brand
125 YEARS ANNIVERSARY: FIRSTBANK HOLDS RELAY WALK, PLEDGES COMMITMENT TO TEAMWORK, SERVICE DELIVERY, VALUE CREATION
Group Head, Marketing & Corporate Communications, FirstBank, Folake Ani-Mumuney; Managing Director, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, Kayode Akinkugbe; Chief Executive Officer, FirstBank, Adesola Adeduntan; Group Executive, Commercial Banking Group, FirstBank, Seyi Oyefeso; Chairman, FirstBank Ibukun Awosika and Group Managing Director, FBNHoldings, UK Eke, following the FirstBank 125km Relay Walk, held to commemorate the 125 anniversary of FirstBank
Nigeria’s premier Bank, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, has reiterated its commitment to continue to provide quality services to its over 15 million customers, create value and exhibit wholesome teamwork and coordination among its staff.
The remark was the collective stand point of the Bank’s principal officers as it held a 125 kilometres Relay Walk to celebrate the bank’s 125 years of uninterrupted existence as a heavyweight in the financial industry and general corporate world.
The walk which took place simultaneously at major FirstBank stations across Nigeria, was described as a significant activity to prove that achievements involve everyone committing his own quota for the common good of the whole organization.
Speaking at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Ikeja branch of the bank, which hosted one of the walks, FirstBank’s the Executive Director, Corporate Banking, Dr. Remi Oni, stated ‘that it takes collaboration, working together, teamwork, empowering ourselves to be able to achieve what we have’.
He pointed out that everyone else’s tiny bit of cooperation contributes to what the Bank has achieved.
He also said that the exchange of baton is “significant in the sense that it suggests that the present group has done their part and has passed on to the next generation that will continue the milestone achievements the bank is known for.”
The walk moved to the headquarters at Marina where the leadership and customers of the bank assembled.
In his speech, the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, said the bank remains committed to value creation and effective service delivery to all stakeholders in the years ahead.
He said the bank would continue to provide standard services and products to its customers and stakeholders for value creation to maintain its market share.
“What we intend to deliver to them will go up in terms of quality and in terms of value,” he said.
Adeduntan reiterated Dr. Oni’s stand that the Relay Walk was very significant because it shows greatness and synergy.
He explained that the 125km was a representation of the collaborative effort of not just FirstBank but all its entities in the last 125 years.
“The 125km is a mark of our incredible journey of delivering impeccable financial services to our customers as we leave no stone unturned to remain an icon of admiration in today’s financial services industry in Africa.
“The Relay Walk is very significant and symbolic.
“It’s symbolic because it’s a collaborative efforts, not just FirstBank’s but other operating entities within the FBNHoldings family.
“We came together to organise a relay and the significance is when you think of a relay, when you think of 125, if you want to run a relay of 125 on your own as an individual you can get tired but when you collaborate, together you can achieve it.”
Adeduntan said the walk signified power synergy, noting that the leadership of the institution had moved from individual to individual, generation to generation in the last 125 years.
“What we are doing is to pass on the baton of this relay to the next generation of our staff,” he said.
In his remarks, the Group Managing Director, FBN Holdings Plc, UK Eke, said the Bank has been able to create a network of partners in the last 125 years.
“What we have been able to achieve today by the Relay Walk is to create a network of partners.
“No other institution in Nigeria has achieved this and we belong to a unique club globally of those that have clocked 125 years and more and we are proud of this day.”
Eke said the passing of baton shows that the bank has come to stay with successive leadership team, team spirit, innovation and self-development.
The Bank’s Chairman, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, on her part, said the bank would continue to be the number one in the industry with long enduring legacy of value creation.
“If you had the kind of legacy we have had, we are 125 years, you can only look forward to the future.
“When you remember that the only way you can have the opportunity to celebrate 125 years today is because at different times, different generations from the least to the highest worker have added value and created value.”
Also speaking, the Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communication, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney, said the bank would remain committed to helping customers build and grow their businesses as it has been committed to creating value for 125 years and counting.
She said: “We will continue to partner with our regulators to make sure there is a strong robust financial services system in Nigeria.“
The anniversary celebration continues with more activities including a Jumat service on Friday, March 22, Church Thanksgiving service on Sunday, March 24 while a lecture will take place on Tuesday, March 26 with a prolific guest speaker, followed by a gala night.
FirstBank, the West African premier financial institution and financial inclusion services provider, has emerged as Nigeria’s Best Bank for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) at the prestigious Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2025, held recently in London. This marks FirstBank’s second consecutive win in the ESG category, affirming its leadership in sustainable finance and responsible banking across Nigeria.
The Euromoney Awards for Excellence are regarded as one of the most coveted accolades in the global financial industry. The highly competitive selection process involves rigorous analysis and assessment, measuring performance against strategic and impact-oriented criteria.
The Bank earned the award through its deepened sustainability commitments embedded across its operations and community initiatives. In 2024, FirstBank screened 237 transactions worth over ₦3 trillion for sustainability risks, integrating ESG considerations into its credit framework.
Among its flagship sustainability initiatives, FirstBank commenced a tree planting campaign in partnership with Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), planting over 30,000 trees in 16 locations across Nigeria. This was the first phase of its 50,000-tree initiative, projected to absorb approximately 720 tonnes of CO₂ by the end of 2025, contributing to climate resilience and supporting biodiversity preservation.
FirstBank has been proactive in gender inclusion through the Gender Market Strategy, disbursing over ₦43 billion FirstGem loans to women-led businesses in 2024. The Bank’s commitment to inclusive banking saw a significant increase in the worth of transactions facilitated by FirstMonie agents to over ₦9 trillion.
The Bank prioritises ESG/sustainability capacity building, evidenced by the training of over 9000 employees, and its webinars and workshops reaching over 2,000 SMEs and corporates. The bank’s investment in leadership for over 2,000 female employees through the FirstBank Women Network has demonstrated a dedicated structural commitment to cultivating a knowledgeable and diverse workforce catering to the dynamic ESG landscape.
Commenting on the award, the Chief Risk Officer of the Bank as well as the Chairman of the FirstBank Sustainability Committee, Patrick Akhidenor said, “We are honoured to receive this prestigious award for the second time in a row, which is a validation of our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future for all our stakeholders. Our approach to sustainability is hinged on three pillars: education, health and welfare; diversity and financial inclusion; responsible lending, procurement and climate initiatives”
He added: “We remain focused on driving impact through purposeful initiatives and inclusive growth, ensuring that our ESG efforts continue to create meaningful change in communities across Nigeria and beyond.”
The continued success in ESG and sustainability is driven by FirstBank’s vision to be Africa’s bank of first choice, leading with purpose, responsibility, and innovation.
-
Photo © 2025 – ASV Photography Ltd.
www.ASVphotos.comZenithBankPlchasbeennamed“Nigeria’sBestBank”attheEuromoneyAwardsforExcellence2025,emergingasNigeria’sstandoutperformer,andclinchingthebiggestandmost coveted country award. The award, which was presented to the bank on Thursday, July17,2025atThePeninsula,London,isatestament to its commitment to delivering exceptionalbanking services, innovative products and superior value to its customers and shareholders.Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence are one of the most highly coveted awards that matter tobanksandbankerswhomatter.TheannualAwardsforExcellencecelebratesfinancialinstitutions that demonstrate leadership, innovation, and resilience in their markets, with thisyear’seditionseeingarecordnumberofover770entriesfromworldclassfinancialinstitutionsincludingHSBC,MorganStanley,CitiBank,Barclays,StandardBankandDevelopment Bank of Singapore (DBS), amongst others.Commenting on the award, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc,Dame Dr. Adaora Umeoji, OON said, “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognized as Nigeria’sBestBankbyEuromoney.Thisawardisnotjustatestamenttoourrelentlesspursuitofexcellence, but also a validation of the unwavering trust and confidence our customers haveplaced in us. We are once again reminded that our success is not just about us, but about theimpact we continue to have on the financial ecosystem. We will continue to work tirelessly tosupportthegrowthanddevelopmentofoureconomyandupholdthehigheststandardsofgovernance, integrity and transparency that has earned us this recognition”.She dedicated the award to Zenith Bank’s customers across the globe for their loyalty, and tothe Founder and Chairman, Jim Ovia, CFR, for his visionary leadership and commitment toexcellencewhichformedthefoundationforthebank’ssuccesses.ShealsothankedtheBoardfortheirguidance,aswellasthestafffortheirunwaveringdedicationtobuildingaformidable and best in class global financial institution that will outlive generations.ZenithBank’strackrecordofexcellentperformancehascontinuedtoearnthebrandnumerous awards including being recognised as the Number One Bank in Nigeria by Tier-1Capitalforthesixteenthconsecutiveyearinthe2025Top1000WorldBanksRanking,publishedbyTheBanker.TheBankwasalsoawardedBankoftheYear(Nigeria)inTheBanker’s Bank of the Year Awards for 2020, 2022 and 2024; Best Bank in Nigeria from 2020to2022, 2024and 2025,inthe GlobalFinance World’sBestBanks Awards;Best BankforDigitalSolutionsinNigeriaintheEuromoneyAwards2023;andwaslistedintheWorldFinance Top 100 Global Companies in 2023.Further recognitions include Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria for five consecutive years from2021 to 2025 in the World Finance Banking Awards and Most Sustainable Bank, Nigeria in theInternationalBanker2023and2024BankingAwards.Additionally,ZenithBankhasbeen -
acknowledgedastheBestCorporateGovernanceBank,Nigeria,intheWorldFinanceCorporateGovernanceAwardsforfourconsecutiveyearsfrom2022to2025and‘BestinCorporateGovernance’FinancialServices’Africaforfourconsecutiveyearsfrom2020to2023 by the Ethical Boardroom.The Bank’s commitment to excellence saw it being named the Most Valuable Banking BrandinNigeria inThe Banker’sTop 500Banking Brandsfor 2020 and 2021,Bank ofthe Year 2023and2024attheBusinessDayBanksandOtherFinancialInstitutions(BAFI)Awards,andRetail Bank of the Yearfor three consecutive years from2020 to 2022 and in2024 at the BAFIAwards. The Bank also received the accolades of Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria and BestInnovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria, in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.ZenithBankwasalsonamedMostResponsibleOrganisationinAfrica,BestCompanyinTransparencyandReportingandBestCompanyinGenderEqualityandWomenEmpowerment atthe SERAS CSRAwards Africa 2024;Bank of theYear 2024by ThisDayNewspaper; Bank of the Year 2024 by New Telegraph Newspaper; and Best in MSME TradeFinance,2023byNairametrics.TheBank’sHybridOfferwasalsoadjudged‘RightsIssue/Public Offer of the Year’ at the Nairametrics Capital Market Choice Awards 2025
FirstBank, a leading financial institution and provider of financial inclusion services in West Africa, announces the achievement of ₦1 trillion in cumulative instant digital loan disbursements. This accomplishment further consolidates the Bank’s reputation for innovation, leadership in financial inclusion, and commitment to customer empowerment within.
Since its inaugural digital loan in August 2019, FirstBank has developed an unconventional and robust digital lending ecosystem designed with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, to improve access to finance, especially to the high-risk customer segment. The Bank created a multi- channel loan disbursement service that requires no collaterals, zero documentation and is void of human interactions. Through its FirstAdvance, FirstCredit and AgentCredit products, 1.5 million unique borrowers enjoyed instant and secure access to credit. This is irrespective of whether they are salary earners, non-salary earners, or micro business owners. They also have the convenient options of accessing these loans through platforms such as *894# (FirstBank’s USSD service), FirstMobile, LitApp and the FirstMonie Agent App.
Regarding this milestone, Chuma Ezirim, Group Executive, e-Business & Retail Products at FirstBank, stated: “This success underscores our ongoing commitment to innovation and a customer-focused approach, which are central to FirstBank’s core values. Beyond achieving substantial figures, we remain dedicated to fostering opportunities for financial independence across Nigeria in particular, and in Africa at large.’’
He added, “We value the trust our customers place in us to support their financial aspirations. Our efforts to advance digital lending will persist, especially to the excluded and underserved customer segments, while effectively managing risks in the process.”
FirstBank currently disburses about N1 Billion daily in digital loans, demonstrating its commitment to fostering an inclusive, technology-driven future for Nigerians. By consistently investing in advanced technologies and developing customised financial solutions, the Bank seeks to improve the financial well-being of individuals and businesses across the nation.
-
news5 years agoUPDATE: #ENDSARS: CCTV footage of Lekki shootings intact – Says Sanwo – Olu
-
lifestyle5 years agoFormer Miss World: Mixed reactions trail Agbani Darego’s looks
-
health4 years agoChairman Agege LG, Ganiyu Egunjobi Receives Covid-19 Vaccines
-
lifestyle4 years agoObateru: Celebrating a Quintessential PR Man at 60
-
health5 years agoUPDATE : Nigeria Records 790 new cases of COVID-19
-
health5 years agoBREAKING: Nigeria confirms 663 new cases of COVID-19
-
news3 months agoBREAKING: Tinubu swears in new NNPCL Board
-
politics4 months agoBreaking : Oborevwori , Okowa others dumps PDP, defects to APC