Business
Gross Earnings: Union Bank Records 30% Increase
Union Bank of Nigeria Plc has announced gross earnings of N147.32 billion for the group for the financial year ended March 31, 2009, representing an increase of 30 per cent over last year’s figure of N112.99 billion.
In the same vein, gross earnings for the bank increased by 40 per cent from N92.94 billion in the preceding year to N130.19 billion during the period under review. The group’s total assets grew from N1.215 trillion achieved in the preceding year to N1.329 trillion in 2009, while the bank recorded N1.197 trillion from the figure of N993.93 billion recorded in 2008, indicating a growth rate of 21 per cent. Also, group’s deposits rose from N682.31 billion in 2008 to N772.13 billion, while the bank’s deposits increased from N649.33 billion to N758.39 billion in 2009 representing an increase of 17 per cent.
However, the full provision made for bad loans and other non-performing credits in a full swoop impacted negatively on the group’s profitability. The group’s profit before provisions stood at N39.74 billion at the end of 2009 financial year.
The increase in the provision for risk assets to N83.283 billion brought loss before taxation and exceptional items to N43.539 billion, compared to a profit of N33.012 billion in 2008.
The bank’s management, led by Mrs Funke Osibodu as Group Managing Director and Chief Executive, remains very optimistic that Union Bank would again assume its rightful position in the banking industry now that its books have been cleaned up and is poised to exploit the business opportunities arising from the gradual recovery in the global economy.
Mrs Osibodu also stressed the need for the esteemed customers to remain steadfast with the bank and increase their patronage, as the bank was being repositioned to them, thereby guaranteeing better value for shareholders in the years ahead.
The management of Union Bank has restructured its operation with a view to enabling it render world class services to customers globally.
Mrs Funke Osibodu, on assumption of office, had embarked on surprise visits to various branches of the bank across the country with a view of assessing the quality and map out strategy to improve the situation.
Although, two months after the visitations, many customers have attested to good transformations in customer services at Union Bank branches in terms of timely services, personal attention by staff, improved banking environment, facilities and information technology infrastructure.
Mrs Osibodu said the business process and infrastructure upgrade team of the bank has transformed many of the bank’s branches into modern banking offices with ambience such as the Davies Street branch, Tinubu branch, Victoria Island branch, Foreshore Towers branch and Adeola Odeku branch among numerous owners.
Speaking at the Savings Bonanza Draw of the bank at Owerri, Imo State recently, the managing director encouraged the bank’s customers to spread the good news about the positive changes in the financial institution.
She informed the customers that the new changes in the leadership of Union Bank was intended to make the bank, more “Time tested, bigger, stronger, more more reliable”.
Osibodu pointed out that the changes were introduced to safeguard the interest of the shareholders and more importantly, those of the depositors.
She added that Union Bank is being repositioned to provide excellent services to its highly esteemed customers, thereby guaranteeing better value for stakeholders.
Union Bank was one of the five banks, whose top executives were fired on August 14 by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for presiding over decisions that impaired the finances of the banks. Osibodu took over from the former Group Managing Director, Barth Ebong. The sum of N120 billion was injected into Union Bank from the N420 billion set aside for the five banks by the CBN.
Industry observes applaud the positive changes in the customer services of Union Bank, while acknowledging the fact that given the pedigree of the financial institution it could easily get over its challenges.
Union Bank has recovered substantial portion of its non-performing loans which has buoyed its liquidity. Aside its N1.128 trillion asset base, the bank has a deposit base of over N682 billion from a customer base of 4.82 million, the largest in the industry.
The bank boasts of the world class IT infrastructure, flexcube, which ensures a robust platform for electronic business as well as a rejuvenated workforce with the largest concentration of experienced and qualified bankers which as at August 2009 stood at 6, 042.
Union Bank has restructured its processes tools, human capital and owner resources with a view to emerging the best in the industry. The acronym project GEAR, simply means G-gross the bank from good to great, E-eclipse the competition, A – aligning the bank’s strategy, people, processes and technology, R-redefine the bank’s position in the industry as leaders in the banking industry. The new managing director and chief executive officer had promised to focus on people management, business development and relationship management, risk management and control, all necessary to leap frog a bank’s core business, above any crisis situation.
Business
USTR Criticises Nigeria’s Import Ban On Agriculture, Others
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) has criticised Nigeria’s import ban on 25 categories of goods, claiming that the restrictions limit market access for American exporters.
This is the effect of President Donald Trump’s tariffs introduction on goods entering the United States, with Nigeria facing a 14 per cent duty.
The USTR highlighted the impact of Nigeria’s import ban on various sectors, particularly agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
The restrictions affect items such as beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and alcoholic beverages, which the United States sees as significant barriers to trade.
The agency argues that these limitations reduce export opportunities for United States businesses and lead to lost revenue.
“Nigeria’s import ban on 25 different product categories impacts United States exporters, particularly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals, beverages, and consumer goods.
“Restrictions on items like beef, pork, poultry, fruit juices, medicaments, and spirits limit United States market access and reduce export opportunities.
“These policies create significant trade barriers that lead to lost revenue for United States businesses looking to expand in the Nigerian market”, the agency said .
In 2016, Nigeria implemented the ban on these 25 items as part of efforts to control imports and stimulate local production.
Some of the banned items include poultry, pork, refined vegetable oil, sugar, cocoa products, spaghetti, beer, and certain medicines.
On March 26, 2025, the Federal Government also announced plans to halt solar panel imports to encourage local manufacturing as part of its push for clean energy.
Business
Expert Seeks Cooperative-Driven Investments In Agriculture
A leading agribusiness strategist and digital agriculture expert, Ayo Oluwa Okediji, has sought cooperative-driven investments in sustaining growth of poultry industry in Nigeria.
He said the poultry industry was at a defining moment and requires urgent structural reforms to secure its future and ensure long-term sustainability.
Speaking on the theme, “Strengthening Poultry Farming Through Cooperative Synergy and Strategic Investments”, at the recently concluded Oyo Mega Poultry Workshop 2025 in Ibadan, Okediji called on poultry farmers, cooperative leaders, financial institutions and policy makers to rethink the existing structure of the poultry sector.
He stressed the need to transition from fragmented, individually-driven operations to well-structured, cooperative-led enterprises capable of attracting sustainable financing and securing long-term viability.
He said, “Our poultry sector cannot thrive on individual effort alone. We need to organise ourselves into cooperative clusters, build strong governance systems and position ourselves to attract the level of investment needed to sustain this industry beyond this generation.”
Drawing on lessons from successful global cooperative models such as Rabobank in the Netherlands and Landus Cooperative in the United States, Okediji introduced the FarmClusters Poultry Model, a locally adapted solution developed by Agribusiness Dynamics Technology Limited (AgDyna), a subsidiary of AgroInfoTech Africa.
According to him, the model is currently being piloted in Oyo State in partnership with PANOY Agribusiness Limited and local poultry cooperatives.
Business
NACCIMA Proposes Hybrid Oil Palm Seedlings For Farmers
The Rivers State Representative of the Nigeria Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industries and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Erasmus Chukwundah, has urged palm oil farmers to consider hybrid seedlings for planting, if they must break even in palm oil business.
Chukwundah said this recently at the Free Oil Palm Business Climate Smart Best Management Practice/Assistance Training organized by Partnership Initiative In Niger Delta (PIND) for Palm Oil Farmers in Elele, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Rivers representative said until palm oil farmers begin to consider such hybrid oil palm seedlings, they may not meet up with the daily increasing demand of palm oil in the market.
According to him, the seedlings produce up to 30 bunches at once that ripen same time.
He said PIND decided to partner with Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (OPGAN) to ensure that the message was received by the targeted audience.
According to him, palm oil remained a popular choice of industry operators as it could be converted to many other products such as vegetable cooking oil.
He also noted that products such as motor tyers, marine ropes and others are now gotten from the palm tree.
Chukwundah, who is the immediate past Director-General of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Mines, Industries, and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), further warned against use of unrecommended fertilisers in growing oil palms.
He noted that such practices could limit its export value or chances as the foreign marketers have a way of detecting such .
He reiterated the need for organic fertilizers, including poultry droppings, to enable them have a natural palm oil.
“People must reduce physical contact with palm oil production. That is why we are campaigning for hydrolic oil mills. The foreign markets are no longer interested in crude method of palm oil production”, he said.
Meanwhile, one of the farmers, Sonny Didia, who appreciated Chukwundah’s commitment towards the concern of farmers, appealed for an urgent need for loan opportunity with low interest rate in order to enable them beat the target.
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