Polaris Bank chairman urges new chartered bankers to uphold ethics

The Chairman of Polaris Bank, Kassim Gidado, has urged newly inducted banking professionals to remain committed to integrity, ethical conduct and continuous professional development as they build careers within Nigeria’s financial services industry. Gidado gave the charge while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 2026 Stream 1 Chartered Banker Induction Ceremony organised by […]

The Chairman of Polaris Bank, Kassim Gidado, has urged newly inducted banking professionals to remain committed to integrity, ethical conduct and continuous professional development as they build careers within Nigeria’s financial services industry.

Gidado gave the charge while speaking as Special Guest of Honour at the 2026 Stream 1 Chartered Banker Induction Ceremony organised by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos.

The ceremony, held over the weekend, saw the induction of 2,037 professionals into the Institute’s Chartered Banker and Microfinance Certified Banker cadres, marking a key milestone in their professional journey within the banking sector.

According to the Institute, the inductees emerged through different certification pathways. These include nine candidates through the Chartered Banker/MBA route, 816 through the Chartered Banker Regular Route, 25 through the MSc/Chartered Banker pathway, 262 through the SMP/AMP/Chartered Banker route, and 435 Microfinance Certified Professionals.

The new members comprise executives and management staff of deposit money banks, microfinance banks and other financial institutions, as well as professionals from both the public and private sectors, self-employed members of the Institute and graduates of affiliated tertiary institutions.

Gidado said the induction ceremony represents more than the conferment of professional status, describing it as recognition of dedication, discipline and the pursuit of excellence in the banking profession.

He noted that the financial services industry is experiencing significant transformation driven by technological innovation, changing regulatory frameworks and growing efforts to expand financial inclusion.

Despite these developments, he emphasised that trust remains the foundation of the banking system, stressing that the credibility and stability of financial institutions ultimately depend on the integrity and professionalism of those who manage them.

The Polaris Bank chairman commended the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria for its role in strengthening professional standards and building industry capacity through its certification programmes.

“At Polaris Bank, we view human capital as our most critical asset. Sustainable growth in banking will always depend on the quality, integrity and professionalism of the people who drive the system,” he said.