First Bank of Nigeria Limited, the country’s premier banking institution and a leading provider of financial inclusion services, has been honored with the prestigious Financial Institution of the Year Award at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) Pan African Business and Development Awards.
The ceremony, held in Accra, Ghana, celebrated Afreximbank’s 30th anniversary and marked the inaugural edition of the Pan-African Business and Development Awards in collaboration with the Business Council for Africa (BCA).
This esteemed award recognizes FirstBank’s remarkable contribution to fostering trade and investment across the continent, making it a true embodiment of the Pan-African spirit. The bank’s pivotal role in strengthening economic ties and promoting multilateral business relationships between nations was acknowledged.
In 2021, FirstBank introduced the First Global Transfer (FGT) initiative, aimed at facilitating secure, timely, and efficient funds transfer within its network of subsidiaries across Africa.
This service is not limited to FirstBank Group’s customers alone but is accessible to individuals residing in the originating country of the funds transfer.
Expressing his gratitude for the recognition, Dr. Adesola Adeduntan, CEO of FirstBank, stated, “We appreciate the organizers of the event (Afreximbank, BCA) for this acknowledgement, as it reinforces our commitment to promoting trade, finance, and investment opportunities across borders. These efforts have been instrumental in driving the continued growth and development of the continent and the world. On behalf of the Board and Management, this award is dedicated to all employees of the FirstBank Group for their dedication and hard work, as well as our esteemed customers for their loyalty and patronage spanning over 129 years.”
Prof. Benedict Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board at Afreximbank, who has served the bank for over 29 years, also commented on the awards, saying, “Tonight, we are recognizing outstanding leaders and institutions. Having been part of the Bank since 1994, I have been fortunate to work with many of them… At Afreximbank, contributing to Africa’s development is a lifelong commitment, as it is for all those we have honored tonight.”
Arnold Ekpe, Chair of the BCA and former Group CEO of Ecobank, emphasized the significance of acknowledging business leaders and institutions, stating, “Our business leaders often do not receive the praise they deserve. Succeeding in business on the continent is not always easy, but it is rewarding and, more importantly, it is possible to build strong, profitable businesses that are globally competitive. Our winners tonight have demonstrated this.”
FirstBank has consistently garnered recognition from esteemed global organizations for its exceptional performance.
Recent accolades include the title of Best Financial Inclusion Service Provider Nigeria 2023 by Digital Banker Africa and the award for Best Private Bank for Sustainable Investing in Africa by Global Finance.
