Tag: FCMB

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) celebrated the literary and creative talents of young Nigerians at the grand finale of its National Essay and Drawing Competition, held to commemorate Children’s Day on May 27, 2025. The initiative reflects FCMB’s commitment to fostering education and youth development, offering a platform for holders of the Bank’s Kids Account to showcase their creativity.

At the event, nine pupils and students aged between three and 17 were awarded scholarships of up to N1.5 million for their outstanding performances. An additional 72 finalists received consolation prizes of N50,000 each, along with FCMB-branded souvenirs.

Ogbu Ikechukwu, a student from Nsukka, Enugu State, won the essay competition for students aged 13 to 17 with his thoughtful submission on the topic, “How will you manage and utilise a birthday gift of N1 million responsibly?”

He received a scholarship of N1.5 million to support his education. The first and second runners-up were awarded N1 million and N750,000, respectively.

In the 6–12 age group essay category, the topic was “If you were a superhero with the power to save the world, how would you use your skills to help others?” Eliezer Okuchemiya, a student in Lagos, emerged as the winner and was awarded a N1 million scholarship. The second and third-place winners received scholarships of N750,000 and N500,000, respectively.

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In the drawing competition for children aged 3 to 5 years, Onwamaegbu Ifeadigo won with her cheerful painting of an Automated Teller Machine (ATM), earning a scholarship of N750,000. The second-place winner received N500,000, while the third-place winner was awarded N250,000.

Adetunji Lamidi, FCMB’s Divisional Head for Personal Banking, emphasised the importance of the competition: “We introduced the national essay and drawing competition to encourage learning and give children a platform to express their ideas. Their entries showed strong awareness and original thinking. By supporting their potential, we’re investing in future innovation and progress.

“The FCMB Kids Account helps children build smart money habits early. It supports financial literacy, encourages saving, and creates access to scholarships and creative competitions.

We commend all participants and encourage them to keep learning and growing.”

The bank also expressed appreciation to parents, teachers, and guardians for their roles in nurturing, supporting, and encouraging the children.

The grand finale was lively and inspiring, as finalists presented their essays and artworks, leaving a lasting impression on judges and guests. Many praised FCMB for its continued investment in education and youth development.

As a strong advocate of education and the nurturing of future leaders, First City Monument Bank—a member of FCMB Group Plc—believes in every child’s potential to make a meaningful impact. The National Essay and Drawing Competition reinforces the Bank’s commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth across communities.

FCMB Group Plc has reaffirmed its long-standing commitment to the Ojude Oba Festival, describing it as a vital cultural asset that builds trust, reinforces shared identity, and drives trade and investment through arts, crafts, tourism, and hospitality.

Addressing journalists in Ijebu-Ode ahead of the 2025 edition of the festival, FCMB’s Divisional Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Diran Olojo, said the financial services firm views the event as a platform for cultural expression and a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable growth.

“Ojude Oba reflects the type of society we’re working to build, one that values legacy, unity, and long-term prosperity,” Olojo said. “Our support, which began nearly 25 years ago, is rooted in the vision of our late founder, Otunba Olasubomi Balogun, who believed in the role of culture in enterprise development and community advancement.

This belief remains a cornerstone of our purpose – to connect people, capital and markets.”

This year’s festival, themed “Ojude Oba: Celebrating Our Roots, Preserving Our Future”, is scheduled for Sunday, June 8, 2025. FCMB has pledged to deepen its engagement by participating in traditional activities, including the regberegbe parade and homage to the Awujale, the traditional ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona.

The Bank’s involvement, Olojo noted, goes beyond sponsorship. “We see our role as helping to reinforce traditions that have socio-economic value. Festivals like Ojude Oba create demand across tourism, hospitality, and small business sectors while preserving the culture that binds us.”

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The Chairman of the Ojude Oba Festival Organising Committee, Chief Olu Okuboyejo, praised corporate sponsors like FCMB, noting that the event showcases cultural continuity and religious harmony. “This year, 25 warrior families will demonstrate their horse-riding prowess alongside colourful regberegbe displays. The festival remains a gift from Ijebuland to Nigeria and beyond,” he said.

Ogun State’s Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Sesan Fagbayi, stated that the state government is focused on expanding the festival’s international appeal and economic significance. “Ojude Oba is not just a celebration – it’s a strategic cultural asset. We’re working to ensure this year’s edition delivers lasting value.”

With origins dating back over a century, the Ojude Oba festival attracts thousands of participants and observers from Nigeria and the diaspora. It has evolved into a significant convergence of traditional leadership, business, and communal identity, highlighting the intersection of culture and development.

Four First City Monument Bank (FCMB) customers  have won N1 million each in the latest draw of the bank’s ongoing Millionaire Promo, now in its tenth season.

The promo , according to a statement by the bank, rewards loyal bank customers while encouraging a culture of savings that offers a path toward financial security, long-term planning, and investment readiness.

The  recent draw, held last month  produced winners from across Nigeria. In addition to the four million-naira winners, 112 customers received cash prizes of up to N100,000 through a live computerised raffle process.

Among the winners is Lagos-based fashion designer Anita Yesufu, who said the prize money would help her expand her tailoring business. “I cannot express how happy I am for winning ₦1 million because it coincided with my birthday. This win means so much to me. I will use the money to buy a compressor for one of my industrial sewing machines. Thank you, FCMB

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Another winner of ₦1 million, Abdulsalam Ibrahim, an entrepreneur based in Kaduna State, expressed his heartfelt appreciation: “It warms my heart to witness the joy this brings, especially during this period. I thank FCMB for brightening my life. I am motivated to continue my journey with the bank and encourage my family, friends, and community to join me.”

Abolarin Oluwagbemi, a businessman in Ibadan, Oyo State, who also won ₦1 million, expressed his delight: “I am very excited. It was beyond my expectations. I have been banking with FCMB for eight years and have never regretted banking with the bank. To be one of the winners of the FCMB promo has made me happier. This is real, and I commend the Bank for making customers happy. This money will be invested in my renewable energy business.”

During the draws, a valued customer of the Bank, Mrs. Olusola Olaiya, reminisced about her previous wins courtesy of the promo. “I was not a winner today but got my first Plasma TV through the FCMB Millionaire Promo. I genuinely appreciate FCMB empowering its customers and investing in their dreams.”

Adetunji Lamidi, Divisional Head of Personal Banking at FCMB, said the Millionaire Promo reflects the bank’s broader mission to enable financial security and opportunity for everyday Nigerians. “In a country where many are navigating economic uncertainty, savings-led initiatives like this help shift the narrative – from survival to progress. This is beyond cash rewards. It is about reinforcing positive financial habits, recognising customer loyalty, and showing that banking can be a platform for real-life impact.”

Omowunmi Kalejaiye, FCMB’s Regional Head for Lagos, emphasised the long-term value of inclusive engagement. “The promo has become more than an incentive; it’s a channel through which we activate trust and shared growth. Our customers see us as a partner that supports their aspirations. We urge participants to see their winnings as seed capital – something to grow, not just spend.”

Launched in December 2024, Season 10 has produced eight millionaires and over 1,000 other winners of cash prizes up to ₦100,000.

Customers must increase their account balance by at least ₦10,000 to qualify and maintain it for 30 days. Every additional ₦10,000 saved improves their odds of winning.

The promo, which runs until September 2025, is open to new and existing savings account holders. Dormant or inactive account holders can also participate by reactivating their accounts. Draws are held nationwide, giving everyone a fair opportunity to win.

FCMB Capital Markets Ltd. successfully led the issuance of GLNG Funding SPV Plc’s N11.85 billion 10-Year Series 2 Senior Guaranteed Fixed Rate Infrastructure Bond, which closed in February. This milestone underscores investor confidence in Nigeria’s clean energy transition.

The bond, issued by GLNG Funding SPV Plc and sponsored by Green Liquified Natural Gas (GLNG) as part of its capital-raising plans, is a key step in financing the construction of a mini-LNG plant with a liquefaction capacity of 200,000 standard cubic meters of gas per day. The facility will help bridge Nigeria’s power supply gap and offer industries a cleaner, cost-effective alternative to diesel.

The issuance was backed by InfraCredit, an AAA-rated infrastructure credit guarantee firm, and is expected to generate over 500 direct and 2,000 indirect jobs, supporting Nigeria’s sustainable economic growth.

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“FCMB Capital Markets remains committed to financing projects that drive clean energy adoption and long-term economic impact. We appreciate the trust placed in us by GLNG and the invaluable role played by InfraCredit and investors in enabling the successful conclusion of this transaction,” Managing Director, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, Ikechukwu Omeruah, said.

As gas adoption accelerates in Nigeria, a 2022 Clarke Energy report estimates that manufacturers could save up to 30% by switching to gas from the grid and as much as 80per cent compared to diesel.

FCMB Capital Markets, a part of FCMB Group, has been instrumental in raising over N3 trillion in debt and equity capital for leading corporate organizations in Nigeria over the past five years, reinforcing its position as a key player in the country’s capital markets.