As part of its strategic drive to strengthen business partnerships between Nigeria and China, First Bank of Nigeria Limited recently organised the FirstBank-Chinese Business forum. The event themed; Deepening Sino-Nigerian Cooperation was held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.
“The FirstBank Chinese Business Forum was organised as part of the overarching strategy by the Bank to drive business conversations and the promotion of business and economic partnerships between Nigeria and China,” said a statement from the bank.
Only recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reached a currency swap agreement with the Peoples Bank of China in order to ease the burden of the liquidity issues faced by Nigerian business owners and Chinese manufacturers. Notably, FirstBank is among the four banks appointed as settlement banks in the deal.
Chief Diana Chen, the Group Chairman, CIG Motors was among the panellists at the plenary session and discussed the recently signed currency swap deal between the China and Nigeria governments, Lekki Free Trade Zone and other collaboration between Nigeria and China.
FirstBank’s Group Executive, Treasury & Financial Institutions, Ini Ebong; Head, Foreign Banking Services, Ayotunde Fanimokun and Group Head, Products & Marketing Support, Abiodun Famuyiwa, joined in the plenary session with the Chinese industrialist. Mr. Ebong led the FirstBank’s team.
Speaking at the event, Adesola Adeduntan, the MD/CEO, First Bank of Nigeria Limited & Subsidiaries said; “The business relationship between China and Nigeria is of great importance to us hence the establishment of our Representative Office in Beijing, China in 2010, to cater to the growing needs of Sino-Nigeria businesses, and to provide support in channelling trade flows between the two countries. Our promise is that we will always deliver the ultimate gold standard of value and financial excellence as we put customers at the heart of our business.”
With the establishment of its representative office in China, FirstBank became the first Nigerian bank to record its presence in the Asian country and has since been a financial gateway in promoting business between China and Nigeria, a recognition that earned the Bank an invitation as a member of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to promote the strategic advancement of the China Belt and Road Initiative, the United Nations 2030 agenda and the African Union 2063 development strategies for African economies.
The FirstBank-Chinese business forum is one of the bank’s efforts to drive better customer services culture as part of its service excellence initiative.
First Bank of Nigeria Limited 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.