Daily Digest Online

A revealing exchange between activist Omoyele Sowore and a Fulani herder carrying a fortune in cash has crystallized a national dilemma: deep-seated public mistrust in institutions and the human cost of economic exclusion. The incident, recounted by Sowore from his 2018 presidential campaign travels, saw a herder explain that he was moving with his child and roughly 1,000 cows while physically carrying over 40 million naira. When Sowore suggested using a bank, the man's response was blunt and telling: "The banker is a thief. I don't want them to take my money." This vignette, shared widely on social media, points to a failure to integrate vast segments of the population into the formal economy. For the herder, the immense risk of traveling with cash was preferable to the perceived risk of financial institutions. From Activist to Presidential Candidate The story gains weight coming from Omoyele Sowore, a longstanding figure in Nigeri...

Access Bank has further expanded its African network with the acquisition of Standard Chartered Bank's business in Cameroon. This move is part of Standard Chartered's strategic withdrawal from several African markets and Access Bank's continued continental growth. Details of the Acquisition The acquisition, finalized on December 5, 2025, grants Access Bank control over Standard Chartered's full operations in Cameroon, including its customer base, staff, and existing infrastructure. Both institutions collaborated to ensure a smooth transition. This follows a familiar pattern for Access Bank, which completed a similar takeover of Standard Chartered's consumer, private, and business banking unit in Tanzania just six months prior. Strategic Context For Standard Chartered, exiting Cameroon aligns with a global strategy to simplify operations, reduce costs, and focus on larger markets. The bank has previously left Angola, The Gambia, Ta...