Shongom LG Chairperson Lauds ASO Savings and Loans MD For Turning Around Its Fortune

By Najib Sani, Gombe

The Chairperson of Shongom Local Government Area in Gombe State, Rt. Hon. Fatima Binta Bello, has extended her heartfelt congratulations to Hajiya Risikatu Ladi Ahmed, Managing Director/CEO of ASO Savings and Loans Plc, following the Bank’s successful clearance of 10 years of outstanding audited accounts and its sustained return to profitability.

“I am proud of you, Risi. Gombe State is proud of you. You are a very hardworking and visionary woman. We know how much effort you’ve put in to restore this institution, and we will continue to celebrate you. Keep going,” she said.

Her remarks, in a statement, come in recognition of the achievements of the financial institution during ASO’s 18th to 27th Annual General Meeting (AGM), held virtually on Monday, June 30, 2025.

At the AGM, shareholders and regulators also approved the Bank’s audited financial statements for the years 2015 to 2024.

Under the leadership of Hajiya Risikatu Ladi Ahmed since 2021, ASO has reversed over ₦6 billion loss, maintained four consecutive years of profitability and reported ₦1.3 billion in interest income and ₦82.8 million PAT in 2024.

Under her watch, ASO also cleared all legacy financial backlogs and reestablished compliance with regulatory frameworks.

AGM attendees, Dr. Faruk Umar, National President of the Association for the Advancement Rights of Nigerian Shareholders, praised the strategic updates and transparent governance, Board Chairman, Alhaji Abdul Kofarsauri highlighted the bank’s renewed focus on long-term value and balance sheet strengthening.

Responding to shareholders, Hajiya Risikatu Ladi Ahmed stated that “In four years, we’ve stabilized the Bank, restored profitability, and paved the way for recapitalization. We’re not just running a bank—we’re rebuilding an institution Nigerians can trust again.”

Rt. Hon. Fatima Binta Bello, herself a trailblazer in public leadership, applauded Hajiya Risikatu’s achievement as a national example of women delivering transformational impact in leadership roles.

“Your performance is an inspiration to women and girls in leadership across Nigeria. Your turnaround of ASO is not just corporate—it is symbolic of what disciplined, focused leadership can achieve. You make Gombe and Nigeria proud,” she stressed.