Akwa Savings and Loans Limited Awards Loyal Customers, Staff, Vendors
Akwa Savings and Loans Limited, the Akwa Ibom State-owned mortgage bank, ended the 2023 business year in a warm and celebratory mood with the appreciation of loyal customers, vendors, and staff whose services were exceptional within the period.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Pastor Ime Okon, recognised and rewarded the bank’s loyal customers, vendors and staff during the MD/CEO’s award and dinner party held at Edinan Hotels and Suites, Uyo, on Tuesday 2nd January 2024.
Akwa Savings and Loans Limited has recorded an impressive turnaround following its recapitalisation and inauguration of a new Board by the State government in 2021.
The Board of Directors of the Bank at its 147th (12) meeting held in December 2023 told journalists that the bank recorded profit in 2021 and 2022, and was recently accredited to offer mortgage lending services for the federal housing scheme implemented by Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
The bank has been awarded by Interswitch, a leading fintech company offering e-payment solutions, as the best mortgage e-channel service platform in South-South Nigeria.
MD/CEO of the bank said the award and dinner party was to appreciate the support of everyone particularly its customers, vendors, staff, and shareholder representatives who stood by the bank to achieve its successful turnaround.
Pastor Okon said he is excited by the growth recorded by the bank, acknowledging the perseverance and support of Directors, staff, and customers.
“The perseverance and support of our team and customers have been the spark that has ignited our growth. This event reflects growth, the unity that has defined our bank, and the celebration of a shared vision.
“We have driven the bank together out of the intensive care; we have penetrated the market efficiently. Your bank has been rescued, your bank is rebuilt and nurtured, and the growth potentials look great. This is what a committed and united team can make when they work together towards a shared goal.”
Pastor Okon thanked the shareholder (Akwa Ibom State Government) for providing funds for the bank’s recapitalisation in 2021, and lauded Directors, staff, customers, and vendors for their support.
The MD/CEO’s awards were in four categories, namely, outstanding customer loyalty award, outstanding vendors award, exceptional performance award for staff, and recognition award to Directors of the bank.
Recipients of the MD/CEO’s outstanding customer loyalty award were Basse Engineering, Kemo-Plus, Arita John Int’l Exclusive School, Annie Unique, Anitom Global, Emko Gas, Akwa Ibom State University, Pastor ImoAbasi Jacob, Udeme Okon Udo and Christiana Umonduak.
Vendors rendering auxiliary services to the bank awarded by the MD/CEO were, Imoh Noah, recognised as the best security officer, Nseobong Etukudoh, best cleaner, and Ime Essien, a plumber of the bank was given the integrity loyalty award.
In the staff category, Mrs. Helen Ekwere emerged as the highest deposit mobiliser (senior staff category) and winner of the star staff and standout performance of the year. Roselyn Awana and Mrs Bassey Mbede, were 1st and 2nd runners up in that order.
Mr. Samuel Eshiet, emerged as the highest deposit mobiliser, junior staff category, Idorenyin Smith and Jennifer Inyang, were 1st and 2nd runners-up.
In the other categories, Mrs Uduak Nwaetuk, won the Outstanding Service award, Mrs Uduak Ukpe won the Excellent Branch Service Leadership award, Mr Akaninyene Ukpong, was awarded as Staff with Unmatched Dedication, and Samuel Eshiet, won the bank’s Rising Star of the year award.
The Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Nsikan Nkan, PhD and Director at the bank was awarded for Outstanding Representation to Shareholder, Mr Okon Okon, Executive Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service, (AKIRS) was awarded the Most Supportive Director (Deposit Mobilisation), while Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob, was awarded Most Supportive Director (Business Development).
Mr. Linus Nkan, PhD, described the award and dinner party as a deserving celebration of a successful turnaround of the bank from insolvency to profitability.
“I am the happiest person here because I was given the mandate to recommend a competent professional to manage the bank and assemble a team to give direction. I was also given the mandate to provide the recapitalisation fund. Today, I am happy that the team has not disappointed the shareholder and depositors.”
“That we have the customers, shareholders representatives and staff sitting together in this hall, clapping, dinning and making merry shows that all is now well with Akwa Savings and Loans Limited.”
“The management of this bank is impeccable and I am very pleased with the management led by my brother, Pastor Ime Okon”.
Nkan called on Akwa Ibom people to make good use of the bank to create mortgage portfolios in the fast-growing real estate sector in the State, thanked customers of the bank for their patronage, and congratulated the 2023 MD/CEO’s award winners for their outstanding performances, urging others to see the award as motivation to become the best.
In his goodwill message, Mr Okon Okon, Executive Chairman AKIRS commended the MD/CEO of the bank for providing the right leadership and vision, and for instilling good work culture and ethics in the staff leading to the successful turnaround of the bank.
Okon who is a corporate finance expert said by leading the turnaround management team to successfully rescue the bank from insolvency, and rewarding loyal customers and exceptional staff after the turnaround, Pastor Okon has proven to be an exceptional manager.
Another Director of the bank and Chairman of Ibom Airline Limited, Pastor Imo-Abasi Jacob, said the award and dinner party was yet another proof that Akwa Savings and Loans Limited has returned to profitability.
“Some years ago who would talk about MD/CEO award? This means that Akwa Savings has survived. The bank has returned to profitability. This event is an endorsement that the bank has returned to its core competence.”
Pastor Jacob added: “I have seen the transformation in the quality of staff. I have seen a clear demonstration of class service delivery. As a representative of the shareholder, I am pleased by the progress made by the bank’s management.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), Dr. Andy Eyo, lauded the leadership style of Akwa Savings and Loans for attaining rapid turnaround and celebrating its staff, assuring that ECEWS will encourage about 2000 people in the State who earn money through ECEWS to open a bank branch with Akwa Savings and Loans.
Mrs Christiana Umonduak who spoke on behalf of outstanding loyal customers of the bank said “the award shows that [their] contributions are cherished…we will go back as agents of the bank.”
Responding on behalf of the Staff, Samuel Eshiet, thanked the Chairman, MD/CEO, and Board Members of Akwa Savings and Loans for the award and for allowing them to serve, noting that they will surpass the performance in the 2024 financial year.
