Zenith Bank Plc, one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, has emerged as the ‘Best Bank in Nigeria’ in the recently released Global Finance Magazine World’s Best Banks Awards 2020.
A statement at the weekend said the awards, which was published in the May 2020 edition of the Global Finance Magazine, was based on the performances of the banks that were chosen in their respective regions and countries over the period from January 1 to December 31, 2019.
Commenting on the recognition, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank, Mr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, said: “This award is a clear demonstration of the bank’s market leadership, occasioned by our superior product offerings, best-in-class service and top-of-the-range technology which create value for our teeming customers.”
Zenith Bank has clearly distinguished itself in the Nigerian financial services industry through superior service quality, unique customer experience and sound financial indices. The bank, with a knack for setting the pace and raising benchmarks, is a clear leader in the digital space with several firsts in the deployment of innovative products, solutions and an assortment of alternative channels that ensure convenience, speed and safety of transactions.
As a testament to its resilience and market leadership, Zenith Bank announced an impressive result for the year ended December 31, 2019, with profit after tax (PAT) of N208.8 billion, achieving the feat as the first Nigerian Bank to cross the N200 billion mark.
In the recently released Q1 2020 unaudited financial results, the bank also recorded an improved result over the corresponding period in 2019, with gross earnings rising by six per cent to N166.8 billion and profit before tax (PAT) growing to N58.8 billion.
Consistent with this superlative performance and in recognition of its track record of exceptional performance, Zenith Bank was ranked as the Best Commercial Bank in Nigeria 2019 by the World Finance and the Best Digital Bank in Nigeria 2019 by Agusto & Co.
The bank was also voted as Bank of the Year and Best Bank in Retail Banking at the 2019 BusinessDay Banks and other Financial Institutions (BAFI) Awards. Most recently, the bank was recognised as the Most Valuable Banking Brand in Nigeria, for the third consecutive year, in the Banker Magazine “Top 500 Banking Brands 2020” and the Bank of the Decade (People’s Choice) at the THISDAY Awards 2020.
Global Finance’s “World’s Best Banks Awards” are recognised amongst the world’s most influential banking/finance and corporate professionals as the most coveted and credible awards in the banking industry, with winners chosen in more than 150 countries across Africa, Asia-Pacific, Central & Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, North America and Western Europe.
Manchester United extends Ighalo’s deal until January 2021
Manchester United have agreed to extend Odion Ighalo’s loan spell from parent club Shanghai Shenhua for another seven months, reports mirror.co.uk. Ighalo seemed destined to return to the Chinese Super League at the expiry of his loan at the end of May – but a new deal until January 2021 was agreed at the 11th hour.
Shanghai Shenhua were previously reluctant to let the former Watford man stay with his boyhood club and were holding out for their £20 million price tag to be met as part of a permanent deal. But United agreed to pay a revised loan fee to get the deal over the line on the day Ighalo’s contract was due to expire.
The Nigerian’s agent, Atta Aneke, hinted that a deal was close earlier yesterday, telling Norwegian outlet Nettavisien: “We are nearing agreement with Manchester United on an extended loan. The agreement will mean that Ighalo will remain with them until January 2021.” The Daily Mail reported that the loan fee United would pay proved to be a sticking point, with the club locked in talks with Shanghai Shenhua for many days.
But the Red Devils finally agreed to a revised fee to secure the services of Ighalo for another seven months. The deal means he will miss much of the Chinese Super League season, which is due to start in July. But Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has made no secret of his desire to see Ighalo stay at Old Trafford.
The 30-year-old impressed the United boss by scoring four goals in eight appearances – after being loaned in the January window as cover for injured star Marcus Rashford.
Last week, United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was hopeful of Ighalo staying to “finish what he started. We’re in dialogue. They’ve been great towards us, his club, and allowed him to play for his dream club,” Solskjaer told MUTV. “It’s been a dream for him and hopefully he can finish off what he started, hopefully with a trophy for us. At the moment, nothing has been agreed. Their league is going to get started soon so we’re just waiting to see.”
