The Chairman of Polaris Bank, Dr. Kassim Gidado, has called on newly inducted banking professionals to uphold integrity, embrace continuous learning, and demonstrate ethical leadership as they navigate the rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

Dr. Gidado, made the call while delivering his remarks as the Special Guest of Honour at the 2026 Stream 1 Chartered Banker Induction Ceremony organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

The ceremony which held in Lagos at the weekend, celebrated the induction of 2,037 professionals into the prestigious Chartered Banker and Microfinance Certified Banker cadre of the Institute, marking a significant milestone in their professional journeys.

According to the Institute, the inductees emerged through various certification routes including 9 candidates through the Chartered Banker/MBA route, 816 through the Chartered Banker Regular Route, 25 through the MSc/Chartered Banker pathway, 262 through the SMP/AMP/Chartered Banker pathway, and 435 Microfinance Certified Professionals.

The candidates comprise executives, senior and middle management staff of Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks and other financial institutions, as well as professionals from the public and private sectors, self-employed members of the Institute, and graduates from linked tertiary institutions.

In his address, Dr. Gidado described the induction ceremony as more than a formal event, noting that it represents a celebration of excellence, perseverance, and professional discipline within the banking industry.

“Banking today is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Digital transformation, financial inclusion, regulatory reforms and emerging technologies are redefining how financial institutions operate and deliver value to society,” he said.

He emphasized that while technology continues to transform the banking sector, trust remains the most valuable currency in banking, stressing that the credibility of the financial system ultimately depends on the integrity and professionalism of banking professionals.

Dr. Gidado commended the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria for its continued commitment to strengthening professional standards, developing industry capacity, and nurturing the next generation of banking leaders in Nigeria.

He also reiterated the importance of investing in human capital within the financial services industry.

“At Polaris Bank, we firmly believe that human capital is the most strategic asset within financial institutions. The future of banking will not be defined only by technology or capital, but by the quality of professionals who steward these resources responsibly,” he stated. 

Dr. Gidado, an accomplished academic further encouraged the newly inducted Chartered Bankers to be guided by three key principles throughout their careers: upholding integrity, committing to lifelong learning, and leading with purpose.

The 2026 Stream 1 Chartered Banker Induction Ceremony brought together industry leaders, regulators, banking professionals, and stakeholders to celebrate professional excellence and reinforce the role of certification in strengthening Nigeria’s financial system.

The Asoro family has issued a formal public apology following a viral video of a bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre in Benin City, Edo State.

The video, which sparked widespread outrage, showed several students—specifically identified as seniors—beating and kicking a fellow student on the ground while another recorded the assault.

The school management had earlier announced that all students involved had been expelled.

In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by Tim Asoro on behalf of the Asoro family, the parents expressed shock and deep embarrassment over the incident.

“Watching the video has been one of the most distressing and heartbreaking experiences of our lives as parents. We have watched it with shock, sadness, and deep embarrassment,” the statement read.

“As a family, we are ashamed that our child was involved in conduct that caused pain and distress to another student,” it added.

The family apologised directly to the victim and his relatives, noting that no child deserves to be treated in such a manner.

“To the student who was affected, we want to say from the depths of our hearts that we are truly sorry. No child deserves to be treated that way. As parents, we cannot begin to imagine how frightening and hurtful the moment must have been for him. Our hearts go out to him and his family,” the statement said.

While the family expressed relief that medical reports confirmed the victim was physically unharmed, they acknowledged the seriousness of the incident and the emotional distress it may have caused.

Describing the episode as a painful moment of reflection, they said they had held serious discussions with their son, who expressed deep remorse for his actions.

“He understands that what happened has consequences not only for himself but also for another child, the school, and our entire family. We do not excuse what happened. It was wrong, and we are determined that our son must learn from this moment,” the statement read.

The parents added that steps were being taken to ensure their son receives guidance and counselling to help him develop into a more responsible and compassionate person.

They also reiterated their respect for the disciplinary measures taken by the school and extended another apology to the victim, his family, and the wider school community.

“Our family hopes that healing will come to everyone affected by this painful incident and that our son will learn the lessons needed to become a better person,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, the Edo State Police Command said it had summoned the school management to hand over the students involved for investigation and possible prosecution. The Edo State Government also promised sanctions for anyone found culpable.

The state Ministry of Education has set up a five-member investigative committee to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify all students involved. The police confirmed that investigations were ongoing and that those found culpable could face prosecution.

This is not the first Nigerian secondary school bullying case to attract national attention. In 2024, a video surfaced showing the brutal bullying of a female student at Lead British International School in Gwarinpa, Abuja. The victim, Namtira Bwala, was repeatedly slapped by fellow students, sparking widespread outrage across the country.

The Lagos State Government has officially announced the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, set to resume on Saturday, April 25, 2026.

This marks the return of the state-wide cleaning culture nearly ten years after its suspension in 2016.

Residents are expected to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in front of their homes, and dispose of waste responsibly as part of efforts to improve environmental hygiene and tackle waste management challenges.

The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, on Saturday, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that the exercise would officially restart later in the year.

“I am pleased to inform all Lagosians that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise will resume effective Saturday, 25th April 2026, holding on the last Saturday of every month from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.

“During this period, residents are enjoined to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels in their frontages, and dispose of waste properly as a civic responsibility.”

Wahab urged residents to view the initiative as a shared duty toward building a healthier city, stressing that the government would ensure strict compliance.

“This exercise is a collective responsibility and a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, healthier, and flood-resilient Lagos. And it shall be backed with the full enforcement weight of the Lagos State Government,” he said.

Explaining the significance of reintroducing the sanitation culture, the commissioner said the state was returning to a practice that once formed part of Lagosians’ lifestyle.

“Let me formally say this and say it boldly. Mr Governor and his deputy are taking a very audacious step. For those who don’t know, prior to 2016, we had a culture that emphasised cleanliness as next to godliness.

“Once every month, we took our time to clean up our surroundings and then maintain them sparkling. However, for some years, we stopped it.”

He said the absence of the exercise had contributed to mounting environmental pressures in the state.

“Now, waste, debt, and environmental challenges have become an existential challenge to us as a state. It’s taken us over a year to debate, talk, and agree that it’s time to reintroduce a monthly environmental sanitation,” Wahab said.

Appealing to residents for cooperation, he urged Lagosians to dedicate a small portion of their time each month to environmental cleanliness.

“It’s a plea that it is time for us to give up just one or two hours a month. In our marketplaces, every Thursday, we observe environmental cleanliness. But this time, we are saying as a state, let us sit back once a month and observe the cleanliness of our environment as we used to before 2016.”

JomogNews reports that the monthly sanitation exercise, previously held on the last Saturday of every month between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., was suspended in November 2016 following a legal pronouncement restricting movement during the exercise.

The suspension later coincided with growing waste management concerns, including clogged drainage channels and indiscriminate refuse disposal across parts of the state.