Sterling Bank CEO, Abubakar Suleiman, warned against unethical practices in the banking industry at the induction ceremony of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). He emphasized that a career in professional banking is not about becoming wealthy, but rather about providing a service to the community. He cautioned against the use of unethical practices to obtain wealth, as this could have serious consequences for both the individuals involved and the bank.
He said, “If your purpose is wealth, and I will say this with all sense of responsibility, if you find a banker, a professional banker, not an owner, not an owner-manager, not an entrepreneur in banking but a professional and he says he’s wealthy, look at the person and ask how?
“By virtue of being a professional in employee status, that is not the road map to ‘billionaireship’ unless you are a thief and you are not. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be bothered becoming certified, taking your professional career so seriously, if all you are interested in is to make money.
“If you are looking for a purpose, banking will offer you a purpose. And there is a lot that banking can offer you if you are looking for a higher level of service. But if you are looking for wealth and to ride private jets, your ambition has already denied you the ability to be ethical.”