ACAMB at 30: Regulators urge bank communicators to put credibility, ethics first

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has marked 30 years of operation, with regulators and industry leaders urging its members to anchor the future of financial services on credibility, clarity, innovation and ethical conduct.

The association celebrated the milestone at an anniversary gala night in Lagos on September 30, 2026. The event drew senior officials of 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) and Optimus Bank, alongside communication and marketing heads of banks nationwide.

ACAMB President, Jide Sipe, said the association had helped banks communicate with the public, manage crises and protect their reputations over three decades.

“For 30 years, our members have stood between the banks and the public they serve,” Sipe said.

He said the body would deepen the capacity of its members as the profession evolves, with greater focus on artificial intelligence, data and digital media, as well as mentorship for young professionals entering the industry.

Chairman of the occasion and 24th President of the CIBN, Dele Alabi, described ACAMB’s journey as a testament to perseverance and professionalism. He urged communication professionals to embrace innovation without compromising ethics, in line with the CIBN’s IMPACT vision, which stands for inclusion, membership, professionalism and ethical conduct, accountability, competences and skills, and technology.

Representing the 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 challenged communicators to prioritise clarity over cleverness and to treat customers as the ultimate test of their credibility.

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

Delivering the keynote, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIBSS, Premier Oiwoh, said the growth of digital banking had made trust more critical as financial services moved 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,” Oiwoh said.

Speaking on behalf of the UBA Group Managing Director/CEO, Oliver Alawuba, the bank’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, commended ACAMB for bringing together communicators from competing institutions.

“Thirty years is more than a milestone. It is evidence of relevance, resilience and the ability to evolve,” Ladipo said.

She added that while banks compete in the market, communicators share a responsibility to maintain public confidence in the financial system.

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

The Managing Director/CEO of Optimus Bank, Ademola Odeyemi, also commended the association for its contributions and shared vision.

The celebration featured networking sessions and recognition of professionals who have contributed to banking communication in Nigeria over the past three decades.