. Celebrates Airline For The Commencement of the Lagos-London Route

Fidelity Bank Plc has commended Air Peace’s performance since it commenced flight operations about 10 years ago.

Dr. Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, the Managing Director, Fidelity Bank Plc gave the commendation over the weekend in Lagos during a special event organised for the airline by the bank to celebrate Air Peace for the milestone of commencement of direct flights from Lagos to London.

According to Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe, who doubled as the host at the event, the airline has upheld the principles of financial discipline and good corporate governance since inception, while it has also been very loyal to the bank.

She expressed delight that the bank had the airline as one of its major clients since inception, stressing that the Bank was celebrating the airline’s milestone of launching direct flight service to London and other developments it would attain in the future.

L – R: Vice Chairman, Air Peace, Mrs. Alice Onyema; Chairman, Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema;
Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Fidelity Bank Plc, Dr Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe; and Managing Director, Graviti Hill Ltd, Dr Ken Onyeali Ikpe at a special event organised by the bank to celebrate the commencement of Air Peace’s flight operations into London recently.

The event, which held at the Civic Center, Victoria Island, Lagos, had in attendance several bank Managing Directors, stakeholders in the aviation sector, media personalities and well-wishers of both brands.

Speaking at the event, an elated Dr. Allen Onyema, the Chairman, Air Peace, observed that it was not rosy for the airline to attain its status and expressed gratitude to the flying public, the various aviation stakeholders, the media and the government for the continued support since it launched in 2014.

He specifically acknowledged the pivotal role played by Engr. Ben Adeyileka, the former Acting Director-General, Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), in helping the airline secure its Airline Operator Certificate (AOC).

He further commended Fidelity Bank for the consistent support and stressed that the bank had contributed to the success story of the airline.

“I call it our journey with Fidelity Bank. I did not envisage this day would come when an indigenous institution would be celebrating another indigenous institution. Fidelity supports real business. They keep removing people from the streets of poverty. Let other banks emulate Fidelity,” he said.

He reiterated that Air Peace was set up primarily to create employment, not for profitmaking, stressing that the motivation behind the business was to empower Nigerians economically.

“Air Peace was not borne out of the intent to profiteer, but to create jobs. Air Peace was not established because I wanted more money but because of the conviction that running an airline would create massive job opportunities. That was why we went into aviation”, he remarked.

He restated the airline’s belief in the Nigerian project, maintaining that supporting the airline meant supporting the growth of the Nigerian economy.

Onyema further craved for the support of all Nigerians on the Lagos-London route, which it opened on March 30, 2024.

He explained that the airline needed to sustain the route, stressing that this could only be done through support from Nigerians.

He said: “For every penny you pay to Air Peace, you pay to sustain the jobs of thousands of Nigerians and support economic growth.

“Air Peace flies you from any of our domestic routes to London. So, you can fly from Yola to London via Lagos. From the local airport, you are taken to the international airport free of charge with a seamless luggage transfer.”

He pledged that the airline would continue to fully adhere to the standard of safety and lauded the management and staff of Air Peace for their efforts in realising the London dream.

A letter of resignation seen by this online medium indicates Dr. Adesola Adeduntan has resigned from his position as Managing Director of First Bank Ltd.

Reliable sources familiar with the matter also confirmed this to Nairametrics, corroborating other media reports suggesting the same.

An official disclosure has yet to be filed with the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) as of Friday evening, when Nairametrics received the information.

According to our sources, Adedutan tendered his resignation to the board of the holding company of the bank, and it was accepted. He also communicated an effective resignation date of April 20, 2024.

Adedutan’s Resignation

In letter seen by Nairametrics, Adeduntan stated that “he would no longer be eligible for employment” of the bank after serving for a record nine years.

“As you are aware, my contract would be expiring on 31 December 2024 after which I would no longer be eligible for employment within the Bank having served as the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of FirstBank for a record time of nine years.”

“During this period the Bank and its subsidiaries has undergone significant changes and broken new grounds. We have repositioned the institution as an enviable financial giant in Africa.”

“I have however decided to proceed on retirement with effect from 20 April 2024 to pursue other interests.”

“I am eternally grateful to the board of directors of FirstBank and FBN Holdings Plc for the support that I received from them during my stewardship. I wish our iconic institution continue success and progress as we move into the next phase of its evolution.

New FBNH

The resignation also follows the recent appointments of 5 new elite directors at the holdco and bank levels, a move seen as an attempt to strengthen the corporate governance framework of the bank.

The directors appointed by the bank all have intimidating resume’s suggesting a new direction for one of Nigeria’s largest financial institutions.

The holding company announced the appointment of Mr. Olusola Adeeyo, and Mr. Viswanathan Shankar as Non-Executive Directors of FBN Holdings Plc respectively.

The bank (a subsidiary of the HoldCo) also appointed Mrs. Remilekun Adetola Odunlami as Non-Executive Director and Mr. Anil Dua and Mrs Fatima Ibrahim Ali as Independent Non-Executive Directors of FirstBank.

Throughout his tenure, previously reported by Nairametrics, Adedutan played a pivotal role in navigating the bank through challenging economic periods, focusing on digital transformation initiatives and strengthening the bank’s market position.

His tenure was controversially renewed in April 2021 for a second term, following an initial six-year term. This April marks the end of another three-year term at the helm of the bank for Adedutan, adhering to First Bank’s tradition of MD/CEOs serving three-year tenures, of which Adedutan has now completed two.

His departure marks a significant shift in the bank’s leadership dynamics as it approaches a critical juncture in its strategic development.

This story is still unfolding. Please check back for updates as we continue to gather more details.

Meanwhile an Extra-ordinary General Meeting planned for April 30th, 2024, to consider the bank’s planned N300 billion capital raise, has been cancelled. This was communicated in a notification on the NGX.

The Alternative Bank Limited (AltBank) has announced a strategic collaboration with FoodBank and Sterling One Foundation to raise approximately N20 million in support of hunger alleviation and educational initiatives.

This initiative aligns with the theme of the African Union Summit 2024, “Educate and Skill Africa for the 21st Century.”
Hassan Yusuf, the Managing Director of The Alternative Bank, unveiled this plan in a press release, highlighting the forthcoming AltWalk event as a pivotal fundraising platform. “Through this initiative, we aim to mobilize contributions from both internal and external stakeholders, reaffirming our commitment to education and societal welfare,” stated Yusuf.

The fundraising campaign aims to secure N20 million, with the proceeds serving dual purposes: providing meals for underserved communities and orphanages through the Lagos FoodBank initiative and delivering quality educational support via Sterling One Foundation.

This campaign targets individuals, families, businesses, and organizations committed to ending hunger, improving education, fostering healthy living, and positively impacting society. Prospective donors are encouraged to contribute through https://altbank.ng/walk/.
Stakeholder participation and donations are poised to substantially impact critical social issues, including hunger reduction, enhanced education, and healthier lifestyles.

Yusuf emphasized AltBank’s dedication to empowering customers through innovative solutions in health, food security, and education, positioning them for success in the 21st century. He stressed that education is central to the bank’s mission of bolstering the economy and enhancing financial well-being across society.

AltBank, Nigeria’s most recent entrant into the financial services sector, made a grand entrance with simultaneous launch events in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, marking the country’s first multi-city brand launch. As the ethical banking arm of Sterling Financial Holdings, The Alternative Bank originated in 2014 as Sterling Alternative Finance under Sterling Bank Plc’s non-interest banking license. It has since evolved into a prominent player in Nigeria’s non-interest banking sector.

About Lagos FoodBank

Lagos Food Bank is a non-profit, nutrition-focused initiative committed to fighting hunger, reducing food waste, and addressing malnutrition through targeted programs. Their initiatives aim to improve the nutrition and food intake of vulnerable populations, including children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, seniors, and impoverished families.

About Sterling One Foundation

The Sterling One Foundation catalyzes positive social impact across critical sectors of the Nigerian economy. Motivated by the distinct challenges faced by millions of Africans, the foundation aims to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), capitalize on the demographic dividend, and improve the standard of living for underserved communities. Through stakeholder-driven interventions, it focuses on employability, sustainability, wealth creation, socioeconomic development, and national progress.