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Afreximbank Records Improvement in Operating Efficiency in Q1 2024

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Afreximbank

By Adedapo Adesanya

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has released its consolidated financial statements for the first three months of 2024, recording growth in the face of challenging geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions.

According to a statement, the Cairo-based lender demonstrated year-on-year growth and improvement in operating efficiency, with a lower cost-to-income ratio of 14.5 per cent in Q1 2024 compared with the 16.8 per cent recorded in the same period of 2023, achieved despite a 10.6 per cent increase in operating expenses to $61.4 million from Q1 2023’s $55.5 million.

In the period under review, the company grew its Net Interest Income by 31.7 per cent to $393.4 million from $298.6 million as a result of a 40.1 per cent increase in interest income to $721.8 million on the back of the growth in its portfolio of Loans and advances.

Net Interest Margin improved to 4.8 per cent from 4.4 per cent in the corresponding period due to a combination of higher benchmark rates and effective management of borrowing costs.

Staff costs rose by 28.6 per cent year-on-year following an increase in staff headcount to support the growth of group business and other initiatives, in line with the Bank’s Sixth Strategic Plan, constituting 52.9 per cent of the group’s expenses.

Group Total assets closed the first quarter of 2024 at $32.8 billion compared to $33.5 billion as of 31 December 2023 (Full Year 2023).

Cash and cash equivalents closed the period at $4.9 billion (versus $5.6 billion in 2023) with the Liquidity ratio remaining strong at 14.9 per cent.

The group’s Shareholders’ Funds rose by 2.9 per cent to $6.3 billion as of 31 March 2024 (FY 2023: $6.1 billion) on the back of growth in Group Net income of $178.7 million.

Also, callable capital, a significant proportion of which was credit enhanced as part of the bank’s Capital Management Strategy was maintained at $3.7 billion as of 31 March 2024 (FY 2023: $3.7 billion).

Speaking on the results, Mr Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, said, “During the first quarter of the financial year 2024, Afreximbank Group delivered a strong performance even as we expanded our subsidiary companies’ operations and our activities in the Caribbean.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to prioritise revenue and quality assets growth, and operational efficiency, while ensuring capital adequacy and adequate liquidity levels are maintained. Focusing on these key areas will enhance the Group’s ability to execute its strategy and initiatives as outlined in its Sixth Strategic Plan.”

“The implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) strongly supported by a robust payments and settlement system like PAPSS, is poised to strengthen the continent’s economic resilience by providing a shield against volatility on the international scene.

“Consequently, Africa is projected to sustain its resilience in 2024 and attain a growth rate of approximately 4 per cent. We look forward to the rest of the year with confidence,” he added.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

Banking

GTCO Distributes 3,000 Gas Cylinders to Obafemi Owode Residents

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GTCO cooking gas cylinder

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

Over 3,000 residents of the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have been given a unit each of a 3kg gas cylinder by Guaranty Trust Holding Company (GTCO) Plc under its Waste for Gas initiative launched recently.

The cooking tool was distributed mostly to women in the community after conducting thorough assessments by visiting beneficiaries’ homes to ensure that the support reached those who genuinely needed it.

The financial institution said the items would provide access to gas-powered cooking solutions and simplify daily routines by freeing up time for other productive activities that support financial stability.

It expressed optimism that the cooking gas cylinder will make a meaningful impact in the community and enhance the quality of life for households.

“The Waste for Gas initiative is about making life easier for families, giving them more time to focus on important activities such as education, work, or personal development.

“Beyond this, our goal is to continuously develop sustainable initiatives that empower individuals, strengthen communities, and contribute to socioeconomic growth,” the chief executive of GTCO, Mr Segun Agbaje said.

Also, the Chief Communication Officer of GTCO, Ms Oyinade Adegite, said, “We visited various households across the local government and were surprised to find that some residents had already gone borrowing from money lenders just to afford gas cylinders, while some others were considering doing the same.”

She urged beneficiaries to use the cylinders for their intended purpose and not resell them, adding that GTCO would return for the second phase of the program. The bank’s decision to expand the initiative would depend on how well the items are utilized.

Expressing gratitude for the initiative, Obafemi Owode Local Government Chairman, Mr Ogunsola Adesina, stated that the intervention would significantly improve the standard of living in the area.

He also appealed to GTCO to establish a branch within the community to alleviate the banking challenges residents currently face.

In his remarks, the Olu of Owode-Egba, Mr Kolawole Aremu Sowemimo, advised beneficiaries not to sell the gas cookers and assured them that discussions were underway to establish discounted gas refill stations within the community.

Additionally, the Iyaloja General, Mrs Ganiyat Oyelakin, cautioned beneficiaries to use the gas cookers safely to prevent accidents. Residents were also educated on the proper handling and maintenance of their gas cylinders.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Risikat Ayoka, thanked GTCO for the initiative, saying, “We are excited. This gesture will make us stop using firewood for cooking.”

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Banking

Union Bank, ICAN Explore Potential Areas of Collaboration

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ICAN Union Bank

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

The managements of Union Bank of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) are looking at ways to join forces for growth.

Recently, the executives of ICAN were at the head office of the financial institution tucked in the iconic Stallion Plaza in Lagos.

This visit underscores ICAN and Union Bank’s mutual commitment to advancing the accounting profession and contributing to the overall growth of Nigeria’s financial sector.

The president of ICAN, Mr Davidson C.S Alaribe, appreciated the warm reception and highlighted the importance of such engagements in promoting professional excellence and ethical standards within the accounting and finance sectors.

In his remarks, the Chief Financial Officer of Union Bank, Mr Oluwagbenga Adeoye, emphasised the bank’s commitment to supporting initiatives that enhance the professional development of accountants and ICAN members.

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Banking

Senate Accuses CBN of Stalling N30trn Ways and Means, ABP Investigations

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CBN IMTOs

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on Ways and Means Advance has accused the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) of frustrating its investigation into the N30 trillion Ways and Means Advance and the Anchor Borrowers’ Programme (ABP) under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The committee made the accusation after receiving an interim report from its consultants at a meeting where they expressed frustration over the central bank’s failure to provide crucial documents required for the probe.

The panel, which was inaugurated a year ago by Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, stated that the delay has significantly stalled progress on the investigation.

The chairman of the committee, Mr Isah Jibrin, criticised the CBN for withholding vital information, despite multiple requests, revealing major infractions with the preliminary reports of the lender.

He dismissed speculations that the Senate had been compromised or gone to sleep, reaffirming its commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency in the management of public funds.

“The information we have here is not different from what we have heard all along. What we did was to hand over the documents to the consultants, and when the consultants made available to us this interim report, our intention was to hold onto the interim report on the final report,” he told reporters.

“But we’ve been compelled to make available this interim report to the general public so that they know that we let them know where the problem is, and the problem is that the Central Bank of Nigeria has denied us consistently the documents that we need to complete this assignment. That is the truth.

“It was at the CBN sometimes, I met Bala the deputy governor. And they promised, but nothing came out of it. The Clerk has been there several times. Nothing has come out of it.

“The consultants themselves even took it upon themselves to go with CBN directly, because we introduced them to CBN and nothing has come out of it.”

The committee issued a strong warning to the CBN representatives, emphasizing the need for full disclosure of how the funds were utilized to address Nigeria’s economic challenges.

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