Easter season should bring hope and revival to dreams

diagnoses, death and betrayal, Jesus’ death brings us hope in the midst of the messiness of life.

Some have dreams that are barely still alive but appear to be at the point of death. Some have dreams that have recently died. Some others believe that their dreams are not only dead, but they are prepared for burial and on the way to the cemetery. No matter the unful lled dreams that you have, the death and resurrection of Christ should bring hope that whatever seems dead can come to life.

death and resurrection of Christ, let us take the opportunity to re ect and rekindle our love and interests in that project, career, business, relationship, dream etc and believe rmly that ‘dead’ and ‘dormant’ things are bursting back into life everywhere as God’s declaration of REVIVAL takes instant and dramatic e ect in our lives.

This is a good season to re ect and embark on a journey of hope, of optimism, of positivity, of condence. Because just like the Stanbic ‘It Can Be’ tagline signi es, it is the celebration of the human spirit and the belief in our dreams that encourage us to keep going.

Across the world, Christians celebrate the death and resurrec tion of Christ every year. When we celebrate Easter, we celebrate the fact that when Jesus was cruci ed, He went to battle with sin and conquered it once and for all. We no longer need to pay the penalty for our own sins, because Jesus did that for us. Friday was dark and bleak and seemed hopeless to those watching. But on that Sunday, two thousand years ago, joy was restored in the morning when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene outside the tomb. Sunday is the day that changed it all. For her. For the

The Easter season I believe, should inspire people with dormant or even dead dreams to revisit those dreams again. This is even more relevant given the peculiar economic circumstances that the country nds itself in presently. Many are those who have had dreams and plans truncated, altered or even shattered completely because of the downturns in the economy. Not only did Jesus die for our sins, but He rose again, defeating sin and death for all time. This brings us much hope because, though our lives are full of sorrow and pain, sickness and unwanted

At Stanbic Bank, we believe every dream is valid; that is why we continue to explore di erent means to make every dream possible. If you can dream it, there’s always a way to bring it to life Even if you have tried and seemingly been unsuccessful before, dream again. Do not let fear keep you from stepping out. Do not settle for life as usual. You do have what it takes to accomplish your dreams. Do not believe the lie that says you cannot do it. The will and desire to succeed is all you need to make your dreams a reality.

As the world commemorates the

“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy.” Proverbs 13:12). My belief in God, encounter with people/events, exposure to di erent cultures, coupled with my career and life experiences put me in a good position to remind you that no matter how big or small your dream is, with the right help, It Can Be. Just as Christ died, but on the 3rd, day rose from the dead, so shall your dreams come alive. It is time to dream again!!

Dr. Rev. Joyce Esther Dadzie Head, Client Experience, Stanbic Bank

banks in Africa must focus on small & niche banks – Standard Bank Executive

While all central bankers agree that a great deal of focus should be on large, systemic nancial institutions, there is also a need to revisit the regulation of small and niche banks, said Yinka Sanni, Chief Executive: Africa Regions at Standard Bank Group. He made the remarks at Standard Bank’s African Central Banks Conference (ACBC) in Johannesburg.

The recent collapse of banks like Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank and the resulting downturn for international banks – put the global spotlight on the e ective governance of nancial institutions and the role that central banks have to play in ensuring the viability and sustainability of banks. This was a central topic of discussion at the ACBC. The two-day summit also focused on debates regarding Reserve Management, ntech and Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). In addition, the event provided a platform to discuss key themes within the broader monetary policy environment, economic development, nancial markets stability, social justice and environment sustainability and how stakeholders can respond to and provide solutions to the shared challenges.

The event hosted central bankers from key economies in Africa, who gathered to address vital policy and operational questions, with the aim to address the practical needs of today’s central bankers. Attendants included Dr Ernest Addison , Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

The events of the past weeks have forced analysts to recall the 2009 crash and its rami cations for the global economy. Governors and the major players in African nance who converged at the conference in South Africa were keen to assess these events and their impact on African economies, while proposing measures that can address Africa's unique challenges in light of the global situation.

It is clear that central banks in Africa face a range of challenges in managing in ation, promoting sustainability goals, and promoting nancial inclusion to name a few, however, solutions such as innovative funding solutions in partnership with private sector capital is an enabler to deliver inclusive growth. “Even though the challenges are complex, I am con - dent that, together we can work to overcome them and achieve a sustainable future for the continent", concluded Mr. Sanni.

Standard Bank’s African Central Banks Conference brings together central bank governors and nancial sector regulators from across the continent to discuss critical issues that a ect Africa’s nancial system. The theme of this year’s Conference was ‘African Solution for African Problems- ‘Africa’s Seat at the Table’.