Business

Excitements As Wema Bank Clocks 80 In 8 Days

As Wema Bank counts down to its 80th anniversary on May 2nd, 2025, the world eagerly anticipates the future of possibilities that lies ahead for this phenomenal bank.

Published

1 year ago

April 24, 2025

OCHEFA

510 Views

All roads lead to Lagos on May 2nd 2025, when Wema Bank, Nigeria’s oldest indigenous bank, leading innovative bank and pioneer of Africa’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, will be marking its 80th anniversary in grand style, in Lagos, the city where it all started.

Founded on May 2nd 1945 as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited, Wema Bank was established by the Late Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe and two others—his wife, Regina Adekoya Okupe and a family friend, Reverend Alade.

In an era where the banking industry was designed to cater only to the colonial government and expatriates, Wema Bank came to life as a vanguard of indigenous banking, bridging the gap in access to financial services by providing quality financial services tailored to the needs of indigenous Nigerians and businesses.

The story of Wema Bank is one that symbolises remarkable resilience, capturing the journey of an indigenous Nigerian bank that dared to rise at the heights of the colonial era, weathering the storms of the difficult terrain, navigating challenges and constantly reinventing to continue serving Nigerians against all odds, for 8 solid decades and counting.

Founded on May 2nd, 1945, as Agbonmagbe Bank Limited, Wema Bank was established by the Late Chief Matthew Adekoya Okupe and two others—his wife, Regina Adekoya Okupe, and a family friend, Reverend Alade.

This great bank, which began as the mere vision of an illustrious philanthropist in a hollow room at Agbonmagbe Lodge, Yaba, Lagos, has now grown to not only become Nigeria’s longest standing indigenous and most resilient bank but also, Nigeria’s most innovative bank.

In truth, Wema Bank’s formidable legacy is proof that Nigerian businesses have the capacity to last, transcend time, adapt and innovate to remain valuable to customers, stakeholders, shareholders, industries, and the nation at large.

From empowering Nigerians with the finest quality of financial services to providing tailored opportunities for underserved categories of the population, spearheading the future of banking and being a backbone for Nigeria’s FinTech industry by not only pioneering the continent’s first fully digital bank, ALAT, but also allowing FinTechs to operate using the Bank’s secure and advanced network; Wema Bank has built a legacy of impact since 1945.

As Wema Bank counts down to its 80th anniversary on May 2nd, 2025, the world eagerly anticipates the future of possibilities that lies ahead for this phenomenal bank.

While details of the grand Wema at 80 event are yet to be disclosed, the event is reported to be the most star-studded and exclusive corporate celebration of the year.

It is convening generations of Nigerians in Lagos in a night of momentous reflection, merriment, and grandeur with the dress code and timeless elegance.

Related Topics:Featured Wema Bank Wema Bank at 80

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Naira Exchange Rates Friday, 3 July 2026

Published

3 days ago

July 3, 2026

OCHEFA

35 Views

BLACK MARKET RATES

US DOLLAR (USD) Buy ₦1, 397 Sell ₦1,405

GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) Buy ₦1,850 Sell: ₦1,865

EURO (EUR) Buy ₦1, 580 Sell ₦1,600

CANADIAN DOLLAR (CAD) Buy ₦1,030 Sell ₦1,100

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) Buy ₦75 Sell ₦90

UAE DIRHAM Buy ₦350 Sell ₦370

CHINESE YUAN Buy ₦180 Sell ₦200

GHANA CEDI (GHS) Buy ₦95 Sell ₦110

WEST AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 380 Sell ₦2, 460

CENTRAL AFRICAN CFA Buy ₦2, 220 Sell 2,300

AUSTRALIAN DOLLAR Buy ₦800 Sell ₦900

CBN OFFICIAL EXCHANGE RATES

US DOLLAR (USD) ₦1,370.15

GREAT BRITISH POUND (GBP) ₦1,832.17

EURO (EUR) ₦1,568.28

SWISS FRANC (CHF) ₦1,1705.44

JAPANESE YEN (JPN) ₦8. 51

CHINESE YUAN (CNY) ₦201. 80

WEST AFRICAN CFA (XOF) ₦2.38

WEST AFRICAN UNIT ACCOUNT (WAUA) ₦1,859. 98

SAUDI RIYAL (SAR) ₦364.91

SOUTH AFRICAN RAND (ZAR) ₦84. 32

Business

Issue: Cloning Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC)

Published

4 days ago

July 2, 2026

OCHEFA

55 Views

The Presidency says the bodies allegedly used by Adeyemi—including the so-called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—do not exist as government agencies.

The Presidency says a man identified as Prince Adeniyi Adeyemi Matthew allegedly created and operated fake government agencies, forged appointment letters, and falsely claimed to have been appointed by Femi Gbajabiamila.
According to the statement:
The Office of the Chief of Staff discovered the alleged scheme after complaints from the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) that an unauthorized body was operating in a way that conflicted with its functions.

The Chief of Staff petitioned the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Police Force in October 2025 to investigate alleged forged appointment letters.

The Presidency says the bodies allegedly used by Adeyemi—including the so-called Presidential Economic Advisory Council, Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council, and Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council—do not exist as government agencies.

Investigators allege Adeyemi operated from an office in the Federal Secretariat Complex, held meetings with diplomats, and sought diplomatic support to obtain U.S. visas for members of the alleged organization.
Police reportedly recovered forged documents and other exhibits during searches of his office and residence.

The investigation allegedly found that Adeyemi operated 34 bank accounts, including several in the names of fictitious organizations, and used forged documents to open a Central Bank of Nigeria account.

The Presidency says no government funds were paid into that account.
Police charged Adeyemi and two others before the Federal High Court on multiple counts, including forgery, impersonation, and obtaining by false pretence. The case is scheduled for hearing on July 27.

The Presidency also denied claims that Gbajabiamila appointed Adeyemi, stating that appointments to federal offices are issued through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, not the Office of the Chief of Staff.

Current status

The Presidency maintains that:
the agencies in question are fictitious,
the appointment letter was forged,
Adeyemi is an impostor,
and the allegations against him should be resolved by the court.

As the case is pending before the court, the allegations remain subject to judicial determination.