First Bank of Nigeria Limited, last Thursday signed a partnership with the Azuri Technologies to provide solar energy solution for the low-income areas.
The Deputy Managing Director of the Bank, Mr. Gbenga Shobo, said in Lagos that the partnership was aimed at proffering solution to one of the major challenges facing the country today.
Shobo, represented by Tunde Owolabi, the Bankโs Group Executive, Retail Banking Group, Lagos & West, said that the focus is delivering power to millions of Nigerians; while at the same time enabling access to financial services in rural and low-income areas.
L-R: Ini Ebong, Group Executive, Treasury and Financial Institutions, First Bank of Nigeria Limited; Simon Bransfield-Garth, Founder & CEO Azuri Technologies Ltd; Tunde Owolabi, Group Executive, Retail Banking Group (Lagos & West) First Bank of Nigeria Limited and Vera Nwanze, General Manager, West Africa, Azuri Technologies Ltd at the partnership agreement signing between FirstBank and Azuri Technologies Ltd held at Lagos InterContinental Hotel recently.
According to him, financial inclusion is a priority to FirstBank. โThis is why we are excited about this partnership; because our customers will be able to access a wide range of services that address the real problem of access to power.
โThis partnership with Azuri Technologies is one out of several of FirstBankโs partnerships. We have a track record of partnering with individuals and institutions to help meet the needs of our customers (children, women, youth, SMEs) and promote sustainable development in our host communities. Our partnerships cut across the Arts, Sports, Education, Health, among others; FirstBank has been at the forefront in ensuring ease of banking and convenience for its customers.
โOur Agent Banking Network (Firstmonie Agent) and digital banking offerings like Chat Banking on WhatsApp, FirstMobile app, Firstonline, and USSD banking, are some of the channels we have put in place to make this happen. We are therefore, very excited about the FirstBank-Azuri partnership and the positive boost it aims to bring to the nationโs economy through inclusive services.โ
โIndeed, this is part of FirstBankโs 125 year-long passion for partnerships that are woven into the fabric of society,โ he said.
Also, Mr Simon Bransfield-Garth, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Azuri Technologies, said that the company โis a leader in pay-as-you-go solar technologyโ.
Bransfield-Garth said: โAzuri brings affordable, modern consumer goods and services to the millions in sub-Saharan Africa without access to conventional power.
โOf the one billion people who lack access to electricity around the world, over 600 million live in sub-Saharan Africa. Pay-as-you-go solar power is connecting off-grid households to the modern digital world. From home lighting to satellite TV, Azuri-designed solutions deliver world class performance at an affordable price for customers who live away from mains power.โ
โAzuriโs vision is to create a level playing field where all consumers can access and benefit from the digital economy, wherever they liveโ he concluded.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited (FirstBank) is the premier Bank in West Africa and the leading banking services solutions provider in Nigeria for 125 years. With some 15 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 Governmentโs 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 โMost Valuable Bank Brand in Nigeriaโ six times in a row (2011 โ 2016) by the globally renowned โThe Banker Magazineโ of the Financial Times Group; โBest Retail Bank in Nigeriaโ for seven consecutive years (2011 โ 2017) by the Asian Banker International Excellence in Retail Financial Services Awards and โBest Bank in Nigeriaโ by Global Finance for 15 years. 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 โTo be the partner of first choice in building your futureโ. Our brand promise is to always deliver the ultimate โgold standardโ of value and excellence. This commitment is anchored on our inherent values of passion, partnership and people, to position You First in every respect.