Adesola Adeduntan has said that critical to the success of FirstBank is innovation. He made this statement on Friday at the hoisting of the 125thAnniversary of the bank held at the head office on Lagos Marina.
Adeduntan said FirstBank has provided top-notch banking services and value to its stakeholders.
“The ability to reinvent ourselves; to bring disruption and be a part of that disruption. Today, we have the largest customer base and ATM network. We process more than 20% of the entire financial transactions that happen in the banking industry.”
In the last 125 years of its operations, FirstBank has more than 1.2 billion shareholders and it has financed several landmark projects in different sectors of the economy.
“In the area of finance, we have provided structural financing that has helped Nigeria. We have also helped in the development of manpower. Many of our past managing directors have become governors of Central Bank of Nigeria. We are the only bank that has issued more than 10 million cards to our customers. We are second in Africa.”
Also speaking at the event, Oba Otudeko, group chairman, FirstBank Holdings, said the celebration is four generations of impact on the Nigerian economy.
“125this the beginning of business for FirstBank. We have founded an institution that has found other institutions. Even though we are an old institution, we are not old in our ways.”
Folake Ani-mumuney, general manager, communications and marketing, FirstBank, explained that FirstBank has pursued financial inclusion at all levels.
“Without financial inclusion, potentials in Nigeria will remain potentials forever. We are a financial services supermarket.”
In the same vein, Ibukun Awosika, chairman, FirstBank, said the bank has also empowered female entreprenuers through the many products and programmes it initiated, one of them is FirstGem.
“We are passionate about building small businesses as an entrepreneur myself. We have created a special product, FirstGem for women to encourage them save and not spend all that they have and also build strong businesses as entreprenuers.”
The celebration continues with events that will take place throughout the year.
