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Sterling Convenes Technology’s Brightest For Improved Cybersecurity
Sterling Financial Holdings Company is actively driving collaboration and partnerships with regulators, infrastructure providers, operators, and other financial services providers to bolster the security of the Nigerian consumer and improve the safety of the financial ecosystem.
Olayinka Oni, Executive Director and Group Chief Operating Officer of Sterling Financial Holdings, issued this during his commencement speech at the recently held Sterling Thought Leadership Series for Information Technology, themed The State of FI Consumer Security. The session took place in Lagos and was attended by heads of information technology and security teams from banks, fintechs, consultancy firms, industry infrastructure providers and regulators such as KPMG NIBSS, Flutterwave, Wema Bank, Uniswitch and many more prominent players.
The event featured a keynote speech from KPMG, with two panel sessions on “Predicting The Future – Preparing For The Future of Cybercrime In The Age of AI” and “Securing The Consumer: Strengthening Partnerships Between Operators & Law Enforcement”. The first panel featured the Executive Director of the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Aminu Maina, SVP at Flutterwave, Dotun Adekunle, Mayowa Owolabi of Uniswitch, with founder of AWABAH and renowned media personality, Tunji Andrews anchoring.
In his address, Oni said: “This session, which will be the first of many,will seek to enhance our collective knowledge and inspire collaborative endeavors aimed at fortifying the digital realm, especially as an increasing number of customers turn to digital channels for value delivery.”
He underscored how this platform facilitates the exchange of ideas among thought leaders, challenges traditional norms, and charts a course toward a more secure digital environment, further describing the event as a platform to anticipate the evolving threats, adapt strategies, and promote a safer digital world marked by technological advancements and heightened cyber threats.
Oni continued by saying that, “This gathering represents a convergence of ideas, experiences, and visions that will drive advancements in securing the digital finance industry as our contributions and eventual decisions will have a direct impact on consumer rights, trust, and the continuity of our businesses.”
He concluded by saying that every organization participating directly acknowledges the evolving threats faced by operators and thought leaders in this space, and that their presence and contribution shows that they view themselves as more than just service providers, but custodians of monetary value and trust.
In a keynote address, Mr. John Anyanwu, Partner and Head of the Cyber Unit arm of KPMG Nigeria’s Risk Consulting, discussed “Strengthening the Customer and Preparing for the Emerging Digital World” by noting that disruptive technologies were already more prevalent and rapidly transforming every aspect of the world.
Anyanwu pointed out that this transformation was driven by the imperative to meet customer expectations, provide personalized and empathetic experiences, offer a unified integrated experience and anticipate issues before they arise, underscoring how these developments ultimately added value by increasing revenue, enabling faster onboarding and activation, personalizing pricing, improving customer acquisition, enhancing customer experience and loyalty, optimizing distribution and servicing channels and fostering the growth of new products and services.
However, Anyanwu cautioned that despite the numerous benefits of adopting the latest technologies, it also brought risks and concerns, including infrastructure vulnerabilities, data privacy, fraud risks, third-party risks and the need for education and awareness.
He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts among operators to address these concerns through initiatives such as cybersecurity education and awareness, cyber resilience, third-party risk management and safeguarding customer data privacy.
Outcomes of the session will include a communique that captures the submissions of the panellists and participants which will serve as the basis for the continued engagement with key stakeholders and shape policy for the delivery of service through digital channels for the financial services sector.
Sterling has maintained impressive momentum in 2023 with her citation as Africa’s Most Valuable Commercial Bank Brand for 2023 in a poll conducted by GeoPoll and Kantar for African Brand Magazine, has been named a top three employer in Nigeria by LinkedIn in the social network’s Top 25 List for 2023, and has featured on the prestigious list of the 100 fastest-growing companies in Africa for 2023, as published by the globally recognized Financial Times.
Renowned for its irreverent brand voice and enviable talent management practices, Sterling recently received three citations for Company Leadership Gender Diversity, Gender Diversity in Supply Chain, and Family-Friendly Workplace as bestowed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) at the Gender Leader Awards 2023.

Photo caption:
From Left to right: Mr. Tunji Andrews, Mr. Olayinka Oni, Chief Technology Officer, Sterling Bank Limited; Mr. Aminu Maiga, Executive Director, Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System Plc; Mr. Mayowa Owolabi, Uniswitch and Mr. Dotun Oyekunle, Senior Vice President, Flutterwave at Sterling Thought Leadership Series on the State of FI Consumer Security held in Lagos recently.
News
Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race
The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.
The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”
He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”
Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.
He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.
“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”
The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.
He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”
“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”
Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.
News
Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.
In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.
Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.
“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote
Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.
The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.
‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.
President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded
News
Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience
Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.
The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.
In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.
He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”
The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.
Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.
“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”
Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.
“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”
The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.
By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.
The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.
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