By: Amarachi Okonkwo

Shareholders of Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) have approved a total dividend payout of N466.38 billion for the 2025 financial year, translating to N12.76 per share, in a move that underscores the Group’s strong earnings performance and capital position.

The approval was granted on Tuesday at the company’s fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM), where investors commended the board and management for delivering robust financial results and successfully meeting the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s new minimum capital requirement of N500 billion for international banks.

The dividend comprises an interim payout of N1.00 per share for the half-year ended June 2025 and a final dividend of N11.76 per share, bringing the total distribution for the year to N12.76 per share.

Shareholder groups at the AGM lauded the consistency and scale of the payout. President of the Nigerian Shareholders’ Solidarity Association, Timothy Adesiyan, described the dividend as a reflection of disciplined corporate governance and a sustained commitment to rewarding investors.

Similarly, Chairman of the Pragmatic Shareholders Association of Nigeria (PSAN), Bisi Bakare, praised the milestone, noting that GTCO had set a precedent among Nigerian banks with the N12.76 per share payout. She urged the management to maintain the momentum in future financial years.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of GTCO, Suleiman Barau, said the Group’s transformation into a diversified financial services ecosystem has strengthened its resilience and growth prospects. According to him, GTCO has evolved beyond traditional banking to include payments, asset management, and pension services, a strategy aimed at enhancing value delivery and reducing risk concentration.

“This diversification is not simply a structural change; it represents a strategic effort to build an institution that can serve customers more comprehensively while creating multiple engines of sustainable growth,” Barau said. He added that the board remains committed to prudent risk management, responsible lending, and strong internal controls.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Segun Agbaje, described 2025 as a defining year for the Group, marked by deeper integration across its business lines and the deployment of digital tools to improve customer experience.

“Across our Banking, Payments, Asset Management, and Pension businesses, we leveraged data, digital tools, and operational insight to create seamless experiences for our customers across Africa and the United Kingdom,” Agbaje said.

He also highlighted the successful listing of GTCO’s shares on the London Stock Exchange as a key milestone in the Group’s expansion strategy, positioning it for broader international investor participation.

Looking ahead, Agbaje said the Group would sustain its execution discipline in 2026 by deepening customer engagement, integrating its ecosystem offerings, and leveraging platform-driven solutions to deliver long-term value.

The strong dividend payout and positive shareholder sentiment reinforce GTCO’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading financial institutions, even as it navigates evolving regulatory requirements and intensifying competition within the banking sector.