741 new members were inducted by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) during its 2024 second stream induction on Saturday in Lagos.
Ethics and Professionalism in banking operations and excellence towards efficiency and customer satisfaction was empasised by the President of CIBN, Prof. Pius Olarenwaju, during the hybrid induction and award ceremony.
Olarenwaju noted that the banking industry is rapidly evolving, with new technologies reshaping the foundations of financial services, thus the need for continuous learning for professional growth, networking, and career advancement
The theme for the programme “Unlocking Your Potentials: Positioning for Next Levels,”
Olanrewaju addressed the graduants and highlighted that Factors necessary for unlocking potential includes the adoption of a growth mindset, understanding the evolving landscape, embracing technology, and building a strong personal brand.
The six-point agenda of his presidency, termed the “LEGACY Agenda,” was further elaborated on by Olarenwaju, with an emphasis on the importance of ethics, professionalism, and integrity being entrenched within the banking sector to build trust and confidence among clients, stakeholders, and society at large.
The bank recapitalisation initiative, which was introduced during CIBN’s 2023 Annual Bankers Dinner, was also discussed by him, and it was designed to ensure the stability and sustainability of the financial system.
It was stated by him that Nigeria’s banking sector would be strengthened by the ongoing recapitalisation of banks, their lending capacity would be increased, foreign direct investment would be boosted, and the overall resilience of the financial system would be improved.
It was believed by Olarenwaju that the initiative would contribute to GDP growth and enhance governance in the banking sector.
It was added that a stronger capital base would enable banks to underwrite larger transactions and support various sectors of the economy more effectively.
Inductees from across Nigeria and candidates from Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Kenya, Ghana, and The Gambia, who joined both in person and virtually, were congratulated.
The immeasurable contribution of bankers to the nation’s GDP was emphasized by Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, Founder and Former CEO of Neimeth International Pharmaceuticals Plc, who joined virtually.
He urged that chartered bankers should embrace professionalism, integrity, honesty, and the fear of God in their services to ensure the safety of investments while the inductees were congratulated.
Insights on how female bankers could aspire to higher positions through the adoption of a growth mindset were shared by Hajia Risikatu Ahmed, Managing Director and CEO of Aso Savings and Loans Plc.
As a special guest, she explained how female professionals could take risks for career progression while balancing ambition with family life and physical well-being.
The inductees were advised by the guest speaker, Mr. Wole Adeniyi, on how their potential could be unlocked by adopting a mindset shift and leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The importance of quality leadership as a strong guide for team and organizational growth was stressed by Adeniyi, who is the Managing Director and CEO of Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc.
It was reported by CIBN that prizes and awards were given to the best-performing students in various cadres.
