Some of our shareholders still get dividend warrants from Registrars after they have mandated to the e-dividend platform. Even I, an active player in the capital market that has also keyed into this e-dividend platform still get dividend warrants after several months that I have registered all my shares in the e-dividend platform. The regulators should keep monitoring the registrars because some of them are understaffed and lack some facilities that would facilitate the processing of this e-dividend.

The stock market performed poorly in the year 2018 as investors lost close to N2 trillion worth of their investment. This was mainly caused by political tension, uncertainty and jittery of foreign investors that dominates the market, leading to capital flight. Also, governments’ activities and insecurity in the country also played their parts to bring the market to a bearish situation.

MANAGING Director/Chief Executive, Ecobank Nigeria Limited, Mr. Patrick Aknwuntan has said that Ecobank Pay solution enhances transactions between merchants and their customers by eliminating risk of payment repudiation.

Tony Elumelu, Chairman of United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc and Heirs Holdings, emerged Vanguard Newspaper’s Personality of the Year. As a leading philanthropist in the area of entrepreneurship through the Tony Elumelu Foundation and an accomplished banker and businessman of good repute, with interests across key sectors of not just Nigerian but African economies, it became necessary to get his perspectives on the many issues that have challenged the Nigerian and African economies, as well as his perspectives on development strategies of the nations in the continent. He spoke to the team of Vanguard Business Desk including EMEKA ANAETO, the Business Editor, BABAJIDE KOMOLAFE, the Deputy Business Editor, and NKIRUKA NNOROM.

FIDELITY Bank Plc has been adjudged “Entrepreneurship Bank of the Year” at the third edition of DAAR awards held in Abuja. The bank clinched the prestigious award in recognition of its unrivalled leadership position and consistency in enhancing the growth and development of Micro Small Medium Enterprises, MSMEs, in the country.

CHAIRMAN of United   Bank for Africa, UBA, Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, said Africa must embrace inter-regional trade to fast-track the development of the continent.

FOLLOWING the increase in the flouting of free float rule by quoted companies, the Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, is considering reviewing the rules to ensure that companies comply with the post listing requirement and avoid being delisted from the Exchange. Free float rule stipulates the minimum number of shares required by promoters of public companies listed on the NSE to be released to the investing public for trading at the stock market.

STANDARD Chartered Bank said that banks in the country are determined to fight financial crime to boost confidence in the industry.

Accion Microfinance Bank, AMfB, has upgraded its core banking system with a view to mitigating risk of failing system while also helping to boost the businesses of people leaving with disability.

Welcome to 2019 usiness year. Many may call it political or more appropriately, election year, while others would call it whatever that matches their vocation or profession, but for this column dedicated to start-up entrepreneurs it is a new business year, irrespective of whatever that is happening in the entire society. Don’t get distracted, discouraged or disillusioned by the environmental circumstances. Stay focused on your entrepreneurial journey. The situation/ circumstances will still change but your success targets remains.