Purpose Ojo @Force8Secret

In the 1980s and early 1990s, banking in Nigeria was very different. Many banks functioned more like conduit pipes for politically connected individuals, while customer experience, risk management, and institutional discipline were generally poor. Banks like GTBank and Zenith Bank emerged from that environment and created something different. What these guys achieved came from the people behind those institutions. They understood credit, treasury, technology, risk management, and customer service. That knowledge allowed them to build institutions that were more efficient, more professional, and more trusted than much of what existed at the time. The same applies to Herbert Wigwe and Aigboje Aig Imoukhuede. Their deep understanding of corporate banking helped them see value in an institution that many people would probably have overlooked. They understood how to originate relationships, assess risks, structure transactions, and grow a corporate banking franchise. That knowledge was eventually translated into one of Africa’s largest banking groups. FMDQ is another important example. Its rise was partly driven by a leader who had a strong understanding of the financial markets and had himself been a successful fixed-income and foreign-exchange trader. He did not need to be taught why market infrastructure mattered. He understood how dealers behaved, where the inefficiencies existed, how treasury markets worked, and what was required to improve transparency and price discovery. That depth of knowledge helped FMDQ grow into one of the most important institutions in the Nigerian financial markets. Andrew Alli at AFC is another example who heralded the affairs of AFC in its early days, and created significant value. This is why talent is not merely another input into a business. In some industries, talent is the business. Financial markets are ultimately built on knowledge. You need people who understand how to price risk, structure credit, manage liquidity, create financial products, enforce governance, and build the trust required for people to exchange capital. Another instance is the credit problem in Nigerian banking. Banks are often criticised for lending mainly to governments, large corporations, and familiar customers. But lending in Nigeria is genuinely difficult. Inflation is high. Deposit maturities are short. Businesses often have weak records. Collateral enforcement is difficult. Foreign-exchange risks can destroy otherwise viable transactions. A bank without deep credit capacity will respond to these risks by avoiding them. It will lend only to the largest companies, demand excessive collateral, or invest its money in government securities. This is rational from the bank’s perspective, but it does very little to expand productive credit across the economy. However, experienced bankers and structured-finance professionals know that risk cannot always be avoided. Sometimes, it must be understood, divided, priced, secured, and monitored. They can structure cash-flow lending, risk-sharing arrangements, guarantees, supply-chain finance, receivables financing, project finance, and other models that make difficult transactions possible. Two banks can therefore operate in the same economy, face the same inflation, collect the same short-term deposits, and still produce very different outcomes. The difference often lies in the depth of the people sitting in their credit, treasury, risk, and product units. This is also why hiring many people is not the same as having strong human capital. A financial institution may have hundreds of employees and still lack the small number of people who deeply understand how markets work, how risks interact, and how new opportunities can be created. Nigeria does not suffer only from a shortage of capital. We also suffer from a shortage of deeply skilled people who can convert capital into productive businesses, credible institutions, and functioning markets. Finance is a knowledge game. To excel and develop concrete solutions, you must have a solid understanding of the fundamentals.

Happy to announce that I founded a new company: tripdesk.travel. It's for travel approvals in the African Enterprise - using AI. Founded in Oct, 2025, we're already at $2.3m in revenue. AI is making everything grow faster.

Made a payment to an airline today. No account credit. No confirmation. No response — hours later. Not a rant. A signal. Aviation doesn’t just need better aircraft. It needs better operator systems. Gaps like this are where future airlines are born.

@buypowerng @buypower_ng I’ve been attended to. Thanks

"Excuses are tools in the hand of the incompetent, they are monuments of nothingness and they that use them are not wise" - Paul Adefarasin

Follow Adesina now! Buy his book. Subscribe to Adesina.io You’ll soon know why

Adesina @adesinaassets

9 months ago

Your frame of mind determines your results! Visit selar.co/adesinalive to learn more.

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@adesinaassets 😂

@adesinaassets Can’t wait

The beauty of flying when someone handles the stress for you If you’re planning a trip soon, I’d love to help you make it simple, stress free and worth every Naira Book your tickets with me wa.link/rcvof4

If you’re planning a trip soon, I’d love to help you make it simple, stress free and worth every Naira Book your tickets with me wa.link/rcvof4

@abazwhyllzz If you’re planning a trip soon, I’d love to help you make it simple, stress free and worth every Naira Book your tickets with me

@silverpenydr Hii

Learn something today. Don't be the adult asking if OPay is a licensed financial institution. Then, buy a flight ticket and go see nearby Kigali or Taraba even. If you can’t yet, read a book. I promise it'll change your life. PS: I sell flight tickets

@abazwhyllzz If you’re planning a trip soon, I’d love to help you make it simple, stress free and worth every Naira Book your tickets with me wa.link/rcvof4

@iSAN_d_law I agree. A resignation letter should: 1. Express appreciation for the opportunity 2. Clearly notify them of your decision to leave 3. Provide adequate notice (as per contract/company policy) 4. End on a professional note with your signature

@UnkleAyo If you’re planning a trip soon, I’d love to help you make it simple, stress free and worth every Naira Book your tickets with me wa.link/rcvof4

@rahman_jago_ High Fashion! My Portfolio: drive.google.com/drive/folders/…

@Benn_X1 @SirJarus 😂 Hi Ben, I’ve followed your tweets for a while and they’ve inspired hard work and grit. Thanks for sharing I’d love to hear your thoughts on this though, if you’d like

Purpose Ojo O. - 2025