ACAMB at 30: Call for Innovation, Trust, and Ethics in Banking Communication

Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) is celebrating 30 years of shaping stories and building trust in Nigeria’s banking sector. At this milestone, regulators and industry leaders urged communication professionals to focus on credibility, clarity, innovation, and ethical practices for the future of financial services.

The celebration took place at an anniversary gala night in Lagos on September 30, 2026. Senior officials from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Optimus Bank, and other industry leaders joined communication and marketing heads from banks across Nigeria.

During the event, Jide Sipe, President of ACAMB, highlighted the association's critical role over the past three decades. He emphasized how ACAMB has helped banks communicate effectively, manage crises, and protect their reputations.

“For 30 years, our members have stood between the banks and the public they serve. They explain policy, manage crises, and protect reputations, often under intense pressure and in real time,” Sipe said.

Sipe added, “We have remained consistent, from gatekeepers to strategic drivers in actualising growth, positive brand perception, aligning business values to customer needs, customer satisfaction, and loyalty.” He expressed pride in the association's contribution to the growth of the financial sector.

He mentioned that ACAMB will continue to strengthen its members' skills as the communication field evolves. There will be a greater focus on artificial intelligence, data, digital media, and mentorship for young professionals entering the industry.

“Though the tools have changed since 1996, the mandate remains the same. We continue to earn trust, one credible message at a time, and we will guard it with the same discipline for the next 30 years and beyond,” he said.

Dele Alabi, the Chairman of the occasion and 24th President of CIBN, praised ACAMB’s 30-year journey. He called it a story of perseverance and professionalism that has positively impacted the financial services industry.

Alabi also praised Sipe's leadership and recalled their time together at Ecobank Group. He said ACAMB has played a significant role in improving communication and trust in the banking sector.

“Thirty years of shaping narratives and building trust reflects ACAMB’s critical role in strengthening communication, enhancing reputation, and fostering trust across the financial services industry,” he said. He encouraged communication professionals to embrace innovation while maintaining ethical standards, aligned with the CIBN’s IMPACT vision.

Hakama Sidi Ali, representing the Deputy Governor of the CBN, noted that the banking industry is transitioning from stabilization to broader changes. She urged communication professionals to focus on clarity over cleverness and to see customers as the ultimate measure of effective communication.

“The credibility you carry into a crisis is built in quiet periods,” she said.

In his keynote speech, Premier Oiwoh, Managing Director/CEO of NIBSS, emphasized the importance of trust as digital banking grows. He pointed out that NIBSS developed Africa’s first mature instant payment system 15 years ago, and that trust is essential for the growth of financial services.

“Banking is all about trust. Without trust, banking cannot stand,” Oiwoh said.

Alero Ladipo, Group Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at UBA, shared a goodwill message from the bank’s CEO. She praised ACAMB for creating a platform that unites communication professionals from competing banks.

“Thirty years is more than a milestone. It is evidence of relevance, resilience, and the ability to evolve,” Ladipo said. She stressed that while banks compete, communication professionals share a responsibility to build confidence in the banking sector.

“Competition may separate us in the market, but there are moments when the industry must speak with a shared sense of responsibility,” she added.

Ademola Odeyemi, Managing Director/CEO of Optimus Bank, commended ACAMB for its contributions over the years. He noted that the association has effectively articulated the vision needed for the banks to thrive together.

The anniversary celebration also included networking sessions and recognition of professionals who have contributed to the growth of banking communication in Nigeria over the past 30 years.