As part of its commitment to support agric businesses across the value chain and play its enabling role in the nation’s drive for economic diversification through agriculture, First Bank of Nigeria Limited held the second edition of its annual agric expo on Thursday, June 28, 2018 at the Eko Hotels & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Expo was themed “Innovating for a Sustainable Green Economy”
The FirstBank Agric Expo, launched in 2017, was designed as a lead to national discourse on the economic benefits of sustainable agriculture value-chain as an alternative source of economic development and foreign exchange through export. The event which was over-subscribed by100% had in attendance key policy influencers, agriculture service providers, primary producers, exporters and top players in the agric value chain.
The 2018 Agric expo was geared to drive conversations and collaborations that promote sustainable businesses for Agropreneurs whilst creating avenues for growth and increased per capita income in the larger economy. The Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural development, Mr. Audu Ogbeh was the special guest of honour at the expo, while Dr. Doyin Salami, a Senior Fellow/Associate Professor and full-time member of the Faculty at the Lagos Business School delivered the keynote address on the theme of the day. The Honorable Minister officially declared the expo open and led other dignitaries on a tour of the exhibition booths as he did in the inaugural edition. Okechukwu Enelamah, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment delivered the goodwill message at the event.
Speaking at the event, the MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Subsidiaries, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan stated that FirstBank has over the years, committed to nation building, whilst promoting agric-business and the development of the economy in Nigeria. ” This second consecutive edition of the FirstBank Agric Expo is indicative of our commitment to increasingly collaborate with public and private sector partners to fully restore the prime role of the agricultural sector as the mainstay of our national economy. Over 124 years ago, our Bank commenced operations with a major strategic focus on financing agriculture development as well as enabling farmers and agrobusinesses. I am pleased to note that agricultural financing across all value chains remains a core part of our business today.”
The Expo featured master classes aimed at providing in-depth exposition on specific areas of Agricultural business. The classes were facilitated by enterprising subject matter experts who shared their success stories and experiences in the business segment. The master classes were ‘Agricultural Processing for Self-reliance and Export’ and ‘iAgric: Emerging Trends for Agropreneurs’.
About FirstBank
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading banking services solutions provider in Nigeria. With some 14 million customer accounts, FirstBank provides a comprehensive range of retail and corporate financial services with over 750 business locations. The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London and Paris, FBNBank in the Republic of Congo, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea, Sierra-Leone and Senegal, as well as a Representative Office in Beijing.
Since its establishment in 1894, FirstBank has consistently built relationships with customers focusing on the fundamentals of good corporate governance, strong liquidity, optimised risk management and leadership. Over the years, the Bank has led the financing of private investment in infrastructure development in the Nigerian economy by playing key roles in the Federal Government’s privatisation and commercialisation schemes. With its global reach, FirstBank provides prospective investors wishing to explore the vast business opportunities that are available in Nigeria, an internationally competitive world-class brand and a credible financial partner.
FirstBank has been named “Most Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeria” six times in a row (2011 – 2016) by the globally renowned “The Banker Magazine” of the Financial Times Group; and “Best Retail Bank in Nigeria” for seven consecutive years, 2011 – 2017, by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards. Our brand purpose is to always put customers, partners and stakeholders at the heart of our business, even as we standardise customer experience and excellence in financial solutions across sub-Saharan Africa, in consonance with our brand vision “To be the partner of first choice in building your future”. Our brand promise is to always deliver the ultimate “gold standard” of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on our inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First in every respect.
