soto Gallery, Tola Akerele, explained that the fair is to allow the artists to know where they are, locally, regionally and internationally, and be able to understand the market.

Kicking off at the Ecobank Pan African Centre (EPAC), between March 27 and 31, 2025, she said the fair, themed “Championing Patronage in Nigerian Art” will include workshops, panel discussion and fireside chats with experts in industry who will help artists understand more about the business of art.

Stating that the goal is to get the emerging and un-galleried Nigerian artists “to be elevated and be able to contribute to the enjoy the economy. It is all about promoting Nigerian culture, heritage, creative economy, all these different things.

The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP), in partnership with Ecobank Nigeria, will be holding a three-day Entrepreneurship Business Training (EBT) workshop for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the solar energy sector. This training, scheduled for March 10-12, will take place in Abuja.

The workshop aims to empower 50 small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the essential technical, financial, and business management skills needed to succeed in the rapidly growing renewable energy industry.

Through this initiative, participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the off-grid solar value chain, quality assurance, environmental and social risk management, business model development, and access to financial opportunities such as ROGEAP grants and credit lines.

Key training modules include understanding the structure of ROGEAP and available grant opportunities, the introduction to off-grid solar systems and their applications, solar product quality assurance and compliance with industry standards and business Model Canvas and business plan creation among others.

The training will be facilitated by expert trainers from ROGEAP, Ecobank, and other industry specialists, offering tailored and high-impact learning experiences.

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 “This workshop is a crucial step toward advancing sustainable energy access and business growth in Nigeria. By equipping SMEs with the right tools and knowledge, we are empowering them to drive economic development while expanding access to clean energy solutions,” said Salamatu Baba Tunzwang , ESF Team Lead at ROGEAP.

 “At Ecobank, we are excited about this collaboration. The workshop aligns with our ongoing efforts to support SME growth. This training will be invaluable for our SME customers involved in solar installations and sales. It complements our ELLEVATE Program and Single Market Trade Hub, providing them with access to customized financial products, digital tools, and strategic guidance to expand into broader markets,” added Tunde Dawodu, Divisional Head, FCT / North Ecobank Nigeria.

Ecobank Nigeria has championed Design and Innovation Exhibition 2025 to promote innovation, creativity.

The event highlights Nigeria’s top talents in furniture, product, and industrial design. With the theme “Building a Made-in-Nigeria Brand,” the exhibition celebrates the creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship of Nigerian designers and manufacturers while focusing on industrialization and export potential.

The event includes the Manufacturer and Designer’s Pavilion, which showcases collaborations between manufacturers and designers, as well as the Designer’s Pavilion, where 50 individual designers will present fresh concepts across various design disciplines—such as furniture, toys, automotive, and industrial design—capturing the richness of Nigeria’s creative landscape.

Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, said:

“This exhibition offers a distinctive avenue for our nation’s economic advancement. By harnessing the synergy between Nigerian creativity and the manufacturing sector, we can modernize and innovate our products, promote the production of Nigerian creativity and furniture, and strengthen our economic connections.”

Read Also: Ecobank drives real estate funding with Design and Build Expo

Managing Director / Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal, “Partnering this exhibition is yet another demonstration of Ecobank’s commitment to driving innovation, collaboration, and capacity building, which is the backbone of the nation’s economy. Ecobank is the solution for African banking, and we are committed to giving our customers the platform to network, collaborate, and partner to promote innovation and creativity. We are proud to be part of the process to spotlight homegrown innovations and sustainable practices across various sectors”.

Founder of Design Week Lagos & the Design, Innovation, and Inventors Hub of Nigeria, Titi Ogufere, said: “The Design and Innovation Exhibition 2025 is more than a celebration of design; it represents a bold step toward positioning Nigeria at the forefront of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. By fostering collaborations between designers and manufacturers, we aim to develop innovative products that not only serve local markets but also establish Nigeria as a global leader in design and manufacturing exports”.

 “This initiative underscores our commitment to building a sustainable industrial ecosystem that celebrates local talent and drives economic growth across Africa. At a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s creative economy, the Design and Innovation Exhibition 2025 will showcase the finest in furniture, product, and industrial design. This year’s exhibition will focus on the theme ‘Building a Made-in-Nigeria Brand, ’celebrating the creativity, innovation, and craftsmanship of Nigerian designers and manufacturers while emphasizing industrialization and export potential”.

Two Nigerian Fintechs, Sawport Video Banking and Sproutly have made it to the Grand Finale of Ecobank Fintech Challenge. The finale is scheduled for 27 September, at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lomé, Togo. The 12 finalists were selected from a highly competitive cohort of 40 Fintechs that made it to the semi-finals of the competition.

This year’s challenge attracted over 1,550 applications from 70 countries within and outside Africa.

It would be recalled that nine Nigerian Fintechs qualified for the semifinal stage and the finalists were announced at the inaugural 2024 Ecobank Fintech Challenge Hybrid Semi-Final event held last week at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Sawport Video Banking, one of the Nigerian Fintech finalists is a video banking solution that serves as a virtual branch for financial institutions to deliver seamless customer service and accelerate financial inclusion. It is a digital platform embedded with an alternative credit scoring algorithm designed to enable smallholder farmers to transact, enjoy micro-savings, access micro-loans and contribute to micro-insurance in their informal social savings groups.

Sproutly on the other hand, provides comprehensive financial management, flexible credit packages, and advanced payment solutions for schools, students, and families, ensuring financial stability, ease of transactions, and enhanced financial literacy.

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In his comments, Managing Director/Regional Executive, Ecobank Nigeria, Bolaji Lawal congratulated the Nigerian Fintechs that made it to both the semi and final stages, stating that “your hard work, creativity, and innovative solutions have brought you this far, and we are excited to see what your solutions present. Remember, your journey in this Challenge is just beginning, and we at Ecobank are committed to supporting you every step of the way.”

He pointed out that “Nigeria’s enterprising and innovative youths in fintech have benefitted from and contributed to the Ecobank Fintech Challenge. It is no coincidence that Nigeria is hosting this event. Our nation has emerged as a fintech hub in Africa, consistently leading in the number of applications, finalists, and winners over the years in the Ecobank Fintech Challenge. This year is no exception, with nine (9) of the semi-finalists hailing from Nigeria. This achievement underscores the vibrant and innovative fintech ecosystem we have cultivated here.”

While wishing the two Nigerian Fintechs success at the final stage, Mr. Lawal reiterated that Ecobank Nigeria is fully committed to working with the Ecobank Group to provide market access to the innovative solutions that emerge from the Challenge, stressing that the collaboration between traditional banks and fintechs can create a more inclusive, efficient, and robust financial ecosystem for all Africans.

The Ecobank Fintech Challenge, a flagship initiative of the Ecobank Group, organised for seven consecutive years, continues to serve as a premier continental platform for promoting innovation and collaboration between Fintechs and the pan-African Bank’s cross-border markets spanning 35 countries. The challenge remains a significant event, attracting key players within the fintech ecosystem and beyond.

It provides a unique opportunity for fintech entrepreneurs to address challenges such as reaching scale, navigating an uncertain regulatory environment, and managing scarcity of funding. In addition to financial rewards, the challenge offers Ecobank’s expertise in diversified market operations and the right solutions to scale across its pan-African footprint and international presence.

To bolster its leadership and successfully implement its Growth, Transformation, and Returns (GTR) plan, Ecobank Group has named some top executives.

Ecobank Transnational Incorporated (ETI) Group Communications Manager Ms. Christiane Bossom announced this yesterday in a notice to the Nigerian Exchange Ltd. (NGX) in Lagos.

Bossom announced that Martin Miruka has been named the bank’s Group Executive for Transformation, Enablement, and Customer Experience, and that Abena Osei-Poku has joined the Ecobank Group as the Regional Executive, Anglophone West Africa, and Managing Director of Ecobank Ghana.

Ecobank Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Ecobank Group, the leading pan-African banking group has announced mouthwatering interest rates on its SuperSavers accounts.

SuperSavers account is a high-yield savings account type tailored for customers who wish to maximize their returns on savings while benefiting from a customer-focused banking experience. The six months reward programme runs between January and June, 2024.

The Head of Premier Banking & Wealth Management, Ayodele Osolake, says this is part of the Bank’s strategic initiatives to continuously encourage a savings culture enabling customers of the Bank earn more money to safeguard better financial future.

“At Ecobank, we make it easy for our customers, by providing a special high-yield account type to warehouse their funds securely instead of them falling prey to speculative and windy investment windows. Beyond the high yield and financial safety, our clients retain the flexibility to access their funds when required.

Further, she said “Ecobank is mindful of the economic challenges and will constantly encourage our customers to hedge against possible future financial downturn enabling them to meet demands like travels, school fees, building projects among other life demands.

Read Also: SIM swap fraud rising, Ecobank alerts

The Supersavers Account (which comes in local and foreign currency variants) encourages them to save and build their wealth simultaneously. It is packaged in such a way that customers would benefit immensely. I want to encourage our new and existing customers to make the best of this opportunity.”

Ms. Osolake explained that “To qualify for the additional interest rate, customers need to open and fund their supersavers Naira account, with a minimum deposit of N500,000.00 while building the account up gradually.

She clarified that customers could still retain access to their funds being entitled to 2 withdrawals per month without losing the benefit of the SuperSavers interest rate!