Shareholders of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) celebrated the announcement of a N12.76 kobo per‑share dividend – the highest payout recorded in Nigeria’s banking sector for the 2025 financial year. The dividend, comprising an interim payment of N1.00 per share for the half‑year ended June 2025 and a final payment of N11.76 kobo, was disclosed at the company’s fifth annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday.
The AGM also highlighted GTCO’s compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) new minimum capital requirement of N500 billion. Speakers from shareholders’ organisations praised the board’s discipline in maintaining a robust dividend policy. Chief Timothy Adesiyan, president of the Nigerian Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, described the payout as a testament to the board’s commitment to shareholder returns. Mrs. Bisi Bakare, chair of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria, noted that GTCO became the first Nigerian bank to achieve a N12.76 kobo dividend, urging the management to sustain the level.
Board Chairman Suleiman Barau outlined GTCO’s evolution from a traditional banking operation into a diversified financial‑services ecosystem that now includes payments, fund management and pension administration. He said diversification “provides balance across economic cycles, reduces risk concentration, and broadens the value proposition for individuals, businesses and institutional clients.” Barau stressed that disciplined risk management and a strong balance sheet remain central to the group’s strategy, especially amid fluid macro‑economic conditions.
Group Chief Executive Officer Segun Agbaje linked the dividend to the broader integration of GTCO’s services. He highlighted the use of data, digital tools and operational insight to deliver “frictionless experiences” to customers across Africa and the United Kingdom. Agbaje also announced the successful listing of GTCO shares on the London Stock Exchange, making the institution the first West African financial‑services company to have its ordinary shares admitted to the LSE main market. The listing is expected to strengthen the capital base and improve liquidity for shareholders.
Looking ahead to 2026, Agbaje said the group will continue to rely on execution discipline, ecosystem integration and technology‑driven solutions to generate long‑term value. He emphasized that a robust balance sheet and prudent capital management will enable GTCO to act decisively across market cycles, despite ongoing macro‑economic and geopolitical uncertainties.
The dividend announcement and the LSE listing underscore GTCO’s commitment to delivering shareholder value while expanding its regional and international footprint. The company’s next steps involve deepening customer engagement, advancing digital capabilities and reinforcing its risk framework to sustain growth in the coming years.
