ACAMB at 30: Bank Communication Professionals Told to Embrace AI, Data and Innovation

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has marked 30 years of shaping narratives and building trust in Nigeria's banking industry. The anniversary gala night held in Lagos on September 30, 2026.

Regulators and industry leaders at the event urged communication professionals to make credibility, clarity, innovation and ethical conduct central to the future of financial services.

Three decades between banks and the public

ACAMB President Jide Sipe said the association has helped banks communicate with the public, manage crises and protect institutional reputation. "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," he said.

"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," Sipe added. He said this had catalysed the growth trajectory of the financial sector.

He said the association will keep strengthening members' capacity as the profession evolves, with more focus on artificial intelligence, data and digital media, plus mentorship for young professionals entering the industry. "Though the tools have changed since 1996, but the mandate remains 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."

Ethics and clarity, regulators' charge

Chairman of the occasion and 24th President of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Dele Alabi, described the 30-year journey as a testament to perseverance and professionalism. He commended Sipe's leadership and recalled their years together at Ecobank Group.

"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," Alabi said. He urged communication professionals to embrace innovation without compromising ethics, in line with CIBN's IMPACT vision, which covers inclusion, membership, professionalism and ethical conduct, accountability, competences and skills, and technology.

Representing CBN Deputy Governor Philip Ikeazor, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Hakama Sidi Ali, said the banking industry was moving beyond stabilisation towards broader institutional transformation. She asked communication professionals to prioritise clarity over cleverness and to treat customers as the ultimate test of their effectiveness and credibility. "The credibility you carry into a crisis is built in quiet periods," she said.

Trust in a digital banking market

In the keynote address, Managing Director/CEO of the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), Premier Oiwoh, said the growth of digital banking has made trust more critical as financial services move to mobile and digital platforms. He said NIBSS built Africa's first mature instant payment system 15 years ago. "Banking is all about trust. Without trust, banking cannot stand," he said.

Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications at United Bank for Africa (UBA), Alero Ladipo, delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba. She commended ACAMB for creating a platform that brings communication professionals together across competing institutions. "Thirty years is more than a milestone. It is evidence of relevance, resilience and the ability to evolve," she said. "Competition may separate us in the market, but there are moments when the industry must speak with a shared sense of responsibility."

Managing Director/CEO of Optimus Bank, Ademola Odeyemi, also commended ACAMB for its contributions and shared vision, saying it had continued to articulate the industry's position in a way that helped the financial sector thrive collectively. The night featured networking sessions and recognition of professionals who have grown banking communication in Nigeria over the past three decades.

For bank customers, the message out of Lagos is that confidence in the system rests heavily on how clearly banks explain themselves, especially during crises and as more transactions shift to digital channels.