GTCO Shareholders Applaud Record N12.76 Dividend, Praise Strong 2025 Performance

GTCO Shareholders Applaud Record N12.76 Dividend, Praise Strong 2025 Performance

 L-R:Babatunde Soyoye, Director; Marie Namias, Director; Segun Agbaje, Group Chief Executive Officer; Suleiman Barau, Chairman; Erhi Obebeduo,  Group Company Secretary; Cathy Echeozo, Director and Adebanji Adeniyi, Director, all of GTCO Plc at the company's 5th Annual General Meeting Held on Tuesday in Lagos

Shareholders of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) have commended the company’s management for delivering what they described as the highest dividend payout in Nigeria’s banking sector, declaring a total of N12.76 per share for the 2025 financial year.

The commendation came at the Group’s 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM), where investors also lauded the institution’s robust financial performance and its compliance with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s new N500 billion minimum capital requirement for banks.

Speaking at the AGM, President of the Nigerian Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, Timothy Adesiyan, praised the consistency of GTCO’s dividend policy, noting that the board has shown discipline in sustaining attractive returns to investors.

Similarly, Chairman of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Bisi Bakare, described the payout as historic, stating that GTCO has set a new benchmark as the first Nigerian bank to deliver a N12.76 dividend per share. She urged the management to maintain the momentum.

GTCO had earlier announced an interim dividend of N1.00 per share for the half-year ended June 2025, followed by a final dividend of N11.76, bringing the total payout for the year to N12.76 per share.

Responding to shareholders, Chairman of GTCO, Suleiman Barau, said the Group’s transformation into a diversified financial services ecosystem—spanning banking, payments, asset management, and pension administration—has strengthened its resilience and growth prospects.

According to him, the diversification strategy is designed to reduce risk concentration, improve balance across economic cycles, and enhance value delivery to customers and stakeholders.

Barau emphasized that the Group’s disciplined risk culture remains central to its operations, particularly amid fluctuating macroeconomic conditions. He noted that maintaining a strong balance sheet, responsible lending practices, and effective internal controls are critical to sustaining long-term stability.

Also speaking, Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, described the 2025 financial year as a period of deeper integration across the Group’s business lines, including banking, payments, asset management, and pensions.

He said GTCO leveraged digital innovation and data-driven insights to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency across its African and United Kingdom markets.

Agbaje further highlighted the company’s successful listing on the London Stock Exchange as a landmark achievement, making GTCO the first West African financial services institution to list its ordinary shares on the Exchange’s main market. He noted that the move has strengthened the Group’s capital base and improved liquidity for shareholders.

Looking ahead, the CEO expressed confidence in GTCO’s outlook for 2026, stating that the Group will continue to focus on execution discipline, customer engagement, and technology-driven solutions to sustain growth.

“In a landscape shaped by macroeconomic and geopolitical uncertainties, GTCO enters 2026 confident, resilient, and focused,” he said, assuring shareholders of continued value creation and long-term impact.