The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, along with three Deputy Governors of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), received honourary fellowships from the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) during the 2025 fellowship investiture ceremony in Lagos on Saturday.
The prestigious event, themed “Banking Beyond Boundaries: Leveraging Technological Innovations for Enhanced Performance in the Nigerian Banking Industry”, recognised individuals and institutions that have made significant contributions to Nigeria’s banking sector and overall economic development.
Among the top banking regulators honored were CBN Deputy Governors Dr. Muhammad Abdullahi (Economic Policy Directorate), Dr. Bala Bello (Operations Directorate), and Ms. Emem Usoro (Corporate Services Directorate).
They joined Minister Edun in receiving the institute’s highest accolades for their outstanding service and leadership in shaping Nigeria’s financial system.
In total, 687 experts were inducted during the ceremony, including 21 honorary fellows, 440 elected fellows, and 225 honorary senior members.
The ceremony also recognized exemplary professionals for their integrity, meritorious service, and contributions to the advancement of banking and the Nigerian economy.
Several prominent banking executives were also honored. These included Dr. Adeola Phillips, Dr. Adaora Umeoji (Zenith Bank Plc), Mr. Olusegun Alebiosu (First Bank of Nigeria Ltd), Haruna Musa (Jaiz Bank Plc), Mr. Hassan Imam (Keystone Bank Ltd), and Mr. Omokayode Lawal (Polaris Bank Ltd). Other distinguished recipients included Mr. Bayo Ajayi (Rand Merchant Bank Nig Ltd), Mrs. Nneka Enwereji (Citibank Nigeria), and Mr. Paul Abiagam (Coronation Merchant Bank).
Delivering a speech, CIBN President Pius Olanrewaju praised the recipients for their dedication in shaping the banking sector and the broader economy.
He highlighted the critical role of Nigerian banks in expanding credit access, fostering financial inclusion, supporting agriculture and technology, and strengthening economic resilience.
Olanrewaju emphasised that the sector’s collective efforts contributed to Nigeria’s GDP growth of 4.23 percent year-on-year as of Q2 2025, signaling renewed economic momentum.
He stressed that sustaining this progress requires strategic collaboration between the CBN, banks, and stakeholders, deeper financial inclusion through digital technologies, robust regulatory frameworks, and expanded credit to key sectors such as manufacturing and SMEs.
He also cited Nigeria’s exit from the FATF grey list as a major milestone that restored international confidence, eased trade and investment flows, and reinforced the country’s commitment to transparency and financial integrity.
The ceremony showcased the evolution of banking in Nigeria, from traditional physical operations to digital innovations and electronic payments, which surged to N384 trillion in July 2025, including mobile and Point-of-Sale (PoS) transactions that increased over 200 percent year-on-year.
Olanrewaju emphasised that Nigeria’s banking and finance sector remained a cornerstone for sustainable economic growth, regional leadership, and job creation, urging all stakeholders to continue building on these achievements for future generations.
The event was widely attended by banking professionals, industry stakeholders, and government representatives, highlighting the continued importance of professional recognition and capacity building in Nigeria’s financial sector.
